The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1918-01-04
LONGS RIVAL
by JOHN ELKINs.

n anu 0ay out IN the Al0lne insurance
cURpany's office, and laying by a lit
TIE each week, had always been think
Ing OF the time when he could have
his own business. But the little pile
grew very slowly, and one day when
he found himself in love with his cOu-
SiR's Chum, Anne Waters, the pile
seemed Of such very puny proportions
that a sort Of desperation seized upon
lin at his powerlessness to at once
strike out into larger fields. He
ceuTda't ask girl like Ann to share
Ais small salary, and even if she
would, that meant an end to the laying
by gf anything to start for himself.
As for Anne, she drifted along in
the enjoyment OF. Alden Longs society,
taking pleasure in the modest little
treats he gave her and not making it
at all certain to him whether she
would say yes or no, to the momentous
question II he should ask it.
One evening Long met at Anne's
Rome an elderly gentleman, Amos
Mead by name. Concluding he was
friend of the aunt's he paid not much
attention to the caller. But when he
fDBnd Mr.. Amos Mead there on several
Sther occasions, and noticed the way
n which the gentleman looked at
Anne, and his almost lOverlike atten-
tiUHS, his suspicious aroused and jeal-
susy gripped him. The browning blow
came one day when he beheld Anne
being whlrled along in a very hand
s9me car, with tMr. Amos Mead. 1t
was then he found out from the man
with him that Mead was a very rich
EEan, Ia fact a millionaire. His heart
went down in his boots. So he called
Up Anne and arranged to see her. He
aid not notice any change in her man.
per. He even thought she was kinder
than usual, and he was on the point of
bringing matters to crisis and ask
Ing her to choose between him and
Amos Mead when Marion Black came
In, and the opportunity was gone.
The next day Anne bowed to him
RuilinSly from an automobile where
she sat beside Amos Mead speeding
past him on the avenue. He seemed
% have received his answer then and
there. But he meant to have 1t from
her own lips. AS fate would have it,
he ran upon the pair later in the day.
Their car stopped before furnishing
and decorating establishment, one of
the finest and most expensive in the
city, and the two went in together.
$50 It has got that far!" thought
L0nS. "They are even selecting the
wall paper and furniture for the
heuse." And his usefulness to his
nrm was as nothing for the rest Of the
day.
In desperation he sought Anne that
evening, without any preliminary tele-
PhOning. AS he rushed into the room
he overheard Mead saying:
"Wby, yes, little girl; have the
cream wall instead Of the gray, If you'd
rather"
Leng confronted the two with
rather futile attempt at being calm.
Pardon me-" he said, "but, Miss
Waters, may 1 see you alone for few
HtHutes?"
Certainly" she answered. And
with u smile at the other man which
seemed to indicate very good under
Standing between them, Mr.. Mead dis
Heetly withdrew.
Il suppose" he said, ats idiotic
madness for me TO speak. You must
hSvO known all the time was Just
cFH1y about yOu-and-"
He paused. his voice choking. Anne's
face was inscrutable.
II thought" she said, "you Just
faeant to be good friend. These |
days girl meets so many men who
emily want to firt, or be friends; 1t |
doesn't do to wear your heart on your |
sleeve. l have too much pride for |
that"
"Oh. but you must have SEEN"
mo" she said, 81 did not see. You
were always speaking about your
Raall salary, and being too poor to
hasFry. thought you meant 1t as a
E04smn warning to me not to think
you meant anything by your attentions
Further than friendship"
THAT'S a very nice, tactful way of
letting me down easily. / appreciate
your consideration. 1 ought to have
known better than to have even spoken
when millions We're in the balance
agninst me. l suppose you will soon
be opening mp the big house on the
avenue. ] see the windows have been
bearded up for some time"
"YeS, and it's going to be beautiful I"
exclaimed Anne 1--WE had my own
way about 1t all. You know 1 studied
interior decorating. Aunt Jcnnie's
room is Just dreamp
Alden Long stood up, white and de-
lermiEed.
"You'ro not married to him yet :" he