Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-05-01
TICKLE FORTUNE
BY NAVERtY JOHNSON.

| rO3dheQ DaGk the way he mad come.
He had been doing when the conduc-
! tor called out Wadhams and had been
carried five miles beyond his station.
The roadbed was stone bailaSted
and not easy to the feet. Wayne,
| glancing down the embankment, no
ticed that the right OF way was bound
ed by a fence. Then came strip
about two hundred feet wide and then
traversible dirt highway, Wayne
! descended.
He observed that this strip of land.
extending for mile or more, was oi
spongy soil not fit even for grazing,
except where a little knoll presented,
and upon this was a small house one
story high, square and compact, an
ideal OF neatneSS and taste in the cen
ter of an inviting patch Of worthless,
useless ground.
The house was painted freshly and
IT sbone az a result of the use of eS-
ee3lent ma aterial and expert workman
ship. WaFRle was thirsty and noticed
a wef1, turned from the road and as
he went up 4 -raveled path the ap-
parent owner of the pEee appeared at
the spea doorway.
| He was middle aged man, erect.
active looking and clean appearing.
He wore white duck jumpers and over
alls and they were immaculate. Like
the exterior of the house he seemed
lust to have stepped from a paint
pot.
Can / have drink Of water?" be-
gan Wayne, and paused, dazzled, as il
all he saw was part of some moving
picture. Another character in its en-
semble had appeared. This was a
young girl of perhaps eighteen, tin
pail in her hand, headed for the well.
She was fitting and harmonious part
of the pleasant prospect. Trim, grace
| ful, aprayeti in n pretty calico gown,
she emphasized the wholesome aspect
Of the environment.
"Sit down. won't you?' invited
Wayne's host and moved towards a
garden heneh near by. Bound for
Wadhan?"
"why. yes" explained Wayne. 1
slept past my station and win have to
foot it back"
well, If you aren't in n hurry l
fancy wa can help you on your way.
My daughter, Cora, will drive to Wad-
ham in about half an hour. She's
taken up drawing at the college there"
Just then the girl appeared with
glass pitcher flied with sparkling we'll
water and q glass. Wayne arose and
bowed politely and the manner of the
girl, like that of the father, was friend
ly and pleasant.
She left them and Wayne heard her
chrrup to q horse grazing near a
small barn outside of which stood a
single seated gig. He glided into 4
general conversation with his host.
David Bayle was his name.
"You see, I was n painter, In the
city" narrated Rogers. Not an ar
tist-no. Cora seems to have all the
genius in that direction. Scenes, most
", mine, and big landscape stuff for
pleasure parks, band stages and all
that. We were cOOped up and 1t
didn't give Cora show. A slick fell
low came along and traded me this
stretch Of territory for my business.
I took his word as to what You see
here. He said the land was right at
junction that was the railroad key
TO tho county and bound to he very val
liable in time. Well. he Swindled us,
that's all, and we've made the hest of
it. I've got little ready cash. but
pintng for something to keep me busy.
and Cora is lonesome"
"Row far DO you own along the
railroad?" inquired Wayne.
"An even mile. There's Cora. If
Won won't mind the iolting. it'll he
easier in the old gig than tramping it"
She was the pleasantest, brightest
little fairy Wayne had ever met, this
clcar-eycd. dinpled girl, and by the
time they reached Wadham, they were
Quito friendly. In her simple way
| she tOi0 OF HeT SCHOOL llle, IleT dTilStiN
ambitions. her hopes that they could
get rid Of the hand and settle in some
less ncivifzed spot.
ITS fate" so,iloQuiZed Wayne. That
same afternoon hate. as he made his
way to tho place where Miss Bayle
pot up the rig.
TITS love at first sightw he added,
as she appeared.
II am going to ask you to drive NE
back to your home" he told the young
girl. "You see, I have some business
with your father"
The business Wayne had worked
up over long distance telephone. A
big idea had struck him.
81 represent the largest billboard
concern in the world" he told the
wondering father and daughter. "Gnd
the minute l analyzed your layout
here saw big speculation. Your
| narrow strip Is ideal for putting I'M n