The Lamar register., 1913-04-16
TOM HARRISON'S HOME
BY FRANK II. MELooN.

" furnished six-room apartment.
Weary of his 30-odd years Of bachelor
Me, the young architect had reserved
. suite Of one Of his latest model
apartment houses to crafty . fad
which for the past two years had
amounted almost to an obsession.
He wanted to see what a home
would look like, a home furnished
AFTER the desires Of his own heart.
Now It was finished He was pleased
Of what his friends would say II they
knew.
At that moment there was a gentle
knock ON the door. In response to
his hearty "Come int" a girl barely
out of her teens entered. She was
clad in a brown corduroy with filmy
lace at the throat that set OF her rare
beauty effectively.
'Ts Emily heref" she asked, after
an approving glance at the rich fur
nishings, noticing that Tom was alone.
"Emily7" he repeated. wondering
whom she could mean. mo. she IL
not here"
"But she told me-"
"she told you she would be here?"
YES" explained the vision perplex-
edly. "She told me she would certain
~ be here to meet me-"
well. she hasn't come as yet"
"Are you Mr.. Walker?"
mo. my name is Harrison-Tom
Harrison. I'm the architect who
planned this building"
You're . friend Of Mr.. Walker and
Emily. of ooursef"
II don't like to admit 1t. but I've
never heard Of them" he confessed
whimsically. wishing sincerely that he
had.
But" she persisted. beginning to
feel Ill At ease, surely this il to be
their suitef"
II think not. I've reserved this
suite for myself"
IT'S Suite "A. isn't itf"
It's Suite 2B."
He was relieved to sec the girls
features relax into an appreciative
smile.
1T - plain to you, Of course" she
apologixed. that have blundered In
70 the wrong apartments. My chum
Emily Philbrick and Mr.. Walker are
wanted me to come and see the suite
In which they are to live"
IL II II Suite 2B. will take pleasure
IN showing It to you" he offered.
Emily Philbrick met them At the
door. In the course Of the explana-
tons that followed. Tom Harrison
learned that his visitor was none 9th
q than Elsie Gibson, the girl artist
who had been winning fame In the
magazines.
During the year that followed. he
was . frequent visitor at her studio.
each acknowledging the charm Of the
others acquaintance. Then suddenly
Elsie Gibson disappeared. leaving no
word a. to whittier she had gone.
Tom Harrison's quest after Elsie
Gibson was most theoretically follow
ed, yet no trace of her could he dis
cover. It finally occurred to him that
he had once heard her mention the
fact that her father. q widower. had
q little farm at Upperjay in the
Adirondacks. A study Of complicated
railway timetables resulted in his TAX.
ing the wrong train. righting his err
TOR, and, after much delay and nu-
merOuB Changes, IN nlb reaching W
perjay.
He failed to find livery stable. but
did enter into negotiations with
passing farmer who. with apparent re
luctance. at last consented to take
him to the Gibson farm.
At the gate. with freshly gathered
garland of roses and sweet-scented
thyme. stood a familiar little figure.
looking very forlorn until she recog-
nized Tom Harrison.
"Oh. Tom" she cried gladly, you
don't know how lonesome 1 have
been" Her manner changed quickly,
as II she were holding herself in re-
straint. But now I suppose I ought
to address you as Mr.. Harrison"
why. Elsie?" bluntly.
She looked surprised.
because Of your approaching mar.
rage. of course"
my approaching marriagef" he ask
ed. mystified.
Certainly"
But I didn't know I was going to
be married"
"That is very strange indeed. since
It was printed in the paper"
Elsie, this is all nonsense. Where
- H.