The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-11-28

STRAIGHT STREET

BY MAY NEWCOMBE.
Copyright. 1918, Western Newspaper Union.)

once Dcen Il country COW path stray
Sled through the nucleus of what
finally became Groverdale. AS houses
were built here and there along its
SinuouS length, 1T assumed, OF alb
sorbcd, or was given Il name Crook
ed Lane"
When the first small stores began
to find Il location on Il line With the
depot, the town commissioners cut a
broad line west, condemned curves
and windingS and laid out q compass
correct ih~oroughfarc. 1t was not Il
pretty apprlative they bestowed on
the new thoroughfarc, but it was fully
appropriate as Il contrast. 1t became
Straight street.
To do business on Straight street
was to be quite in the business sphere,
to live farther out in lis residential
section WAS to be acknowledged II
accepted socially. One day :: stranger
entered the town, a .inunty, fairly we'll
dressed fellow, about twenty-five. lie
was straight as an arrow. supple,
swift of gait, bri%ht-cyrd, wide awake,
suggrSting-n person seeking Il brand
new environment and on the alert to
seize its best opportunities. y whim-
steal smile crossed his expressive face
as he glanced ut the sign m Il lamp
post.
straight street" he read, as though
it had made Il pleasant Sound. "rhnt
suits mt and l take it as Il harbingcr
of fortune. It's the road I've had in
mind"
The young man started looking for
a room, a cheap room. Side thorough
fares invited in this direction, but he
maintained his tramp along the street
called straight" until he finally
found an apartment suited To his thin
purse, and then cast about for work
His brisk, CHEEKY ways and frank, open
personality caught the fancy of the
~h0okkceper OF Il large factory and Abel
Morse, as he gave his name, was IN
pIoycd.
lie became a favorite all around.
There was one popularity about him
he took long iaunts, and it might have
been remarked that he never left
Straight street. Beyond We're the dance
halls, drinking places, tawlry side
shows and rnllicking crowds, but, in
town or leaving it, Straight street be-
came his beaten path. One m0Onlit
night he WAS pacing its middle pave
ment, for the sides were blocked where
new cement was being laid. Abruptly
a spirited horse attached to Il high
trap turned into The street. The AMI
NAL became frightened at the pres
cnce of Il road roller and made a wild
dash across the rubllc stone and fill
ing-in debris. A handsome girl held
steadily to the tense, Straining rcinS,
but the horse WAS frantic. AS the We
hicle was all but upsrtting, the young
man sprang at the head of the specd-
ing animal. He chung to the bride,
vas dragged, swung, almost tramplcd,
but halted the affrightcd stecd at last.
ooh, don't let him get hurt. tram
ping among the cinders and g!nss!"
called out Miss Eva Powers, his driver,
and Morse led the horse to the center,
smooth roadway. "You had better let
me drive him lomc," he said, and that
was how it came about that lie first
saw at the sumptuOus Powers man
sion modest, petite Mary Lane, seam
stress.
Thereafter when he called to see
Mary ut home or to chat with her in,
the garden, Miss Powers smiled indul-
gently nad Mary was faticrcd and
pleased at the attentions of the man
~, good-looking young fellow. There
came about a rapidly occurring .series
of events. The war came on. Mary
was proud about her lover when he
was the first to enter the service.
Miss Powers gave him quite a pub
lie reception when he am from en-
campment, q first lieutenant. Some
where Abel Morse had learned disci,
pline, %sclf-control and the power to
lead men. He and Mary had become
engaged. He was popular with his
comrades, a model to the young men
of the town and in direct line for fur
thcr advancement. 4,
He had just left Mary one afternoon
and was crossing the garden to the
street when a %hurrylng. flushed and
hard-breathing man almost ran into
him. Then the latter halted, stared
and regarded Morse with a certain in
solent, triumphant look. f,
Double luck! Well, well, Ned Du-
rand! and a blooming lieutenant! I've
heard of you. ] saw you before. And
transformed into Abel Morse, U. S. A.
Some rise in the world, ell, from con-
vict 2244? What is it worth to shut
my mouth?" !
"Hold that man." burst forth sharp
ly, and Miss Powers came rushing into
view. Her direction was to Morse.
Gle has just entered the house. and
has stolen a case of jewels. There
they are, in his pocket. Bring him to
my father, and we shall see how far
his unmanly threat will carry him."
Todd brewster, eX-cOnvict, thief,
left GrOvcdale that evening q cOWed
Skulker, with evidence sufficient be-