The Prescott daily news., 1913-09-05

PHIL LOST THE BET
By IDA SIMPLER.

smoke curl from his cigar, play III weaving circles about his shapely face and head, then float off to the realms of pipe dreams. Presently dreamy. satisfied smile stole into his blue eyes. and love for himself. Adorable Lora. He was hastening back to her and their wedding day at steamer speed
 The half closed door of his room let in the sound of voices. It was Ed Rainey and Tom Larkin. McQuire 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 personifed. 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, ill turn, been sweet heart to all of us, or anything of that affair of hers and Lamberts, does he?"
 McQuires cigar dropped from his parted lips. The red leaped in an ugly flame to his face. They 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. Larkfn'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 fiirt. Nothing worse. Lambert is liar. McQuires a good locker and mo- 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; Mo- Quire is on the deck 1 saw him go up an hour ago"
 McQuire 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 1 some foolish investment. Further he would not talk. Simply moped, smoked and read.
 "Rainey, the little sneak, will go i straight to Boston and tell Lora," Me Quire thought to himself Nothing will suit him better. Nothing will suit me better, either"
 ! From New York McQuire 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? I have trusted Parkin- son as I might have my father, had I ! ohC dI plCotll w Cll III uOl SOlUS tO cry over spilled milk. It's done, and can't be helped. I can work for my i darling. I have youth, health, strength and love left. You know studied ] law Behold future Webster in your husband. I 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 a cottage?" said Rainey
 "Of course it isn't" she fared '1s 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; Thar " 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, Phils cousin, went calling on Lora, her cousins late betrothal ring shining on her hand.
 It 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