The Prescott daily news., 1915-03-09

Hassam Ali and Jimmy Bolton. Would her dear son come immediately and see if he could put this mystery where it belonged? He wired hnck that he would.
 Of course there was no dOuht in his mind that some one was playing a practical joke of a grewsome sort, but he also realized that it might turn into serious affair if it was permitted to continue
 He laughed at one moment and swore at the next Why the perpetra- tors of the joke had selected the hill back of the storm place set him think ing deeply.
 He decided to go home and lay the ghost, as the saying goes He packed up, sent letter to Zudora and left town.
 When Zudora received the letter she was greatly perturbed It seemed to her that what appeared as a bit of coarse foolery might have as its base something serious regarding the wei. fare of her love and his people Rather diffidently she sought HasSam Ais ad vice
 Her uncle shrugged Some country pumpkin is playing a joke on the more simple minded. Go and solve it if you wish, only you'n have your trouble for your pains"
 But how do you account for the hand%
 'Trckery, pure and simple; phos- phoreScence mayhap The negro mind at least the southern negro--is full of kinks ike his hair He will take it as a sign that the world is coming to aH end
 "Some negroes have already desert ed It looks to me something more than an idle Jest"
 HaSsam Ali gave her quick. shrevd glance He wondered what was goin4 on in the @irl's mind Had sLe any SuSpicionst it was inherent for her to speak the truth.
 Have you intimated to storm of thr 1old?" he asked
 "No' rather Scorufuuy "l have given ny word You ought to know that 1 never break it."
 But often regret giving nE"
 "perhapS
 "Weu my advice IS. stay home There Is no reason why you should take any risks on account of storms people
 "\ou said II wa> probably a bump EinS Joke"
 Yes. but the negroes cannot hr trusted in case where their imagina tion may get the better of their com mon sense Better wait untl you hear from this foot of a lover of yours"
 "l am better able to judge John storm than you" coldly He is not n fool
 "Hoity-toity! Hasn't II ever occurred 10 you that Storm is young. alone and built like most young menY'
 What do you mean by that?"
 Has he told you everything about his life before ne met you?"
 "Will yon kindly explain:"
 ANCL Iiili l'l'tlIl Stllu IIdSSdIU All and, having planted this barb of doubt ;uneu on his heel and retired to his den. rather well satisfied with himself But Iudora s love was like shield. The barb bounded off harmlessly. John Storm was clean man in thought and u .Ic She had not passed through this peculiar schooling of hers without being able to read between the lines She was absolutely certain that love could not blind her to any defects in John All IIaSsam Ali accomplished by his innuendo was to enlarge that smoldering suspicion which was ever in her heart
 good many of us are nearsighted mentally. It is easier to judge things in the distance than close at hand. While the general world knew that Hassam Ali was a miser, Zudora was quite ignorant of the fact. Had she definitely known of his inordinate love of gold, her subsequent miseries might nave been avoided to some extent.
 storm went south immediately. The home was simple and comfortable.