American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1919-09-06

As Royce Merrill walked by the desk
of the little hotel ut Fordville where
he had passed the night and paid his
bill the clerk Us he placed the key
In its box took thence letter and
tossed it to him Very casually the
transient guest observed its open flap
and oncccnt stamp, dlscerned that II
was an advertisement and threw 1t
on the floor without even glancing at
its superscription.
An humble, modest sort of a young
fellow was Royce Merrill. Brought up
IN the country and longing To get back
again to rational village life, he count
ed two years experience ms the adj
vance agent of IA cheap show as so
much time lost. Where he was head
ed for Merrill scarcely knew. He was
drifting. half-planning finding 20.
siilon In some promising country town.
awaiting any circumstance or ndNcn'
ture that might develop the future, and
ready therefore rs to anything that
might come along.
As Merrill left the desk IA heavy-set.
reteniious-appearing man arose
from his seat In the lobby, picked up
the disdained envelope, read It's I'D
dress and chuckled. Then he started
otter Merrill AT quiet street corner
he overlook him.
"A word with you. II you please,
Mr.. Pierce Danton." he spoke, catch
Ing and holding Merrill's arm.
somewhat mistaken. aren't YOU"
challenged Merrill THAT is no, my
name" ~
"oh, yes, il is" insisted the other.
"You Just dropped this didn't you"
and he extended the envelope, and sure
enough 1t bore the name lie had men
toned 81 am Ieb Brown. deputy
sheriff of Princeton. twenty miles down
the line. I've got the right to detain
you, and as there are some explanu-
tons for you To make at that same
burg, I'm going to take you there"
you are exploiting a ease of mis-
taken Identity, my friend observed
Merrill. pleasantly enough aud grow
ing curious.
Hardly, I don't suppose you will
deny that this is your picturer'
The deputy sheriff extended ~ pho.
tograph and Merrill looked half star
tied. tremendously puzzled. The pie
ture was that Of man marvelously
resembling himself.
AN right" he spoke readily. Go
ahead. DO you arrest mef'
II don't unless you get too clever.
a ttfTlI .iunt,I.. SIluS Illunn ma
| friend, the hotrlkcepcr, sent me To
hunt you up. II isn't So much the
| ifty-dollar board hill you ran up nm
| der false prctenses and skipped, rs Il
| TX the wounded pride NJ his pretty
daughter. Myrtle. She don't want you
back bcciiis" she cares for you, but
| she wants Ia So" you punished for
swind!ing her father and humiliating
| her. You went around Princeton hint
! lug AT the hit you had made with her
-nrighburs are goSSiping. Now she
| l. - deserted bride that was to he.
| and she will take her dainty, WON
| AMY way Of showing her utter Scorn In
| You publicly. and YOU will have To
settle NJ that hill and suffer her con.
tempt"
| quite II romance. Pretty girl, Of
Tended dignity, and II Scnpegoat want
eu once more Mr., Deputy sheriff
| III not the man you are looking for"
"It won't CO." persisted the other
| doggcdy. I'm risk it,"
II was nm ideal town. Princeton
This was the first discovery Merrill
| nuI, I,,t Atlantic.
u very attractive place of abode. ~
he WAS led into lis reception room his
official guardian sang out through an
open doorway: "Mornin. 81"
"Si' did not respond, hut II very
dainty sparkling-cyed. lovely-faced
| girl ~ eighteen crossed the threshold.
There was fire In her pretty eyes and
checks. she advanced quickly, paused
dismaycd, scanned the smiling captive
closely and tiuttercd forth:
"Oh. Mr., Brown, you've made n
dreadful mistake"
II told our friend thai back nj Ford.
yille." said Merrill. with u courteous
bow To tile young lady ~ engaging
| IIfS'll'fs
Where's your father" demanded
the village functionary, "I'll see what
he says about IT,"
Down NJ the post office" aud Myrtle
Bland stole an interested glance at
Merrill. You can 20 after him while
! try and apologize for the fearful
blundcr we have made, You won't
run away while he is gone, will you.
| Mr.. --?
Royce Merrill, Not |, Miss Bland"
declared he,
III any reasonable sum. or month
free of the best we have will fix M
our hldeouS mistake" suid honest 81.
las Bland, after he had heard tho
whole story, wen settle the score
willingly"
"Why, II hasn't cost me anything"
replied Merrill, with II jolly laugh,
"I'll stay the month and maybe longer
for like the town, hut I'll pay for It.
What this little trick of fate has led
me into decidedly pleRses me" ms he
looked nj Myrtle and she at him with
mOdestly-yeiled eyes. "rd ask nothing
better than to clerk for II model hostel