Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-10-02
THE BLESSED G|vER'
IN Watching Course Of Somebody
EIse's True Love, Keep Out
of Rough Spots.
tCopyright.)

(Copyright.)
Well, Ill be hanged" said Cotton,
rs he %nervously fingered the envelope
the postman had left. "A wedding
invitation; l can tell them intuitivs-
H."
He was right. Bobby and Mabel,
two of his warmest friends, had
at last decided to discard the yoke
OF single ~blessedness for a new sort
Of yoke. Not the slightest doubt as
TO what was expected of him, either.
Hadn't he promised Bobby once, as
the pair stood with their feet on the
rail of a certain thirst emporium,
that he would do his share to make
the great event a worthy one when the
time rolled around? The great event"
had seemed far in the future, which
only goe to prove the old adage that
time flies.
Cotton stood before the pier-glass,
a sheer curling the corners of his
lips.
You're about the biggest fool l
know" he said, addressing his image.
Here you are without a red cent in
your pocket-or anywhere else-ex-
pected to attend a swell wedding,
which, in plain everyday English.
means, cab. flowers, and a present
which can't cost less than q hundred
dollars.
"Bobby's your good old pal-you
know that, don't you? And you're not
going to send him something you're
ashamed of-you know that, don't
you? Yes. you do; SO get busy!
There's no Isl putting things off.
Who was the duck that wrote pro
crastination Is the thief of time and
SO forth?' he unused, as he left the
house.
Well, never mind; I've forgotten
his name. The great and pertinent
question is, What frst?' I've got to
have an even hundred. suppose, on
q pinch, that could cover cab and
flowers as well is the present. Might
soak my watch; case alone's worth a
cool two hundred. But l won't;
think too much Of 1t. / have it; I'll
see Billy Martin! He said once that
If ever | was in. trouble to call on
him. All right, Bill-here l comet"
The elevator soon landed him on
the twelfth floor of the Office building
where Billy worked.
Billy received him cordially, and
heard his tale of woe. OF course
Cotton said nothing about the wed.
ding.
Sorry. old man." he said; but
had a note fall due unexpectedly yes
terday. You know how these things
are. I'd like to do this for you, but
He shrugged his shoulders in a way
that said palmer than words: Moth
ing doing!"
Il need it bad" confided Cotton.
We'll, I'll tell you what to do, Dick
You go over to see Tom Nodding
ton. You know where Tom is-in the
Commercial Bank building. He Otter
accommodates the boys without {
bit of security. I'm sure he'll fix YOU
up"
"All right. Thanks, old man." Col
ton responded, and took his leave.
We'll, now, I'll tell you," said Mr.
Noddington, when Cotton had ex
planned the object Of his visit, "Iv'
lost SO much by loaning out small
sums indiscriminately that I've quit
No personal affront intended, Mr.. Col
ton. I'd like to accommodate you
but"
mo. you couldn't very well unde
the circumstances, could you. Mr.. Nod
dington? Good day, SIR"
"Doggone Billy Martini" fiared Col
ton, as he found himself again il
the street. Sending me to a maj
like that! He might have saved m
the humiliation. But the hundred
l must have that!"
The incident slipped from his MIND
rs new thoughts crowded Into hi
brain.
"Ah!" he exclaimed suddenly
There's Newt Billings over there
I'll hail him. He's always been
good friend of mine.
Hey, there. Newt Wait a minut,
can't your"
Sure" responded Newt. "Wher
In the world have you been keel
ing yourself? Haven't seen you In
dogs age"
Been a little under the weathe
Say, old man, I've got to raise a hui
dred dollars. Don't know where
can get 1t, do your"
mo. l don't Dick. ! was, abo,
to strike you for a tenner mysel
I'm broke; played the ponies yeste
day and got swabbed out as clean 9
a gun-barrel. You might go see De
Turner. He's an accommodating so
OF q fellow-let me have two hundrs
ON my note last spring"
you think he'd do it, Newtr'
Cotton recalled his experience
q few minutes previous. He had I
inclination to have the dose repeats
"Surel You won't have q bit
trouble"