Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-10-30

them on the garden seat was tlarneys
sweetheart, Alma Reeves, whose
bright, pretty face reflected the solicit
tude Of the older woman
The son and lover affected quite
lordly air. A week previous his uncle,
Mark Leaton, dying, had bequeathed
him a neat sum in money and
grocery store he owned in the village.
Tel you pronounced the young
man, almost grandly, 1--WE got a soul
above potatoes"
But, Harvey, dear" interviewed
Alma, you know how pleased you were
at first with the idea Of being your
own master and running a business
for yourself"
That's all right" acknowledged
this ambitious fayorite Of fortune, but
rye met my old chum since then. You
know Ned Dallas came down to see
me when he learned Of my big luck.
Well, he's clerk in a brokers' office
and he says that with his experience
of the money market, If | will supply
the capital, he will go into partnership
with me and will make a regular Ma
poleon of finance of me"
Before leaving Harvey made an ar
rangement with Warren Doane, an old
clerk In local store, to place him in
charge of the one he had inherited on
basis of equal division Of profits.
The day after Harney's departure Mr..
Doane called at the Ross home,
II am going to surprise Harvey" he
told Mrs Ross, who was an old friend
"He has agreed to let me have full
swing with advertising and speciality
wrinkles and am going to build up
grand trade. Alma, | shall need some
one to take charge Of the cashiers
desk. Can count on your and Alma
acquiesced in the arrangement and the
enterprise started out under most
promising auspices.
The young adventurer across the
shoals of finance wrote almost daily
the first month Of his absence. He
was all anticipation, ambition, enthu-
slasm. Then he became less ELUSIVE
in his epistes and during the second
month Of his absence only two brief
letters reached home.
1--WE must not expect too much Mt
tention from the poor boy, immersed
as he is In business cares" Mrs. Ross
told Alma, who. In her faith and in
nocence, pictured "the poor boy han
ding the monetary destinies Of ma
lions. The mereSt "All well-love TO
ALL" about comprised the substance Of
subsequent letters from Harvey. Mean
while, Alma and Mr., Doane begrudged
no thought or care that would tend to
place the despised grocery business
upon a firm and growing basis and
keep 1t there. The idea that she was
doing something that benefited the
business interests Of her lover kept
Alma animated and glad How she
worked, and planned and hoped She
had. however, received an in6ling from
something she overheard between two
local business men that Harvey twas
cutting wide Swath in the city"
making daring speculative investments
and going beyond his depth.
It was one Saturday night and Mr..
Duane had closed the store an hour
earlier than usual on account Of a
rain storm, and Alma had decided 70
remain for an hour or 50 and balance
the hooks and was engrossed at her
task when the knob Of the store door
ratified, and then there was a quick,
sharp tapping on its glass panel. Alma
could make out the visitor against the
glare of the street lamp. II was Ilar
ney Ross and she uttered a cry Of joy
as. unlocking the door she led him
into shelter and chung to his arm, ut
terlng feryent words Of welcome. Then
as he cnmp within the radius of the
desk lamp her heart smote her.
rive trumped IL from the trolley.
Alma" he said 81 ran out of money
and I'm about famShed You've got
neat AMI inviting layout here" and
he Went over 10 counter which held
"a tempting array OF cheeSes, dried
beef. boiled ham and Some pickle rel
fshes. ON the way drawing q lihernl
handful from the cracker box, and set
about eating with an enjoyment that
both gut'hed ana ~addened Alma TOR
this returning lover uf hers drcndfnlly
suggested the penitent prodigal.
"This IS sure q land " plenty" said
Harvey with "a sigh of satisfaction rs
he completed lunch sufficient for two
men. "Ama I've come back with
umbluu hut hard costly lesson
learned. Those city sharks took my
money away from me so eaSy ] WON
der how they did H. I'm through as "a
financial Napoleon I'm glad 20 creep
home. humble and glad 20 come back
o. the store and mother-and you"
"And, oh Harvey iuhlated Alma
'such business The store has done
You poor boy, indeed How welcome
YOU aret'
II had soul above potatoes, YOU
kuowg" observed Harvey with mourn
FIN retro>pection "Wen II the fiat
upSfairs Is Stil vacant"
Eyes. il is. Harvey" nodded Alma
Then it, a quiet wedding a. soon
us You can get ready Anal after
What i've gone through. Il viii BE
paradise ta settle down III the cozy
....,g.et NttFy hagya