The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-08-17

Like his fellow dodgers, Walter was
wont to walk a block or two and get
his meals at this or that convenient
restaurant. One day bright Idea
struck him. There were probably over
hundred dodgers In the house. One
half of its lower floor, once rented as
an art store, was vacant. II he could
start model home-like restaurant and
secure the bulk of the house trade,
that alone would give him profitable
business.
Within a week, then, observe the in
experienced but keen-witted Walter
the proprietor of a neat, roomy, we'll
appointed restaurant. He called 1t The
Elite, and he proposed to cater to fair
prices. He was fortunate In securing
man and his wife who were skilled
cooks. He impaired to them some new
wrinkles as to fish. game and Salads
the details of which they followed out
closely.
Then each morning Walter sent
waiting through the upper rooms, pur-
sely and Systematically, the aroma
Of the most fragrant coffee. At dinner
time the exquisite flavor from his
roasts tantalizingly influenced appe-
titles that brought his clients hasten
ing to the wcll-flled board.
Twice week Walter invented, and
In fact himself individually prepared
coma pnftnfn0 dainty that ,,.,, hin,
fame and profit, not only in the house
but throughout the whole neighbor-
hood. A visit to The Elite began to
be quite fad. In fact, Walter pros
pered. 1t was happy moment In his
life when he sent Darrell a draft for
a thousand dollars to place to the ac-
count of his beloved uncle, temporarily
hampered, as Walter well knew, as to
ready coin.
Then. one evening, Walter met his
fate. He was attending to the CASH
ier's desk, as was his wont, when a
young girl of about twenty timidly en-
tered the dining room. She was
stranger to Walter, but her beauty
and grace, and above all, a sad, pitiful
something in the expression of her
face attracted and unclaimed his at
tention. The girl looked poor, friend
less and chilled. She glanced over the
bill of fare, sighed and ordered a bowl
of bread and milk.
Unobtrusively Walter watched her.
He realized that she was desperately
hungry. He saw her glance with pain
full intensity at the more appetizing
dishes on other tables. He watched
her count out two or three coins, all
that her shabby purse contained. Wal
ter slipped over to the head waiter
and whispered rapid instructions into
her ear.
BEG pardon, Miss" spoke the wait
err, approaching the lonely girl defer
but there is an extra to-
night; no charge, you know--cold roast
and dessert
She believed the arrant lie and ate
her fill. She paid her modest bill and
left the room. The waiter hurried to
Walter.
"The young lady dropped this, sir"
he said to him, and the latter, unrol-
ling a folded bit of paper read a brief
note directed to sister In a distant
city, telling that lack of work and pow
erty was driving the writer to despera-
ton.
Out into the street dashed Walter.
He overlook the object Of his quest at
the payt cornar
Young lady," he said boldly, 81 read
this note. You are going to let me play
big brother, and place you In charge
of my landlady, and take position as
my cashier, after you get rested. Not
a word I'm thinking of dear ones at
home who will bless me for being kind
to poor girl In distress"
"And then" narrated Walter to his
uncle six months later, when he and
Ada Benson that had been, and Ada
Lane that was, visited the old folk,
"she became my partner for life"
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