Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-25
The Golden
Horseshoe
IN
Copyright. 1919. BY the Western News
paper Union.l
BY VICTOR REDCLIFPE

bluff lining waterway TO think. to
cast up accounts socially, financially
and morally. The outlook was desolate.
As in an evil dream he summed up the
disastrous climax to advice he had
given his father as to investments,
that had brought John Wynn TO the
verge of bankruptcy. He had sought
solitude 10 analyze the shock, 10 with.
stand It's crushing weight II that
seemed possible.
Darker and more forbidding grew
his sc0wling brow as he faced the
facts. Gloomier and more repelllng
seemed the future. His eyes fixed on
vacancy. his lips grimly compressed,
he drew revolver from his pocket,
turned II over speculatively in his
hand and then hastily thrust il upon
the ground behind him as the sound
of approaching voices reached him.
A picture In vivid contrast to the
dismal visions wrought by his de-
spending mentality was presented.
Framed in the golden sunshine was
group of little children led by. or cling
ing To n lovely girl of about eighteen.
She seemed 10 be their teacher and
they Just let out Of school or return
ing Ia H. As she passed the spot where
| Bertram sat she seemed momentarily
| startled and then as If impressed with
The sadness and desperation depicted
| In his face half wavered. and passed
on. Somehow that glance TO Bertram
| seemed full Of human sympathy and
| encouragement and as the group van
/ ished the circumstance left an impress
of 10y and innocence that recalled his
own bright youthful days. He was glad
/ as, reaching behind him, he found that
| the revolver had slipped over the edge
| Of blum into the water beneath. and he
| arose shnddering ~ the spasm OF de-
spair. which had 80 nearly led him TO
take his own life.
Berlram Wynn went tn large city
| and CHANGED To secure board with an
italian family whose head had been
| man Of considerable means in his own
country. This man took fancy to
| Bertram and finally asked him to Join
him in an export business he had
| started. He had influence abroad and
had secured some orders OF magni-
| tude. Rertran worked hard. At the
end az the European war they secured
n contract for n large consignment or
| machinery, duplicated IL later on. made
enormous profits. and. one year after
leaving Chesterton. BertraIn returned
| n rich man.
His experience had made him human
and considerate. and his past dark
DAYS actuated him towards making
brighter those az the unfortunate and
unlucky whom he met He first re-
rouped his fathers lost fortune and
enabled him ;o complete some philan
thropic mans his III fortune had hin.
dcred Bertrain was kindly and friend
lv with All his old associates and had
ever al open. helpful hand Tor the
poor and l0wly. One noon time. pass
ing Il group Of Morkmen whom Inc
knew near the plant where they la
bored. he was invited Ia engage IN y
game at quoits. In lieu of the uSua
metal discs ordinarily employed in the
snort. horeeshoes were used. ReriraH
entered into the game with zest. III
was pitching one of the horseshoe'
when n child ran across between IN
stakes. The flying missile struck he'
directly on The head and the little cir
fell. bleeding and insensible.
Bertram M once picked M the vic
Tim Of her own VentureSomeness ant
FASTENED with her 10 the nearest ply
stefan. The latter was gravely con
cerned and stated that he feared ''a'
results.
Poor little creature, :" he said
"She is homeless orphan whom
Mary Vale adopted. About t"'3 months
since Miss Vnilc went 10 the city Il
try position there in - seminary ant
has since been paying the board of lac
protcge here
"lf YOU will give me the address o
The Young lady I will communicate
with her" suggested Bertram.
NO. don't du that. until the crisis
* mast" advised the doctor 1T woul'
only distress Miss Naile and probabl'
cause her Ia give MP lucrative posi-
1
tom"
Meantime. then. let the little on
hc removed Ia our home" insisted Ber
tram.
Little cornne passed the crisis safe
a and Rertram told the doctor Ia
would go to Miss Vale and tell her %
the accident and it, outcome. He ha'
heard so much at the kindly deeds o
the Young lady ihat he considered he
deserving of an assurance That he an'
his father would gladly take from he
shoulders the expense and responsi
bility she had 80 nobly assumed.
The glory of life seemed To opci
up for him with new sentiment M
Mary Vale came into the room where
he was awaiting her at the seminary
FOR i'm "A fash he recognized her ~ tli'
sympathetic girl of the day whc'
death grazed him - closely.
But not until their double chance
mountaineering had ended ia muiua
love did Bertram Wynn tell Mar!
Vale Of how much he owed to her an
, when they took lille Corinne 10 tlicii
new home over the doorway 81 ~
living room they affixed colder
horseshoe.
Splendid Cough Syrup