The Meeker herald., 1919-02-15
The RUT
BY VICTOR REocLIFFE.
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Copyright. 1918. by Western Newspaper union.)
Professor Archelanus Tidworth re.
tired from the rostrum In the little
village hall of HOLLYWOOD with n smiril
and bow and hurried his steps, once
behind the scenes, to table where his
wife was counting over the meager
receipts of the evening.
"We'll have to cut out these way
bnck towns-field too narrow for our
Abilities" muttered the professor.
"Attentive audience, though. How
you did pour 1t into them. Archelanus
quoting the classics"
Tint WINS the stunt Of the impressive
looking, basso-profundo voiced pro-
fessOr. lie had worn, tnttered lee
ture. which proved TINT every town he
went to had missed n marvellous com
mercial future through striking rut
and sticking In 1t. Get out of the
rut !" was his loud braying appeal to
towns and individuals.
The discourse was dreary and vapid.
but its one essential point took root
with Mt least two of the audience,
|
drudge In the home of distant rela.
tive. seriously drank In the glowing
pictures dcllneated by the rostrum
ticnd as to the wonderful prospects
open In the great thriving city for the
young and ambitious, and Muriel long
ed for expansion and Independence.
Across the aisle from her, Arnold
Wade was likewise fertile ground for
the seed sown by the lecturer. He had
worked ut wages never increased In
| the next town, had saved some money,
even enough to enable him to buy an
automobile, and In n modest way en-
| joyed life, but he. too, left the hall re-
solving to ''get out of the rut J"
This estimable young man the next
day made all his arrangements for
giving up his position. He experienced
| a rare sense of freedom as he started
away In his auto, bound for the city
fifty miles distant.
At the same hour. carrying n neat
looking suitcase. Murlel Baird took
the old turnpike road leading to the
nearest railroad town. She was sec
| reilly glad as IN automobile slowed up
md its owner sang out cOurteously.
Can ! give you lift. young lady?"
Muriel turned to view her questloner.
dIsccrned TINT he was young man.
blushed dIvinely and murmured: II
was going to Ledbury."
"Right on my way. Why" he add
ed. didn't see you ut the lecture last
EVENING""
To which Muriel nssented. and this
naturally led up to the discovery that
they were "twO souls of II single
thought"-"gettlng out Of the rut!"
"Well, WELL" commented the free and
open Arnold. ''this Is quite coinciden-
tai. Here we nre. starting out with the
world all before us. Suppose you save
time and railroad fare by staying right
In the machine till we reach the city.
tell you. l consider having your pleas
ant company all the way seems like
hnrbIngcr OF good fortune. 1t would
be pleasant to keep track of one an
other. Won't you write me to the gen
eral delivery when you get settled2
And I'll do the same to you"
And then they parted with n good
honest, hearty handshake, md neither
was likely to forget the other for
long time to come.
Arnold sold his automobile for a
fair sum and spent week looking
for an Investment for his little capt.
tai. One day he received n brief note
from MurIcl. telling that she had found
work nt dellcatessen store.
Arnold started to locate the place
that evening. Inquiry led to 1t being
pointed out to him across n street he
had been traverslng. A swift automo-
bile turned the corner. He met n
crushing contact and knew no more.
It was not long story he heard,
when, after n week of unconsciousncss,
fever and dellrium. Arnold was made
to comprehend that he had been ten
DERBY cared for by Muriei and her en-
pIoyer. Mrs. Latcombe. who lived
behind the little delicatessen shop. IT
was directly In front of 1t that Arnold
had been run down. 1t was Muriel,
who witnessed the mlshnp. and a
recognition OF his friendly fnce had
led to her caring for him MS II he were
m own brother.
Arnold mcndcd slowly. One day
from an adjoining room he heard his
kind hostess shy:
ave got some rather bad news for
you, Muriel, dear. l have word from
my invalid husband In California. and
he wants me to sell out and come to
him. l am offered four thousand five
hundred dollars for the five htorcs.
You have made .ths one. with your
pleasant manner and neat way OF
keeping It. and am going to ask the
purchaser to retain you In charge"
At that Arnold Joined the ladies'