The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-04-28
WHAT ALLIED TOM?
BY WARD GRAHAM.


the eastern coast representative of
large automobile concern, opened VI
charming quarters In the new banl
building and had five machines at hi
disposal as exhibits to prosperity,
buyers.
Not only that, but he was a goet
mixer. He had known several of the
girls brothers at Yale. He had me-
them here and there in business. He
knew Gladys Martins aunt in Chicago
and Louise Ainsworth's grandfather in
Louisville.
Yet, after four months, the girls oil
Ottawa began to take an inventory OF
Toms capabilities, so to speak. He
measured up all right to their parents
standards, but as Louise put it:
There's something about Tom that's
wrong. I think he's too important"
mo, he's just lucky. He seems to
happen along always in the nick of
time. l wonder" Gladys hesitated, her
gray eyes dreamy and musing, 81
wonder how many times he's been en-
engaged"
Three times right here in Ottawa
Highlands" Beth Phillips said. 81 was
n of them. And l don't mind saying
n bit that 1t only lasted two weeks"
There had been a committee meet
ing at Beth's home. A Mi-Careme
bazaar was to be held in the town
hall, and somehow, after all arrange
ments and plans had been settled, the
talk had naturally drifted to Tom.
There were four girls present. Beth,
Gladys and Louise were old settlers
at the Highlands, but Nan Rogers vas
a wcom
DO know him" she asked.
You will" sighed Louise. Nobody
who ONE here escapes him. Bot he
won't bother you. He can't bear girls
who have red hair"
you ought to be glad of it, too,
Man," cried Beth. Hes impossible.
He gets on you nerves because he
always does the right thing, don't you
know. You feel he was born fully
equipped for life. What part are you
going to take In the tableaux?"
Il want to be Queen Elizabeth be-
cause she had red hair, but l can't,
SO Gladys put me down as Good Luck.
I believe I am to bear the magic sym
Dol of a white horse upon my banner.
carry a bouquet of four-leaf clovers
and jingle some horseshoes, with
swastikas sprinkled right plentifully
over my gown"
When I was engaged to Tom" be-
gan Gladys, In a purely offhand man.
ner, "he told me he had a lot of lucky
charms he'd picked up in his many
rambles over the fair face of Mother
Earth. Maybe he'd loan us some"
I'll ask him for the charms as
go by tonight" said Nan, laughingly.
I'm afraid you'll all be cross to him"
The automobile Office was we'll light
ed as she came down Main street. 1t
was half past four. Tom glanced up
the door swung breezily open and
wondered why she walked past his
1esk to that Of his assistant.
"Oh, Roswell, l wonder If you'd
mind introducing me to Mr.. Ames."
said mischievously, I've got to
borrow something from him for our
and he doesn't know me at
H."
1t was a splendid starter. Tom was
Wiling, before she left, to pledge all
i've machines as well as the lucky :
harm to her service. He wondered ;
'aguely how he could ever have avoid :
d girls with red hair. :
Only n thing she had said dis :
urbed him. :
1 don't believe you W anything to !;
o%urself, Mr.. Ames," she had said :
easingly. You're Just lucky" !
That bothered him. He went to the :
if-Careme bazaar with more than in :
crest, and the other girls looked at .
conquest with pity. -
Nan refused to flirt. She was frank :
gay with him, brimful of good r
o~mradeship; but no sentiment. T
Listen just a minute she flashed
i~mpetuously. You don't have to r
axe love to me, MI. Ames, just TO be
)pular. / don't want to be engaged
you" She laughed at him. Don't
~ think you could try and play a
record with me, say, a friendship u
di
Look out for your dress, Nany" N
lied Louise quickly, leaning over IN
r table to try to reach Mans ell m
w. But 1t was too late. She had al
aned back against a little bunch OF 81
'hted candles on the candle table 81
d the little licking tongue of fire
q to her shoulder, caught hungrily a
her hair, her throat and breast. Just bl
he did 1t, Tom never quite knew. m
ere was a scramble among those ab
as he whipped OF his coat and to
appel 1t around her, lifted her in TO-
arms and carried her outdoors. m
Ter the excitement was over, the To-
Is at the candy table stared at one a
Gre
His hands were awfully burned" fla
d Beth, softly. cal
And when he knelt out there In the Sill
W and put out the fire she put her eva
I around his neck. Then ho wro mr. am