The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-20

Happiness In the Fire.
had gathered from acquaintances who
had been to New York that the mar
riage had proved unhappy. He was
genuinely shocked, for he had thought
Leontine would forget Jerry and come
to love her husband. Then. when the
months went by and no letter arrived.
John Walcott came to II resolution.
He meant to sell out and return
home, to seek his daughter and settle
down in the land of his birth.
But before the plan could be put
into execution startling information ar
rived. Sebastian was dead, a criminal,
II suicide. hunted by the police for
many crimes.
He had left no will, and his entire
property had descended to his wife,
Leontine.
John Walcott started for New York
at once, to find his daughter. He put
up at an elegant hotel, the Mecca of
South Americans.
He had arrived an hour before, and
| now. having shaken the dust of travel
off his clothes, he was seated in
chair in the corridor, enjoying a brief
rest before starting for police head
quarters to prosecute his search. Sud
| denly he heard his name called, and.
looking up, he perceived Jerry Car
son standing in front of him, his hand
extended.
Walcott sprang to his feet in amaze
| ment that robbed him of the powers of
| speech.
Its all right, SIR" said Jerry. "Its
and not my ghost. How long have
you been in New York;"
"Wh-what are you-how did your"
| Walcott began.
ITS n long story" answered Jerry,
"but you shall know 1t nll little later
Let me assure you that have proved
my innocence. Do you accept my
word for that?"
John Walcott looked into Jerry's
eyes and gulped.
"Forgive me, my boy" he said husk-
lily.
80 much that I am going to ask you
to assist at my wedding and give the
bride away" said Jerry.
Your wedding! When?"
'In ten minutes. It's to take place
| uulOTIuDHIely
alone in the world and want you to
do this, in token of-well, you under.
stand"
| John Walcott blinked. Everything
was swimming through a mist of tears.
| Il only wish 1t could have been Le-
ontine," he muttered, wringing the
young mans hand hard. "Yes, I'll do
it, Jerry. By the way, you haven't any
information as to my daughters where
abouts? Since that scoundrel died I've
been sorely troubled"
Don't worry about her." answered
Jerry
Il understand you, Jerry" said Wal
colt. You'd hardly be expected to
have another mans daughter on your
mind at such a time as this. Yes, I'll
come along"
Jerry led him up the stairs to the
second floor, where number of guests
We're assembled in the corridor outside
Il large reception room. Walcott was
a little astonished at the magnificence
of the preparations. Evidently Jerry
had a rich bride, for the room into
which he looked was one mass of roses.
| Jerry led him toward the altar at the
end of the room, into which the guests
were now streaming. They waited.
Then down the room, her train car
ried by pages, came the bride. John
Walcott gulped. How very like Leon
tine she was.
But when she reached the altar he
looked hard. uttered cry, and caught
her In his arms. "Leontine !" he stam-
mered. "iy dear-Leontine
And the bride, all needless of prog
nostications as to a fearful wedding.
sobbed in her fathers arms, while Wal
colt wiped his own eyes frankly.
This" he said solemnly, as the hap
piest day of my life. God bless you
| both of you"
| Nor did he feel a fathers natural
Jealousy ut the adoring hook which
Jerry cast upon his sweetheart, now
mis- after so many years. For he un-
derstood and shared their happiness.
! THE END.l