The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-04

PHIL LOST THE Bet
BY IDA SHEPLER.

and head, then float off to the realms
Of pipe dreams. Presently dreamy
satisfied smile stole into his blue eyes
He was so sure of her truth, integrity
and love for himself. Adorable Lora.
He was fastening back to her and
their wedding day at steamer speed.
The half closed door Of his room let
in the sound of voices. 1t was Ed
Rainey and Tom Larkin. MCGUIRE had
run into them somewhere abroad.
They were coming home on the same
steamer.
Gone, gone bad, isn't he?" Rainey
was saying. believes that Lora is
! innocence personified. Doesn't know
that she's a good five years or more
older than himself. Don't guess that
she's out to marry a fortune. Don't
know that she's, in turn, been sweet
heart to all of us, or anything of that
affair of hers and Lambert's, does he?"
McQuire's cigar dropped from his
parted lips. The red leaped in an
ugly flame to his face. Theyy were
| talking, these friends Of his, of the girl
he was to marry. His right hand
opened to slap little Rainey fair in
his calumniating mouth. Larkin's an
swer came slowly, between puffs at
!. his pipe: Mcclure is young. She
isn't good enough for him, that's only
too true. But, Rainey, the girl was
only little reckless, too much of a
: flirt. Nothing worse. Lambert is a
liar. McQuire's good locker and no.
body's fool, If he was born to revel in
gold"
"Lora would not marry any man
unless he brought her gold?" Rainey
: still persisted. "Oh, you need not
worry about shutting the door; Nc
Quire is on the deck. I saw him go up
an hour ago."
Mcguire fidgeted and worried about
his cabin for an hour after. Not a
doubt Of Lora's love edged itself in his
mind. No one but himself had ever
possessed her heart. OF that he was
sure.
After awhile the plan he would work
: to confute these friends came crowd
ing itself into his head. It was neither
new or original, but it would do.
Rainey and Larkin found him dull
! company forthwith. Then it's reason
came out He had received a telegram
at starting. Hoped it was not so bad
, as stated. His fortune, to the last
dollar, was in jeopardy. He had made
some foolish Investment. Further he
would not talk. Simply moped, smoked
, and read.
"Rainey, the little sneak, will go
straight to Boston and tell Lora," Nc
Quire thought to himself. Nothing
!, will suit him better. Nothing will suit
me better, either"
From New York Mcguire wrote a
brief letter to Lora:
my Dearest: I'm viewing the hole
where it has all gone down. You no
, doubt have heard Of the Parkinson
company crash? The private fortunes
they swamped with their own stupen-
dous failure? have trusted Parkin-
son as 1 might have my fathe:, had
one at present. Well, I'm not going to
cry over spilled milk. It's done, and
can't be helped. I can work for my
darling. have youth, health, strength
and love left. You know studied
law. Behold future Webster in your
husband. l cannot wait to see you.
Lovingly. Phil"
Rainey was with Lora when she re-
ceived this epistle. He watched her
pretty face turn pale, then flushed.
"Of course it's love in cottage?"
said Rainey.
"Of course it isn't she flared. "Is it
fact that he was fool enough to trust
his immense fortune in the keeping of
that company he refers to-"
Guess he did. He was tolerably
frank about the matter. He is playing
cheerful to you in this letter. He be-
lieves that nothing would separate
your love from him."
What" she nearly shrieked; mar
ry a pauper? Bah, he hasn't brains
enough to get first client. Me do
kitchen work and make my own
clothes for loves sake? Well, hardly
Phil was nearly a month getting
over everything that followed that let
ter. At the end of that time he was
as good as new.
Gladys, Phirs cousin, went calling
on Lora, her cousins late betrothal
ring shining on her hand. -.
1t wasn't fitting for Lora to notice
this, but she did the lovely bracelets
Gladys was wearing "A gift from
Cousin Phil" the girl quite innocently
answered.
II never knew that you had a
cousin so fond of you. Seems to me
that 1 heard your cousin lost all his
money" Lora's eyes we're wide with
surprised inquiry. a
"Oh, no." Gladys went on, still more
innocently; "Phil never lost his money.
Not cent. He was engaged to some
girl. 1 couldn't get him to tell me
who. He brought her 50 many pres
ents from abroad. Then, because one
of the friends he same home with
bet him, or something like that, his
afiianced wouldn't marry him II he
were to lose his money, wrote her he