The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-06-03

She had asked for $40 to buy a new
hat. and it had not been forthcoming.
The hat which had warmed the
cookies of Mrs. LudIow's heart was
blooming upon a nickel stem in the
window of Sam Sellers store, Smiley
yille's Only Department Store.
This emporium, brand new and i'm
posing. and selling everything from
bacon to bonnets, was directly across
Main street from the general store Of
Mr. Ludlow.
1t was matter OF history that the
latter store had evoluted from mere
grocery that had been owned and man
aged by Old Man Pershing. In those
days the two young clerks. Jim Lud-
low and Sam Sellers, had both aspired
to the hand of Old Man Pershing's
niece. the fair Effie, who kept Smiley
vile, as well as the young men in
question, guessing as to her choice.
1t had ended one Sunday in Jim Lud-
low taking affairs into his own hands
and eloping with the girl TO Parsons
Corners.
The next morning Sam tried to lick
Jim in the middle of Main street, but,
getting the worst Of 1t, had packed
up and departed the same day for
parts unknown, vowing eternal ven
geance.
The years passed, and Old Man
Pershing died, leaving the store and
few debts as legacy to his niece
and nephew-in-law.
Things were prospecting, when Sam
came back from the unknown parts"
which had evidently been lucrative,
for he fairly oozed money
Smileyyille held its breath to see
the outcome of Sans vow OF ven
geance. It had not long to wait. In
side of three months the Only Depart.
ment Store was complete.
Then bad days began for Jim Lud.
law. The public deserted him, not
from any personal allegiance to Sam,
but 1t was a novelty to have things
sent home In an auto truck.
But there was no use worrying his
ignorance of the true state OF affairs
and cried for new hat.
Finally she was ready for the
rocker the disreputable piece of fur
niture in which Mr.. Ludlow was wont
to read the evening paper. She gath
cred up her pins and paper and
crossed the room to where 1t stood. A
fallen broom stood in her path which
she did not see, her toe caught. she
pitched forward, and struck her head
on the edge of the chair in falling.
Fifteen minutes later she stirred and
opened her eyes. Where could she
be? And what on earth could be the
conglomerate mass q bent, rusty
springs above her head?
She stuck an investigating finger
into the torn facing. She had no idea
1t was In such bad shape. 1t was like
putting powder ON a dirty face to
cover up decay like this with a new
cover. She poked here and there into
It's depths.
Then something dropped with soft
thud to the floor. Mrs. Ludlow picked |
1t up. Suddenly she scrambled to her
feet and carried 1t to the window. A |
queer look came into her face as she |
examined 1t
Jim Ludlow's meaner n thought"
she muttered. Il just wish he was
here"
AS If In answer to her words, the
front door opened, and Mr.. Ludlow,
carrying an immense fiowered box,
stepped inside.
What's wrong? And what have
you got in that box?" In her astonish-
ment she forgot to be angry.
Its your hat. Effie" He sank
heavily into chair. Its about all
you'll get, SO you may as well have ii.
got 1t on my way home. Sans fore
closed. Or that is--he's going to to-
day"
Jim Ludlow. just what do you
nean?"
y mean I've been struggling to keep
up for some time, an I've had to
mortgage and borrow and borrow and
mortgage till I'm cleaned out. Sans
Fought EN- all up He's done what he
'aid, and ruined me. I'm cleaned
nut hope you'll like your hat.
cffie."
But Ms. Ludlow was not thinking
4 hats.
Jim, she said mysteriously. did
ou ever hide any money in your Sid
hairY-
Heavens, mol" .
well, then, Uncle Pershing did. Go ,,
ct an ak"
Ihat afternoon, when Mr.. Sellers /,
allied with his lawyer to take over ,
u the worldly property Of the Lud-
'we, he was disagreeably surprised
be handed check large enough to !
over the debt
,opyrighe, 1914 BY Mcclure Newspaper
syndieate.)