Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-11-08
swell THAT ENDS WELL
BY HOLIDAY GRAY.

"Good morning!" quavered a high,
thin old voice from window where
the morning sun was streaming in.
"How are you this morning, sir?"
"Rotten =" answered Denny.
"What time was 1.-two, three or
four o'clock-when you went to bed?"
asked the old man with fine sarcasm.
give said Denny.
"That is precisely the hour I turned
out, at your age. May ask what you
were doing?"
1t pleased Denny to tell the truth.
Usual thing-show, cabaret and
club"
"Why don't you get married?"
Denny spread his hands. "What
on? 1 haven't two cents"
"Why don't you go to work, then,
pick out nice girl and settle down."
81 have picked out girl said Den
ny. springing up and pacing the floor,
hands in pockets. "And that is just
what I came to talk to you about. l
want to work, but the education you
have given me doesn't seem to count
much"
81 believe you're right, boy" The
old man closed his book and tapped 1t
thoughtfully. "Of course you know
that some day you'll have all I've got.
But 1 hope to be here for some time
to come and in the meantime-show,
cabaret, club! I'll see how much you
mean what you say. You see that set
of Shakespeare I bought last year?
Well, I've decided that it's older and
more valuable than I at first supposed.
There's no record of it that 1 can find,
but if you can find out the date and
history of the edition I'll give you the
start in life you need"
"Its a go, sir!"
That night he went to see Mary
Page.
"Mary, I've never before been in a
position to tell you, but believe l
see daylight ahead. I love you, dear
little girl. If succeed will you mar
ry me?''
"Only waiting to be asked, Denny"
she replied promptly.
After a season Of rapturous silence
Denny explained. "Grandfather has
some rare books, you know. Hes a
dyed-in-the-wool bibliomaniac. Last
year he bought a rare old edition OF
Shakespeare, but there was no record
of it to be had. Rosencranz, the man
he got it from, is dead, and no one
knows where Rosencranz got it. I'm
to hunt up the history Of the thing and
after that grandad will start me in
business. That means you, Mary. It's
worth working for, isn't it, dear?'
Then started q period Of study and
investigation for Denny which meant
more application, hard work and self
denial than he had ever before under
taken in his gay young life. He haunt
ed book shops and collections, libraries
and publishers to get some clew that
would lead to the discovery Of the
history of the books. He studied bind
ing and processes, modern illustrating
and old illuminations. But this side
of the Atlantic yielded no information
on the subject, and Denny determined
to cross the water in spite Of German
submarines, to pursue his investiga-
tionS in England.
Then Mary, who had taken keen
interest in his efforts and had followed
every move he had made, decided to
do something. There was something
she had known about the books all
along that she had not told Denny.
And, going to her trunk one day she
took out a paper, yellow, creased and
brittle with age.
That night, knowing Denny was
away, she went to the great house fac
ing the park. Instead of ringing the
bell, she tried the front door softly. it
gave to her touch and opened without
sound. She slipped through the
soft-carpeted, high-ceiled hall into the
library, keeping close to the velvet cur
tains. Tiptoeing to the case that held
the precious old books she searched
until she found one volume with q
much-worn back. Under the discol-
ored calfskin she slipped the paper
she had taken from her trunk and
then, replacing the book on the shelf,
she quietly closed the door.
"When old Rosencranz would give
me only two hundred dollars for the
set, 1 am glad now didn't find the
paper until after he sold them. Father
always said they were worth ten thou
sand dollars as they were in the col
lection of Queen Elizabeth. But they
have served their purpose and | am
satisfied"
The next morning Marv as'-ed inno-
Gently: Denny, why dol 7ou search
the books thoroughly? Sometimes old !
books have things slowed away in
them we never dream Of"
II have looked!" declared Denny,
"but before go abroad III make sure.