Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-04-24
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MOUNTAIN JOE
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BY LEON w. DEAN.
per syndicate.l

If Ii was an exclusive bit OF scenery
you wanted, an exceptionally fine trout
or n deer In season, Mountain House
Joe would see that you got IL.
He was like any one Of hundred
ent. Just where the likeness left off
and the difference began IL was hard
To tell. Whatever the reason, Noun
tain House joe was considered the
most popular guide in the mountains.
One night In the rugged defiles OF
Indian pass he gave us the first real
peep beneath the crust. We were look
ing away over score of darkening
mountain peaks To where Whiteface
reared its lofty head. still strongly
etched against the northern sky.
How sings Horace?- mundi mOles
Operosa'-the toil-wright mass of the
world! ! wonder what the old Roman
would say If he could look upon II
sight such as thisT
II Was Lieutenant Golden who spoke.
Joe. squatting on his heels by the
fire where he was preparing the eve
ming meal, turned his head abruptly.
"If he were modest he would say
that you had just given him credit for
what rightfully belongs to ovid"
The temptation had proved too pro-
voking and our cook of many Il merry
excursion had suddenly become
scholar Of the classics. But straight
way he was Mountain House Joe again
and no amount Of urging on our part
could complete the metamorphosis.
"What the deuce is the matter with
the fellow" whispered Charlie o.
good after series of inglorious at
tempts 10 inveige him into cOnversa-
ton.
Desparing at length OF a story from
Joe, which We had come To anticipate
as part of the regular evening pro-
gram. we turned back To the papers
which the ladies had brought with
them, now several days old.
II was fall and the annual Yale
Harvard football battle was only few
weeks distant. The papers were full
of it.
We were Harvard crowd and felt
free To express our minds.
"All Brckley." said Dick Valentine.
turning the pages "All Brickly and
Harvard
II was Mrs. Mabel who saved the
day. Mrs. Mabel was Dicks wife. but
that didn't happen 10 help Dick any
in this instance.
She laughed, and when Mrs. Mabel
laughs II is irresistible. well. guess
we clean forgot that Cambridge wasn't
the center OF the earth she said.
And II wasn't any farther back than
our own day when the Blue was treat
ing us as We are treating them. You
don't forget one Chase, do you. boysF
Forget Joe Chase? reckon not.
No Harvard man Of our time Is likely
to do that He beat US for two years
with poor eleven behind him. No.
we aren't forgetting Joe Chase.
We'll" continued Mrs. Mabel, II
think Dell knows ever little more
about Yale and Joe Chase than the
rest OF us. How about itf'
All eyes were turned inquiringly on
Dell
I'VE were 10 have been married"
she said simply.
I saw Mrs. Mabel color to the ear
tips.
Dell alone was undsturbed.
Father and mother had picked out
the man they wanted me 10 marry,
and 1t wasn't joe Chase. He had more
money and therefore more social
standing than Joe. Father did the
only underhand thing have ever
known him 10 do In his life and sorely
has he repented He told Joe he
wasn't in our class. Joe had often
tried to tell me the same thing, but |
wouldn't listen 10 him. He was proud
and dad must have used plain Ian
guage. Before could stop him he had
gone. You have seen Joe hit the line
when ten yards were needed for "A
first down aud YOU know ii wasn't his
way 10 turn back. He meant 10 leave
me free and he has. for we have never
heard Of him from the day he walked
out OF dads office i've years age. Any
way, didn't marry the family's choice
they couldn't force me into that
and | only wish Joe knew that my
heart had been as strong as his and
that there was never any other but
himself"
The silence that followed Dell's
words sets me Ia tidgeting even yet
when | think of It, No one seemed
able TO say anything Charlie Os-
good attempted To cough then seemed
Mortified at what he had done.
Dick tried valiantly to find rally
ing point from which gently 10 move
our demOraliZed forces, for IL was clear
that any sudden change of front might
startle Dell into regretting her con-
fessiOn.
We'll" he said, "I'll wager even
money. ten to ten. that Harvard wins
two weeks from Saturday"
A tall lean igure stalked into the
firelit circle.
We hooked up in surprise. II was
Mountain House Joe. the guide.
I'm cover that bet" he said quietly.
Dell had half risen To her feet.
when | saw that look in her eyes"
said Charlie Osgood, telling of IL af-
tcrward. Il thought my scalp was
called FOR sure. Then that big lanky
son-of-a-gun grabbed her as though IL