The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-03-22

Joe's had been when he thought of the
heart of old Torrey.
1t certainly was not entirely "all the
comforts of home" that had drawn
young Burnell to the house Of Mrs.
Burke. AS Mr.. Torrey had surmised,
there was a daughter. The tender
memory of her had fingered with Joe
for year; and not only memory, but
several letters had passed between
them, the matter of securing a room
having required a large amount of cor
respondence.
Margaret Burke had good honest
gray eyes, shining brown hair, and a
pleasant mouth which she never
touched with rouge. The red of her
lips and checks came from whole
some life and plenty of exercise In
helping her mother take care Of the
summer boarders. She was well edu-
Gated and well-read for a girl Of
twenty. Her mother, who had been
left widow when Margaret wns
twelve had seen to her education out
os school in the many ways that euiy
u mother of good breeding can.
Joe and Margaret had gone a-flshtng.
All, what n glorious day it was! The
sHn just glinted through the leaves
enough to let you know he was shin
ing his brightest, and not enough to
trouble the two who sat on the bank
of the little stream with the corks Of
their lines bobbing on the surface.
Were the fish biting? Well, no. 1t
was not exactly good day for fishing,
altogether too sunny. But what did
that matter? 1t was much more Inn
portant that they We're together, that
they talked of things that brought out
greater understanding of each other,
and-well. after all, just that they
were together.
They were rather ashamed to go
home with just two fish, but Margaret
had sudden sense of being wanted In
the kitchen, and they started. When
about half way, Joe paused as though
struck by thunderbolt.
/ Mr.. Torrey loomed up, If small
man can "loom," in the pathway. fac
ing them. Joe, being too dazed for
utterance, Mr.. Torrey spoke first.
"Well, Burnell!" !" he observed cheer
fully. Large catch, isn't it?"
Joe endenvored to cover his embar-
rassment by Immediately introducing
the gentleman to Miss Burke.
"Where are you stopping, Mr.. Tor
rey?" he asked.
"At the Grandview."
"Oh, that can't be half rs good rs
my place. Come and dine with me,
right now"
Torrey looked as though he was try
Ing to invent an excuse to refuse, but
he changed his mind, and went.
Mrs. Burke made the stranger very
welcome. She was CHEEKY little wom-
an, with hair just whitening bit on
the temples, a pretty color, and very
blue eyes. There was only one other
boarder besides Burnell. She was an
elderly lady, who had been there for
four summers, and was quite one of
the family. Tho dinner was good, and
the guest ate with a surprising relish.
1t was cozy and "homey," and it was
plain to see Mr.. Torrey felt this.
Three days later Mr.. Torrey asked
to be taken in, and was given large.
pleasant room, which Burnell had in
sisted on giving up, all unknown to the
new boarder. Old Torrey fell in with
all excursions planned by the others,
the elderly lady preferring to remain
at home. He hired large touring car,
and they explored regions quite un-
known to the widow and her daughter.
Joe saw with great delight that Tor
rey was looking younger. talking
younger, and acting younger. But some
thing strangely like stab at his heart
came when he saw Torrey going of
with Margaret for long walks, and
looking at her with tender eyes Of un-
derstanding. Why had he brought this
man here to rob him of all that life
held for him? The next moment he
was filed with remorse for the
thought. Was it possible this old
mans money was more to the girl than
his love?
One evening Torrey asked Joe to
go with him for little walk. Out
Of sight of the house he said: maybe,
Joe, you'll think me an old fool, but
I'm going to be married"
Joe, feeling faint and stricken, man.
aged to say: That's quite your own
affair. IL hope you'll be very
happy"
"I expect to be-" said Torrey, with
brisk conviction.
Margaret is the dearest"
"Margaret!" !" broke in the other. "Do
you think I'm going to marry childf
I expect to be her stepfather. l had
to get her to kind of intercede, you
know"
Joe came so near falling in his arms
that Torrey, quite unexpectedly to him
self, embraced the boy.
Working for Success.
Success does nor olwoys c0mp to