Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-15
Bad Luck
In Disguise
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey compan,
BY WILLIAM H. GREENE

w hSh 'iAohiptoh 1Tdy uTSI saw the
girl mex. door he said to himself:
Now l know why left a good home
in Hicksville and came to New York"
She was always simply dressed
with dark-brown hair, dark-blue eyes
and figure; but when Hampton had
seen her the third time he was "des.
perateiy in love-" as he forcefully ex.
pressed 1t, That was on a Sunday.
He awoke at six forty-five on Mon.
day morning in his clearinghouse in
West Forty-som ething Street His
first thought was of the girl, of
course. His next was of the long
week of work ahead in gloomy,
downtown Office.
He got up, glanced out of the win
dow, and saw that it was raining
drearily. When he got downstairs
there was prunes for breakfast iu.
stead of grapefruit. 1t was dismal
world.
A shrin whistle blew outside, and a
moment later the landlady handed
him letter. He opened it, and the
world promptly changed to the most
cheerful place he had ever before
seen. The letter read, in part, as fol
lows:
AS executor of the estate of your
uncle, the late Mr.. Andrew Littleton,
Of Hicksville, l am instructed to in.
form you that you have inherited the
sum of fifty thousand dollars
Hampton jumped to his feet and
yelled, "Hooray!" much to the as.
tonisbment of the other boarders.
We'll what do you think of that p"
he murmured. Uncle Anderw is
dead, and | have almost forgotten ne
was alive. Who would have thought
the old miser had all that money!"
Your grief is touching" remarked
the landlady but Hampton d.d not
hear He was busy reading further:
The sum of fifty thousand dollars,
which / now hold in my possession
chiefly in the form of government
bonds, and am prepared to deliver to
you upon your conformation to the
terms of the will.
Your uncle, as you must know, was
an eccentric man. His terms are that
within forty-eight hours after the re.
ceipt of this letter you are married to
Miss Gertrude Lamont, the only
daughter of his old friend, Major Her
bert Lamont. Miss Lamont will meet
you at my office, and receives like
sum of money upon her marriage to
you.
The expression of joy on Hampton
Gray's face became somewhat mod
Grated when he read the preceding
paragraph.
The letter went on to say:
In the event of either party refusing
to comply with this condition, his on
he. share of the money is forfeited,
going to the other party.
l would suggest that you call at my
Office to meet the lady in question, at
about eleven O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing, the seventeenth.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) FREDERICK VALENTINE.
Attorney at Law.
THE seventeenth! That's today"
sasped Hampton, and he dashed up
stairs, leaving most of his breakfast
and some very surprised and curious
fellow -boarders in the dining-room.
First he rang up his employers to
let them know he would not be down
TO work that day. Then he was free
TO think. And ne did some hard
thinking
Obviously, if the girl, Miss Lamont,
refused to marry him, that would set
lie all difficulties. But he fiattered
himself that she would not refuse
iinl-and fifty thousand dollars. Nor
could III refuse her.
And then: Just like a f1ash-an
dea." he cried. rao'ng out of his room
and down the hail.
AT the other end of the hall lived
an actor, who Sc, ned to be tenn
Dorarily out of work almost per-
nently. He was still in bed when
Hampton burst in upon him, scarcely
waiting to knock.
Read that!" he shouted handing
him the letter.
Really" protested the actor Sleep
NY, but he read 1t.
Congratulations, old chap" he
said, but why de you wake me UP
right in the middle of the night? ut
was little after 8 a. n.y. He turned
over and prepared to go to sleep
again.
You've got to get up and help me-"
said Hampton. There's no time to
waste. / want a-what do you call
the thing? A makeup"
whats the idea?"
Cant you see? If | can disgust
this girl and make her refuse to marry
me. I'll get all the money myself"
Don't be a hog" said the actor.
1T isn't that" rejoined Hampton.
but don't want to marry her."
How do you know? She may be
Eli to the good"
1--WE already seen the girl Pm going
to marry" declared Hampton solemn.
ly "She lives next doorD