The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-05-18
A Worse Place
Than Up In the Air
BY Jt>HN Y. LARNED


like wonder. II occurred to me at
once that | must have met one with
whom | had been connected In the
past. My assurance is by no means
Of low order, and determined not
to assume the defensive.
"Can Il be-" hazarded, that have
met a friend Of my youthr
mo"
II have it. We were in Switzerland
together last summer"
I'VE we're not"
Strange" said, assuming thought
full tone and expression, that should
remember a person distinctly and yet
cannot call up the circumstances"-
II don't believe you remember hav-
ing met me Mt all"
| smiled and confessed that I did
not.
Never mind where we met" she
said, pouting.
at wasn't up in the clouds sailing
In aeroplanes. was itT'
Worse"
Upon my word. you speak in rid
dies! Please explain"
The lady changed the subject, speak
ing on ordinary topics. Curiosity led
me to retain the acquaintance | had
formed, and asked permission to call
But my affairs were in bad shape at
the time, and. being much worried.
failed to avail myself of the permits
sion granted. Matters went from bad
pered about that | was in financial
difficulty, and was pressed on every
side for payment of accounts for which
there were no funds ready One
morning the mail brought me letter
from John Simpson & Co. a firm do
ing the same kind of business that
did, stating that they had been made
aware that | needed funds to tide me
over difficulties and that they would
be happy to advance what required.
II is needless to say that such gen.
erosity surprised me. l had known
and done business with the concern,
but had no idea that it took any in
terest In me. called on Mr.. Simpson,
the head of the firm. and offered to
make a showing of my affairs with a
view to proving that a loan of $4,000
for year would pull me through
But could furnish no security. was
Informed that I would hear from him
within twenty-four hours. and the
next mornings mail brought me a
check for the amount | needed No
receipt to be signed was Enclosed moth
ing was said about a showing up Of
my accounts; no time was specified for
payment Twenty thousand dollars
were handed to me just as If they be-
longed to me. | called on Mr.. Simpson
at once for an explanation. but got no
satisfaction.
You go on doing business" he said
"You have the good will Of your com
petitors and business men generally.
Don't bother your head about the
money advanced Are you sure it is
a-plentyT
assured him that 1t was.
Being set up on my feet, my mind
was more at ease. and ] resumed my
social connections. One morning !
was passing shop where women's
goods are sold just as lady alighted
from an auto. recognized Mrs. Car
mody. the lady who remembered me.
but whom | had failed to remember.
Conscious of my neglect of her per
mission to call upon her | felt embar-
raised; but. pulling myself together,
| spoke to her. told her that pressure
of affairs had prevented my availing
myself Of the honor she had done me,
etc.
left her, thinking OF the mystery
concerning her. One thing especially
puzzled me. When ! had facetiously
suggested that we might have met up
In the air she had replied. Worse than
that" What did this mean? re-
solved to get II out of her and to call
upon her at once for the purpose.
"Now," | said to her when we were
seated tete-a-tete In her drawing
room. II confess that cannot remem-
Der you at all, and | wish you TO re-
lieye my curiosity by explaining what
you meant by saying that we had met
I'm worse place than up in the air."
Cant you think of a worse place
than that?"
mo"
Down under the water"
The expression on my face caused a
burst Of laughter that was both tan
talizing and becoming.
you and l." she continued, were
on board the Titanic together on her
last trip. We both went down or
were sucked down with the vessel
clutched some one under water. IL
was you When we came up | was
bereft of my senses. You unstrapped
your life preserver and gave 1t to me.
| chung to II till was picked up"
In time | married the widow, who
was wealthy, and she turned over TO
me the management of her affairs.
One day while looking over some old
papers Of hers | came upon her check
for $4,000 payable to John Simpson.
Then | knew who had advanced the
money that had saved me from finan-
cial failure. went TO my wife. EN-
braced her and covered her face with
kisses. She wished me to explain my
sudden demonstration Of affection. but