The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-01

y THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
TI1e Land Came.
~ ARoHEY CAMERON new.
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copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
~ OHlWAKETTELD loved 10 bring
X flashes Of delight into Helen Glib.
sons fine brown eyes with fire..
Wlent presents Of flowers and candy,
and he wasn't averse TO letting the
world know that nothing on earth mat
tered as much to him Is the smiles Of
her pretty oval face and the kisses
from her laughing red lips. And she
felt happily sure OF him until the Mar.
ley Heights Land company came into
It's gorgeous being!
With some trepidation, thoughtful OF
the responsibilities OF his approaching
marriage, Bob left well-paying po.
sition to take up his duties as head
salesman for that company. The lure
Of the letters he received was too
much for him to Withstand.
IA most brilliant opportunity for .
wide.awake hustler" read the written
enticements. I'VE will spend thou
sands on Advertising. free bus rides,
Grassland concerts and refreshments
to bring retrospective customers out to
look al, Marley Heights, the coming
Utopia. The sales VIII be plienomen.
al. Ali you will have to do is to sign
up the buyers"
Bob bit, and to be fair, for the first
two weeks prospects looked wonderful
IL rosy. He did make money, more
than he had ever made before, and
modest plans already made for his
marriage were gradually reshaped for
an AFFAIR more becoming to his more
prosperous circumstances. But there
were two flies In his ointment. The
company installed their development.
built pavilion for free movies, and
made a new bid for night sales. Bob
gritted his teeth and grudgingly ar.
ranged to be on hand three nights q
week.
And on the remaining four nights,
Helen slowly discovered new cloud
on their horizon Of happiness.
'fHo seems distract" she confided.
unhappiIy to her mother. IL don't
believe be loves 1ne--any more"
'sWhy::. asked her mother, sagely
co1cealmg q smile.
HE doesn't tell me 50 any more"
pouted Helen. "He wouldn't even ad.
init my dress was pretty. When ask
ed him he Just grunted and told me
not to be silly. III believe he's got
another girl"
sMaybe he's run out Of endearins
Words,' suggested that wise old lady.
"0r maybe he's looking around q 1T.
Tie now that he's making money. But
I guess he's getting tired and iaded.
Wait awhile and see"
So Helen waited, but as time drew
on matters seemed to be getting
worse. Even his presents grew fewer
and his manner more reserved, until
Helen could stand IT no longer. The
question arose: Should she ask him
about it? Nonsense, she mused. what
would be the pse?, He'd deny 1t. She'd
have him watched-that was It. And
then abe shpddered. What Let any
body know how much she cared |? New
or! But realizing her need of an ally.
she consulted her best friend, Doris
Clayton. and Doris drew her father
into the plan. Sure. Mr.. Clayton
would help her. He had an idea, he,
admitted. but It would take nerve.
Helen assured him she had plenty OF
that. Aud so they got their heads to.
gether.
at 2:s0 the following afternoon a
party OF three waited for a Marley
Heights bus, ct the end Of the Eighth
avenue line. Opposite them a hugo
sign eighty feet high blazed forth in
golden letters the tremendous oppor-
ttnity at Marley Heights, with its
wide streets, modern sewerage, and
It's bomd.to.rise values.
.sUgh!" shuddered one Of, the party,
Q slender young woman In heavy Wild.
owls weeds. u hate to look at st. Sup.
pose he finds me out?v
.Hs won't, my DEAR Doris reas.
sured her, III you'll let me do the talk.
ing. He doesn't know me nor dad,
and. besides, daddy will wait in the
office. He knows Mr.. Bartwell init.
nateiyhe's the manager"
Almost Immediately an ornate limou-
sine, labeled in smart gray lettering
Direct to Marley Heights" drew into
view and an alert young chauffeur, in
aresplendent uniform, opened the door
invitingly TO Helen and her party. He
then offered them q handsome box OF
chocolates.
Something to regale yourselves
with during the short ride,' he told
them smilinsly. "Our company wish.
ses its guests to be content" And he
sieaped into his seat and drove OF.
Every fifteen feet huge sign greet
ed their gaze, proctaiming the nam.
moth possibilities of this coming me-
ttopolis. Marley Heights. And then
: the machine entered long court OF
4 honor-tap, whitepainted columns
labeled sThe Road to Wealth" And
3 @ e mystically warned Of their APP
preach, the strains OF q brass band
greeted them as they rolled into s
Y large open space which the signposts
SkRERt. - =