The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-09-18
Lovers Three
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By GEORGE ELMER COBB

q ~ 0GOk0E ELMER COBB y
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copyright. 1919 by Western Newspaper union.)
Big hulking Ike Wolcott profoundly
admired Lisbeth Todd, next-door neigh
. Dor, but was too lndolent to tell her
about It. His brother, Luke was also
attracted. Ike never worked. Luke
did. occasionally, but he was thorough
~ self-seeking. There was third son
OF old John Wolcott. This was Merle.
He was the youngest, not yet Of age.
But for his industry his father would
have had scarcely enough to live on.
Merle treated Lisbeth as If she was
the only girl In the world worth motto
ing. When he had q little surplus cash,
Lisbeth received a box Of chocolates.
II he discovered any particularly
pretty flowers In the woods she was
their recipient. He never forgot Lis
beth's birthday and bis thoughtfulness
was bright spot in her young life.
Since his wife had died old John
Wolcott had met with reverses. Piece
by piece Of property left by his wife
Mr.. Wolcott mortgaged OF sold, living
up the proceeds until the old home
and sterile patch Of some fifty acres
lying beyond the edge Of the town were
all that he had left.
"Well. boys" he observed one day,
we've reached the end Of our string"
"What do you mean p submitted Ike,
looking scared.
Yesterday transferred my small
equity in the homestead here to real
estate Spectator for few hundred
dollars. can't have you boys hang
ing around using up my last cash.
Youu have to hustle for yourselves"
"But where are you going to live,
father?' inquired Merle solicitously.
there's little shanty on the old
river patch Of land and I'm going to
camp there. They've struck oil Just
beyond the creek and quite a settle
ment Of workers has come in. I'll be
near enough to them to start with q
little stock Of tobacco and the like.
I'm to blame for not pushing you fel-
lows out Of the home nest long since.
I've an old friend In the city who runs
a big factory and I think he'll give
each Of you job"
The Todds had become great
part Of the lives Of the Wolcotts. Each
Of the boys sought out Lisbeth for a
special farewell. Ike told Lisbeth she
was the finest girl in the world. The
cautious Luke did not exactly commit
himself, but had in mind that Lisbeth
might some day inherit the family
property, and he cast an anchor to
windward by limiting that he would be
looking for a wife one Of these days.
The soul of Merle was in his eyes as
he put in Lisbeth's hand neat little
collar pin which had taken his last
spare cent, and Lisbeth thought how
noble and different he was to the 9TH
ers, as he asked her to look after his
old father once in awhile.
Twice during the next year Merle
sent a twenty-dollar bill to his father,
and on her birthday simple, pretty
bracelet to Lisbeth. Later he wrote
that there would be fortnight shut
down at the factory where they were
employed, and the three Of them were
coming home for week Meanwhile
old John Wolcott had moved into the
hut on the last piece Of property he
had in the world. Every day kindly.
loyal Lisbeth had visited him, bring
ing some dainty OF her cookery and
seeing that the little home was kept
neat and comfortable.
Ike arrived first. He had really
worked and saved, for he wore loud,
flashy suit of clothes that must have
cost quite q sum. Lisbeth had to smile
at his faring tie and lemon-colored
gloves. Ike boosted Of practically run
ming the factory and expecting to be-
come a partner some day. He spent
most of his time parading the streets
and Boosting Of his business prospects.
Luke arrived day later. Both ate
their frugal father out Of house and
home, did not fancy the cramped quar-
tiers of the old hut and stayed only |
half week.
And finally Merle arrived, DrlSk, JOY
Gus, glad to find his father well and
happy, enraptured anew at a sight Of
the winsome lass who possessed his
love. Lisbeth was present when Merle
handed an envelope to his father and
said:
"Father. there's bit Of my savings
there, hundred dollars, and I think
can double it for you next year. My
prospects look pretty fair, and maybe
I'll get enough ahead finally to settle
down." and he glanced at Lisbeth, who
smiled and blushed. There's one thing.
though, I'd like to have you live in bet
ter quarters than this old shack"
'Going to-" promised the father in a
lively tone. ''My boy, you're the only
one who has shown true blue, except
Lisbeth here. And I'm going to tell
you some good news. I'm arranging to