Ripley County democrat., 1917-04-20
ONE WAY OUT
sy ELSIE SIZE.

(.
II can't see any romance where a
penniless youth falls In love with the
richest girl In seven states,' grumbled
Dick.
"Things do look dark" admitted
Jerry. But I've seen you save the
day too many times on football field
when things looked dark to doubt that
you'll come out Of this tnngle with cox
0rs flying and the lady In your arms"
"You get out-Ive got an idea r
Dick almost yelled, and his glittering
eye told Jerry that prodigIous plan
was forming In his mind.
For the next month, wniie anne
Morrison danced and motored and
golfed, and while Jerry Dayton did
likewise, Dick Stanford kept to his in-
surance Office by day and to his apart
ment BY night until Jerry gave up try
ing to draw him into social life or to
draw from him the secret of his night
ly labors. AT the end Of a month, how
ever. Jerry's curiosity and his vanity
were gratifed by an invitation to
Dicks apartment to be the audience
Of one to, hear the first reading OF
Dicks play entitled, "Out Of the Tan
gle"
"Bully for you. old boy r and erich
ard, you'll back the dramatized best
sellers Off the boards" were comments
that came from the delighted Jerry
during the first part of the reading,
but later he protested: "Oh, come now,
Dick, whoever heard Of O rich uncle
from Alaska turning up to back an im-
pecunious nephew In scheme to drive
his prospective father-in-law to the
wall as means Of making him sue
cumb gracefully to the relationships
sand whoever heard OF people going
to the theater to see something they've
heard all about every day Of their
llves?" retorted Dick.
II throw up my hands !" said Jerry,
making IN exaggerated demonstration
Of his acceptance Of defeat. "On with
the play!"
Dick did 60 on with the play. and
the play went on the boards almost I'm
mediately, bringing SO much money
into the box office and such flatterlng
offers to Its author that he was soon In
sight of aflluencc. Dick began to hope
that he dared approach Anne Morri-
sons hopelessly rich father as q pros
pectiye sonin-law, but 1t was Jerry's
unhappy lot to knock those hopes fly
Ing.
"Old man, I've got some rotten news
for YOU" said Jerry, as he rounded a
corner Of a shady country lane. whittier
he had taken Dick for spin In re-
marknbly new yellow car. "0ur coms-
pany is closing a deal with Elihu Mon
tague for that big lot adjoining the
Morrison home in Huntley place which
seems like confirmation of all those
reports TINT Anne and old Montague
are engaged" E
"You're a regular storehouse for
comforting thoughts, Jerry"
.srhe other. cheek. please" said
Jerry, with mock humility, but smiling
80 benlgnly that Dick laughed In spite
0f his detection. I'm making myself
the bearer af unpleasant tidings to
give you last chance to go in and
win"
"A great chance I've got to go in
and win now" muttered Dick.
~rhe smaller your chances the big
ger your victory--If you win. Chlrp
up, old man. Don't you know that
while there's life there's hopel II you
act like a dead one, Of course there's
no hope for you. I might add, incl
dentally that this deal VIII keep Mon
tague here. until next week, and II
you're the poor but deserving lover
take you to be. you'Il cut In ahead Of
him by spending this very Weekend up
where the Morrisons are summerlng
and where Montague has been hanging
out goodIy number Of week-ends." Z"
Arll let you and Anne too, know
that I'm not a dead one. VIII you get
me back to town right away, JerryT (
WIN Jerrys ala DICK manageu to
get tne trnin, ana the next morning.
on lu tne motel M piazza IN an Aairondack q
resorts as Anne appeared, an IN SOFT
wnite corduroy, ne nad Sne Joy ol see-
Ing pieased surprise y ner eyes as sne
niusmngly 4. met ms own rapIurous sue.
sne eonsenteu y snow nun tne won
uer9 Of rne pace, tneir nrst oDJecuVo