Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-07
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE IVORY RULE
BY Lucy Hilton

|
ssXL1HAT in the world is the matter
w with your feet, Greta?" laughed
Elizabeth Forester. You're always
| stumbling"
II don't think there is anything par
tticularly wrong with their construction .
loftily replied Greta Andrews, but l
do think this road has more stones than
stumbled over the same stone, but II It
bothers me again I'm going TO dig It up.' $
! Il dare you to-" teased Elizabeth. "A
nice spectacle you'll make digging q
stone In this conspicuous spot. You'll
have the whole town laughing at you"
III take that dare" returned Greta
promptly. And, II ycu'll come with me
tomorrow, I'll bring spade and dig
"of course III go with you" said
Elizabeth hesitatingly. but let US wait
until after the mail is in."
Il was so afraid you'd back out" de.
| clared Greta the next day as they met
at the appointed time. 'NIr. Milspaugh
my fortune.
Perhaps you are" laughed Elizabeth
Greta started to work at once. "I
can't make any headway," she remarked
at length In discouraged tone This
soil Is very hard, but the stone doesn't
let me try" begged Elizabeth, She
took the spade and dug with energy for
a time, but with little success.
Greta could scarcely refrain from
taking the spade from Elizabeth 70 try
again. But finally Elizabeth save her
the spade.
She gave the stone a tug and pried
one corner loose. There now, If / give
one mere dig shall have it, ! never
saw such long. narrow stone and so
thickly covered with clay said the as
tonished Greta.
She stopped to picl, it up, but in her
amaHment let It fall to the ground.
Why, Elizabeth she exclaimed eN-
citedly. as she began brushing off the
soil, ITS rule. very curious one
toe"
LET me see" cried Elizabeth eagerly.
why. it's an ivory rule Of very unique
workmanship and mounted in gold.
never saw anything like II before. IL
must belong to some eccentric wealthy
person, who is fond of collecting curios.
Let me think moment. Is there any
one living here or who has lived here
that has been to India
'No. l don't think Brookville boasts
OF any such person." returned Greta.
we must advertise this rule in the
papers. Perhaps some one Is bemoan-
ing his loss, never once giving poor
little Brookville a passing thought.
After six months, as no one claimed
the rarity, they kept it, though 1t was
agreed to let it remain in Greta's pos
session. Many who saw the advertise
ment came to see the rule out or Gu
riosity, and numerous conjectures were
made concerning IL
The family were chatting on their
wide piazza one warm afternoon in early
fall when motor party with a pune
tured tire was forced TO stop directly
in front of their home Being of a hos
pitable turn of mind Mrs. A. invited
them in while their tire was being re-
paired.
Greta, who had been drawing. stopped
n moment with rule suspended in the
air and was startled TO hear one Of the
party exclaim: ..
~ once owned a rule just like that -
Pardon my rudeneSs," said Lieutenant
W. but l didn't know there was an
other rule in existence Just like mine. l
wonder II can induce you to sell IL to
me. !! will gladly pay any amount
Then Greta told how she and Eliza
beth had found it and advertised for the
owner to prove the property.
THAT ivory rule has a curious his
tory" explained the gentleman. ut was
given to my grandfather by a famous
old India sheik. 1t descended to me and
used 1t constantly for ten years until
lost IT,. / offered rewards, but could
never find any clue until l find it in
your possession. 1t has a secret spring.
See, 1t opens. Read the name. Here is
my card, which corresponds
"It Is yours" said Greta simply.
The punctured tire being mended the
party took its leave. but not until Mrs.
A. had invited them TO come again, es-
peclally as the ivory rule formed sort
Of link with their new friends.
And Howard came many times. He
was a comparatively young man ana
had travelled about the world a good
deal and seen many women, but-well
Greta swept him off his feet.
Il didn't tell You all the ivory rule
traditions" he whispered one beautiful
moonlight night as they sat on the
piazza.
She raised flushed face and then
dropped her eyes.
at is said" he went on, "tnat he who
loses the rule must be ruled by the
maid who finds 1t. l want you to fill the
dearest place in my heart. VIII your"
He folded her in his big arms, but
Greta's answer was muffied.
I'VE have never had occasion TO prove
the ivory rule tradition as no one has
ever lost II but me and now"
And now" she finished gaily, with
laughter in her eyes, Il shall rule your
heart and home with the Golden
Rule"
TomorrotVs Complete Novelette,
"WHAT"S TO BE WILL BE-"