The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-07-26
@
New Call
BY r. RAY BAKER
1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

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Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndcate.)
Earl Worden was not a gypsy. His |
hair was too near the shade of hemp |
and the color OF his eyes too closely
resembled that of the ocean. Again, he
had three freckles, one on the left side
of his neck, one on his chin and the
other near the tip of his nose. They
were faint freckles, but they and the
sumption that he belonged to the tribes
Of swarthy nomads.
Nevertheless, Earl and gypsies had
one pronounced trait In common. 1t
was the wanderlust. He had Travelled
on five of the seven seas; he had
killed crocodiles on the Amazon, kan
garoos in Australia and mosquitoes in
New Jersey. He had eaten salmon in
Portland, Ore, rice In Tokyo, and
prunes in France, as well as in Brook
Ign. He was a nomad.
After seeing all the sights offered
by IA countries some strange whim
Of fate guided him to Gemport,
town In the state of Washington
that the map makers forgot, and he
took Job In the First, Second, Third,
and only national or any other kind
of bank to be found there. A whole
year he spent at the desk, and he ac-
tually had begun to have that settled
sensation, when along came a letter
from Edward Stevens. The letter was
postmarked Wawason, Alaska, and 1t
had to do with nuggets and a sure-pay
| venture. If 1t had been from anyone
else, Earl would have been exceeding
| ly skeptical, but Stevens had been
| his companion in several adventurous
rambles into strange climes, and his
good intentions and veracity were not
to be questioned.
The letter revived the longing to
roam. 1t caused the old call Of adven-
ture to echo and re-echo through
Earl's mind. 1t was an irresistible
call, which had only been lying DOR
mant during the last year and was
not silenced forever as he had come
to suppose. So he prepared to re-
spond.
There was only one drawback. The
drawback was Elsie Webb, diminu-
tive, dark-eyed, attractive piece Of
humanity employed In the bank. Until
the receipt Of the letter Earl had con-
sidered her an inspiration; but now
she was In the way to his answering
the call of adventure. He was fond of
her to such an extent that he had
asked her to marry him only two
weeks previously-and she had con
sented but that was before this letter
came Offering him riches and red-blood
ed life In Alaska. 1t suddenly dawnet
on him that he had made q mistake
He could see now that he was In m
financial condition to be married. TIL
money he had saved was scarcel,
enough for the proverbial rainy day
while this letter from Stevens offere'
an opportunity to- obtain a fortune ant
pave the way to luxury.
So he told her his intentions tn,
night after he received the summon:
from the north. He preached the SUD
ject as carefully as possible and witt
| as much consideration for her feelings
as he could muster-which wasn't say
ing much. She merely bit her lip and
flickered her eyelashes and said:
"All right, Earl. You know best.
would not stand In the way of your
success for the world. We will con
slider the engagement at an end"
He left her home in a rather dazed
condition. She had taken the matter
very senslbly, he told himself, and ye'
he felt sure that she cared more thar
she showed. He could have felt pretty
downcast himself, only he dared no
permit 1t. The old call was sounding
and he must answer.
1t was early in the evening and sons
late workers were just journeyinl
homeward. One of them, a sturd,
young man with a healthy face ant
steadfast eye, carrying a dinner-pail
stopped Earl and asked for match t.
light his briar pipe.
Thanks" said the laborer, as h,
puffed contentedly after Earl had fur
nished the article sought. mice eve
Ming"
The laborer walked off briskly.
"Hurrying home to his family
unused Earl. ut must seem rathe
nice"
But he must not let such thoughts
intrude. They might deter him from
his chosen course. SO he thrust then
aside and the next day drew all hi
savings from the bank and resigned
his job.
Two weeks later he stepped off |
boat at Sitka and clasped the hand o
his old pal, robust, weather-beatel
man of thirty. clad in fur-fringe'
clothes. Earl was escorted to hotel
where he was QUILTED in apparel al
propriate to a journey inland.
tits regular bonanza--a sur
thing" said Stevens, as they sat il
the lobby discussing the proposed ven