, 1919-11-27
The Barker Luck
By A. W. A
Copyright, 1873. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.l
By A. ". PEACH

ucular aDillty except Willingness 10
work hard. she had won her way into
the good will Of the great rea estate
firm. and a about to enter on the
new duties of the position. when the
grave but kindly faced physician had
told her the cause Of the ~harassing
pain in her side. and ended with a
statement that involved the word 'op-
Grafton"
On the evening that the verdict had
been given. her faithful and unobtru-
sive lover. Elmer Horton. who had
worked In her old office came to see
her; and before she realized what he
was doing. in his quiet way he had
drawn from her some of her fears and
doubts. The steadfast love in his
eyes-and they were not handsome
eyes-may have been the u
IT'S the Barker luck. Elmer" she
said. smiling bravely. "Alone in this
big. big world"
You forget me-" he broke in. his
steady eyes twinkling.
She choked an instructive desire TO
hug him. You old dear. how faithful
and Kind o hav been to me; and
you know ! never can love you"
Perhaps" he answered, smiling at
her mood.
"Ah. l wonderi" Then her smile
twisted a bit. "Well. l must have It
poor as Jobs turkey-was it Jobs
turkey7 Hold on" Her chin was
%quivering. but her eyes were smiling.
81 ave n thousand dollars after all.
Did you know that?"
he professed great establishment.
Some n did love me enough to
give me one thousand dollars" She
hunted through IN old wallet that evil
IDENTIFY contained cherished treasures,
and drew out a rumpled check" You
remember old Mr.. Pruit-" e
DO I? He used to sit and ramble
on by the hour with you while ! was
only asking for five minutes to make
love to you"
She shook her head warningiy.
None OF that. Well, I did try to be
good to him. BE was a little out of
his head. you know. Just before his
last sickness he came in and a W me
this check with a great flourish. You
know ne always talked of having
money. I'm glad lie thought he had.
Poor old tender-hearted man, the land
lady told me the city had to bury him
at its own expense" Her eyes shad-
owed.
He too the check quickly. The
writing was so erratic that 1t hardly
made sense. Clearly enough. IL was
the vagary of an unbalanced mind. yet
II did represent a pleasant memory;
and Horton sought to divert her mind
from the last thought she had spoken.
She sensed Ills effort. however. and
smiled back. ELMER, it's the Barker
luck and I'm going to face 1t in the
way father and mother did. Tomor-
row ! go to the hospital. I am going
to let them do as they want to with
me; n afterward why. after
ward" She looked at him with
stricken eyes. She knew that weeks
must pass after the operation before
she would he strong enough to take up
work nee more; and where was the
money coming from to enable her TO
live as she should and grow strong
during those weeks?
He took up the check in desperate
fingers. stirred by the look in her eyes.
Say. Rose Bee. indorse this check
an I'll try to get 1t through. Per-
haps the old chap did have this
money!"
"Wha are you thinking about? That
check is some old thing he had around.
See how yellow It is! He was a lit
tie crazy. No. don't be foolish"
he held his fountain pen toward
her.
Endorse here, please" he said. di-
rectly.
IAN right. sir" she assented. max
ing a game OF II.
He folded fhe check and placed II
carefully in his pocket. Then he looked
at her hungrily. Rose, is there any
thing I can dol"
please don't look at me III way"
She rose. her face white. "You have
been so good to me. SO faithful and
kind wish | could reward you. He
had risen. and she put her hands on
his shoulders and looked into his eyes.
But ! can't give you anything except
my thanks. You might-send me a
few fiowers-if-good-byr
His big heart could not speak
through his slow mind. He said awk-
wardly I'm remember. And Rose Bee.
remember that the Barker luck may
take a turn. You know the old saying
modernized-'It's a long lane that has
no ashbarrelr So buck-up-and be of
good cheeri Good-byr"
She smiled at his "modernlzed say
ing" because she knew he wished her
to: but after he had gone she stood
long In silence. and realizing as she
never had before that the man who
had gone carried with him n soul that.
like gold. would wear brighter with
the years.