Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-29
An Internal
Gift
By N c.. SUMMERS

~ .iF
Dear me, SO l am to be married!
Listen to this: The wedding between
Schuyler Van Horn and Helen Martin
dale will take place on the 18th inst. at
st. James church, Schuyler Van
Horn! I'm to get a husband with an
~aristocratic name anyway"
with so many people in the world"
said Mrs. Martindale, Ito find names
for. it's a wonder there are not a doz-
en- Helen Martindales and as many
Schuyler Van Horns"
Miss Martindale said nothing more,
scanning the society columns, thus
turning to the advertisement Of lin
gerie.
Nevertheless the odd announcement
IT the forthcoming marriage OF, one Of
her own name affected her. A certain
Dick Owens and she had been what is
in slang called spoons for some time,
and she thought how would she feel if
she saw a matrimonial announcement
with the name Owens substituted for
Van Horn.
There was no indisposition on the
part of Mr.. Owens to see his name in
print linked with that of Miss Martin
dale, nor was Miss Martindale herself
so indisposed. There was, however.
a barrier between them in the person
Of a certain Martin Wynkoop. who had
made a great deal Of money out of a
patent medicine and whose suit was
favored by Miss Martindale's father.
It was the old story Of wealth and all
wealth can accomplish against. to say
the least, the mediocrity Of a small in
come.
But since this Mr.. Wynkoop was
short. fat. bald and homely and Dick
Owens was tall, slender. curly headed
and handsome Miss Martindale, who
was too young to look far into the fu-
ture. infinitely preferred the latter. 1t
was her father who, with the usual
matter-of-factness Of age and expert
ence, stood in the way of loves young
dream.
1t was 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
MI. Martindale had come back home
| from business and was sitting in the
library looking at the evening paper.
The doorbell rang and an express
! package was handed in and receipted
for. 1t was a square parcel about big
| enough to hold easily a large sized ap-
| pie, addressed to Miss Martindale. The
butler carried it to her room and plac-
ed it upon a table before her. She
looked at the address and wondered
what the package contained, then took
up a pair of scissors to cut the string,
when she heard a faint ticking. She
| took the thing up and carried it down
into the library.
Father" she said, some one, |
know not who, has sent me a package.
and l can hear a ticking"-
Drop it,"
The package fell from Miss Martin.
dale's hands on to the floor, where it
lay motionless. Mr.. Martindale made
a dash for the door and, Selling his
daughters arm as he passed, dragged
her with him out Of the room, not stop
ping till he had put a wall between
them and the package.
What do you think it ISL" asked
Helen.
IAN Internal machine, of course"
"Who could have sent ttY'
your name on it is a blind. It was
intended for me There are several
reasons why certain persons whose de.
mands | have ignored might send me
such a thing. Are you sure you heard
it ticking"
Certain"
go and telephone for the police"
At that moment there was another
ring at the doorbell. and who should
appear but Mr.. Dick Owens.
"Oh. Dick!" called Helen. Hurry
past the library. There's an internal
machine in there. Somebody. l don't
know who, sent it to me-"
Mr.. Owens stood a few moments
gaping at Helen and her father. who
were in the rear end of the hall, then
! asked if he might see the thing.
Without waiting for a reply he walk
ed into the library. looked at the pack
age lying on the floor, picked it up and
put it to his ear. He smiled. Being
something Of a mechanic. he knew
that the ticking was too delicate for
an Internal machine. 1t was probably
a watch.
He carefully opened it and found that
it was a watch-a lady's watch-and
with it was a visiting card with the
names Of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph B.
Ward, persons Of whom he had never
heard. Helen had told him Of the
wedding announcement, and he infer
red at once that it was a wedding
gift intended for the other Miss Mar
tindale.
An idea popped into Mr.. Owens
head. he would make some capital
with Mr.. Martindale.
"Ill take the thing home with me-"
he called. land disarrange the clock
work."
"Don't" cried Helen, in agony.
"You'll be blown sky hight" called
Mr.. Martindale.
Nevertheless Dick went out with the
| box. and in half an hour a telephone