Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-03

O'Neil did as he was directed and
before long found himself reciting the
details OF that trying trip up the Salm-
on river He told her how he had
sent the young engineer out TO run the
preliminary survey for the new rail
road and added: He is in a fair way
to realize his ambition of having you
with him all the time I'm sure that
will please you"
And II is my ambition TO make
enough money TO have him with me"
she announced. With an air of some
importance she continued: "Ill tell you
secret I'm writing for the maya
zines-stories!' She sat back await.
ing his enthusiasm. When she saw
that II was not forthcoming she ex
claimed. My. how you do rave over
the idear
II congratulate you. OF course, but
Now. don't tell me that you tried it
q harmless disease, like the measles.
and that everybody has 1t when they're
young Above all. don't volunteer the
information that your own life is full
OF romance and would make a spien-
did novel They all say that
Murray O'Neil felt the glow of per
sonal interest that results from the dis
covery I'm another OF congenial sense
OF humOr
II didn't suppose you had 10 write, ="
he said Dan told me you had in
vested your fortune and were on Easy
street"
THAT was poetic license. | fiction.
ized slightly IN my report 10 him be-
cause knew be was doing so we'll"
"rhen your investment didn't turn
our fortunately?
Miss Appleton hesitated. "You seem
to be a kindly. trusting person. I'm
tempted TO destroy your faith in hu.
man nature
Please don't"
Yes. | shall. My experience may
help you TO avoid the pitfalls of high
finance. Well. then. IL was a very sac
little fortune. to begin with. like a boy
I'm grammar school-Just big enough &C
lie Of no assistance. But even a boys
size fortune looked big TO me. ] want.
cd 10 invest ii I'm something sure-no
national bank stock. subject TO the dan.
ger OF an absconding cashier. mind you
no government bonds with the possibil.
ity of war to depreciate them. but
something stable and agricultural. with
the inexhaustible resources of nature
Of In,
guage. cribbed 1t from the apple
man"
Apple MANI"
Yes. He had brown eyes and a
silky mustache and n big irrigation plan
over east OF the mountains. You gave
him your money and he gave you a
perfectly good receipt. Then he plant
ed little apple trees He nursed them
tenderly for FIVE years. after which he
turned them over TO you with his bless.
ing and you lived happily for evermore.
At least that was the HeS. You could
not fail TO grow rich, for the water al
ways dubbed through his little ditch
and IT never froze nor rained 10 spoil
things. ! used to love apples. And
then there was my name. which seem
ed n good omen. But lately I've con
sidered changing Appleton 10 Berry
or 'Plummer' or some other kind Oi
fruit"
81 infer that the scheme failed
O'Neil's eyes were half closed witt
amusement.
Yes. IL was a good scheme, too, ex
cept for the fact that the irrigation
ditch ran uphill and that there wasn't
any water where It started from and
that apples never had been made e
grow In that locality because OF some
thing in the soil and that brown eyed
Betty's title TO the land wouldn't hold
water any more than the ditch. Other
wise I'm sure he'd have made "A sue
cess and I'd have spent my declining
years In a rocking chair under the fall
Ing apple blossoms, eating pippins and
Jonathans and Northern Spies. | cam
bear to touch them now. Life at my
boarding house is one long battle
against apple pies, apple buildings. ap
pie tapioca. Ugh! l hate the very
word"
Il can understand your aversion.
laughed O'Neil. II wonder II you
would let me order dinner for both OF
rs. provided ! taboo fruit Perhaps
I'll think OF something more to tell you
about Dan. I'm sure he wouldn't OBJ
ject"-
"Oh, my card is all the chaperon
needl II takes me everywhere and
renders me superior TO the smaller con
ventionalities." She handed him one
and he read. Eliza v. Appleton-Th,
Review"