The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-06
The Right Man
By VICTOR REDCuFFE
CcOpyriEht. IsI7. western Newspaper Unioa-I

what did you draw, MonteT
The trooper addressed held up a
small neat muffier, dainty perfumed,
neatly knit and with a card attached
reading, Ladies Aid Society, Bluffton,
Illinois" Monte proceeded to fix the
pretty trifie under his coat, slipped the
card into his pocket, and watched the
goings on among his fellow soldiers in
the big tent of the regular army con-
tingent encamped on Texas soil.
A great mass Of donations for the
boys in blue had come in with the
morning train, was deposited in the big
tent and there was scramble choice for
tthe various packages.
II was a joyous, animated scene q
every man was bettered and uplifted
by the CHEEKY break in camp m%onotony.
All kinds of pretty handmade trifes
went the rounds, from pin cushions to
| neckties. Monte Bruce went over to
his own tent and was about TO throw
the card away, when he noted on its
reserve side a penciled date and under
it the name, wanda Beverly"
"Why. I've found a lady love" he
chuekled. He sat down and indlted a
chatty. ingenious letter to the donor
of the neck scarf.
He had come across a photograph OF
his lieutenant, Joyce Griscom, taken at
his best of that really handsome and
daring young officer, invaded on &C
count of fever for ninety days and gone
North TO ~convalesce. A~udaciously
Monte inclosed Ii and within a week a
sisterly. heartsome epistle came In re-
turn.
Meanwhile the original Of the photo
graph was spending his furlough pleas
antly at Wadham, not half a hundred
miles from Button. Fate plays strange
capers with its victims.
Griscom was passing a well-appoint-
ed house when he paused to comfort
| a little child at its gate. She was seat
ed inside Of 1t, sobbing bitterly.
"why, little one, whatever is the
trouble?" queried Griscom.
"The-the gate slammed !" wept the
child, "and killed my dolly, my booful
Katydidl Only See" The child point
ed to the doll in question. Its china
head was denuded Of n cheek, ear
and eye, which lay In brittle fragments
on the ground.
Don't cry, little one" cheered Girls
com. "Here, and with his penknlfe he
severed the loose threads that held the
dismantled head to the body Of the
doll. 'T1l take this to match for a new
one, and when you get up tomorrow
morning youTl find 1t on your door
STEP"
Griscom purchased a rev china head
In the village and the next morning
turned from the street into the grounds
Of the house where the child lived.
He did not go up the steps, for by
leaning over he was able TO place the
package on the step. Just at that mo-
ment the door opened. A beautiful
young girl of eighteen gazed strangely
at him. He dotted his cap.
81 found a tiny mourner yesterday
outside here, ~bemoaning a great loss"
explained Griscom quickly, sand prom
ised her a new dolls head. 1t Is In
that package"
"Yes-yes-but, excuse me-thank
you"
Griscom regarded the young lady In
wonder. 81 have seen shy girls" he
soliloquized, "but this young lady
beats them all. Yes, she is shy, but
bewitchingly lovelyl"
So much so, that Joyce Griscom
could not Danish the memory of that
chance meeting. He passed the house
next morning. Someone was pointing
at one of the upper windows. Abruptly
there was a crash, the echo of breaking
glass, and following 1t there fioated on
the air in p~laintive wailing accents the
words:
"Oh, please, come some onei Oh. LET
me outl"
Griscom rounded the house and
glanced at its upper story. At a shat
tered pane stood his little friend. She
was closely hugging her precious dolly
with its new head In place, and con
vulsed with tears.
whats the trouble, little onef' be
called up.
I'm locked In" mourned the child
"Sister has run over to a neighbours
and i came up to her to put dolly
TO bed. and the door blew shut anC
I was scared. Please let me out, won
your"
II certainly WILL" pledged Griscom
Turning to leave the room, his ey'
fell upon a framed photograph on thu
bureau. 1t was draped with flags o
the allies. He stared and marveled
my picture !" he fairly gasped. Lit
tie one," he spoke to his companion
"whose picture is that"
"Oh, that's a poor soldier down II
Texas, sister knows" came the limo
cent response. There she Is now"
, "Nita I" called up a voice from be
low.
aUrn oox.gn-u $ha anaUoF AnafQ