Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-17

chain: and his face mad turned sud
denly pale. my ideas have changed
somewhat about things back In Pros
perity. but I can't stand for having
that girl roasted. even In a joke
1t was over y month before he
came In again. and the Manicure Girl
had missed him. Now she saw at
once that something was wrong. He
was nervous and a~bstracted, though
he tried to be his old fippant Belt.
With the shrewd eyes OF Miss vii.
llams upon him he kept thinking OF
mi thing while he talked of another,
asked questions without listening to
the answers, then asked the same
questions again.
How much did you lose?" she
finally asked him,
He stared at her In wonder.
How did you know? Where did
you hear?" he slowly questioned.
You've been telling me ever since
you anne In" she said.
II expect I have" he admitted.
We'll, they got to me In Jumps and
gobs. For the past month | think |.
was about the only bull In a bear
market. went down the creased in
cline so fast 1t smoked from the fric-
tion. The first Of this week I had
to sell both automobiles
Il can see the headlight and the
glimmer studded watch going next"
she commented, with a shake OF her
head. Il suppose they've about got
all that automobile money by now"
Suppose again." he retorted. They
did get nearly all of 1t at first, but
the market changed at last, and I've
made q little money since. II Id close
out now Id have at least three thou.
sand"
"Tell me where 1t is and I'll go
get it for you," offered the Manicure
Girl, hastily, you take that money
and go right back to Prosperity. In
diana; buy the village dry goods EN-.
porium; marry that girl; settle down
and get fat, Then this experience
will have done you good"
He shook his head.
~ can never go back there" he
said; never! That's not my world.
l tell you. I'll make back the money
l. lost. I've learned a few tricks in
the last couple of weeks
"Oh. New York will educate you"
she owned; "but. you know, college
graduates don't amount to much"
Never mind he insisted. I've
played this game to win before. and
can do It again. Watch me-"
You'd better send at least one
thousand dollars Of that money to the
girl back home to plant under the
cellar stairs" she suggested.
She watched him narrowly. and
then she smiled'to herself. The men.
ton of the girl in Prosperity did not
seem to annoy him this time.
That much money wouldn't scare
her, at any rate" he said, smiling.
She's rather well-to-do for a coun-
try town. She's an orphan and lives
with her married sister. But don't
you worry about that thousand. /
can use that to elegant advantage
myself"
The next time she saw him was on
the street. He tried to pass on by
with a nod, but she called to him and
he came back reluctantly.
"What's the matter with you?" she
demanded. You look like a yester-
days three-cent bunch OF soup vege-
tables" ,-.9 =
He glanced down at himself rue
fully. His clothes needed brushing
and pressing, his shoes needed polish.
Ing, his face needed shaving.
"Ill give you four guesses," he Of
fered, with an attempt at his old
gayety.
Il only need one" she replied.
You wouldn't listen to your Aunt
Bessie. and they got you"
Yes" he admitted. they got me
and they got me good. haven't a
dollar" &
What are you going to do"
4"I don't know" he said. and. In
spite OF his attempt to carry 1t or
m%anfully, there was a catch in bis
voice. The ginger was all out of him.
TN get another start somehow, l
guess"
"Oh, yes" she agreed. Some of
your friends are sure to help you get
hack on your feet again: Beauty
Phillips. for instance"
Hang Beauty PhilIips." he said.
Such language" she exclaimed.
but nevertheless she secretly delight
ed in 1t, this time. II guess you're
about ready to go back to Prosperity"
she decided.
He drew a sharp breath.
I'D die frst!" he declared. I'll
live some way, though. They always
i've" and he laughed bitterly. II
passed a group of Just such men as
i may become. sitting on the stone
bench at Herald square: but I'll keep
on living. ] am sure OF that"
He seemed to be afraid that he
would not, He, seemed to be afraid
OF himself. and suddenly Miss VIII
liams saw with n shock that he was
zone of the tragedy kind" II set
her to swift thought. and a sudden
bold idea came to her,
II believe . know of an opening for
you" she said, with a suppressed
gasp at her own temerity; "a part
nership that would be about the best
thing you ever had offered 70 you
Come around and see me next Mon
day afternoon"
What kind Of a business Is 81" he