Ellsworth American., 1919-12-31
"A
Ladies' Man
o<D
By ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

Albion Steele came to Wellstop nm
heralded and without introduction. No
body asked him for credentials or
ahtecedents, for from the first he made
good impression. He was accepted hy
tne male portion of the community as
quiet, obiging and eminently re-
spectacle person, and he won the adj
miration and esteem of members of
the gentier sex through his unvarying
courtesy, handsome face and exquisite
good taste in the matter of dress.
III was high tribute to his attrac-
tiveness when it became known that
ne was engaged to Rita Morris. She
was the belle of the village. Her par
ehts were only humble folks, but had
brought her up WELL Flare and gilt
ter could never have secured her at
tention. The tested sincerity and in
nate merit of Steele had alone won her
regard, and to her his courtier-like
presentment was simply the well-bred
rehnement of a true gentleman.
1t lacked month of the announced
agog with the intelligence that a
wealthy relative had left Rita for.
tune of nearly a hundred thousand
dollars
"Of course the wedding won't take
place., averred one critic Rita has
become the richest girl in the district,
Is well fitted for high social life and
her folks will look beyond Steele
Steele, meeting Mr. Morris on the
street one day, suggested that Rita un-
der new and unexpected conditions
might wish to change her mind"
You're wrong there; nor do we,"
at once asserted the bluff hole-souled
old man. eve have been glad to think
OF you as son-in-law and we're not
Of the purse-proud kind"
So the wedding took place. Steele
Kept right on with his professional
practice and proudly refused to in
dulge in any extravaganza on his
wife's means.
Rita lived entirely for him. She was
ambitious for his sake and urged him
to enter public life. He was elected
president Of the town board and later
named as candidate for the state
senatorship. 1t was while Steele was
campaigning that Ben Beazly and Tom
Wall, travelling patent medicine hawk
ers, came to Wellston.
Well" said Beazly, f1aring open
the local paper and revealing large
picture of "our esteemed townsman
and the next state senator" "do you
recognize him?'
81 don't" replied Wall promptly.
"Then you've got bad memory.
That is the young fellow whose room
we took when we boarded at a place
in Dover. Recollect how we paved
over lot of rubbish he left behind
him, among them dozen or more
photographs of himself and different
ladies', taken togetber?"
"Why, it does sort of dawn on me-"
said Wall.
Don't you recall how l said he must
be professional masher to have so
many lady loves? Well, since then he's
come to this town, has married the
richest girl in 1t, is up for state SEN
ator and-I have those photographs
back home"
what of it?"
"Why. a good big bribe, or III give
him away. What won't he give to
suppress those pictures of his giddy
days? What won't his political rivals
pay to get possession of them?"
A few days later Beazly called at
the Morris home. He proceeded to
business at once. Mrs. Steele" he
said briskly, 81 am assuming that your
husband and his friends would give
good deal to see him land the sen.
atorship. Well. am the man who can
make it sure for him or defeat him.
81 know nothing about my husbands
political or business affairs" spoke
Rita, resenting the familiar manner OF
her visitor.
"Oh you will be interested" coolly
assured Beazly. PLAINLY. lady, have
SOlHt lthtl al D6IlOt
before Mr.. Steele was married."
Rita stared aghast. Every one OF
the pictures showed a man, unmistak-
ably her husband. with a different
woman. each time making love. In one
he was kneeling at a lady's feet, in
another he was kissing lady's
hand, in all of them his attitude and
facial expression portrayed the lover
full and complete. Rita was too shock
ed to speak.
"I want the FIVE thousand dollars
in cash." began Beazly, when the door
opened and Steele, who Unexpectedly
returned. entered.
what is this?" he cried, and as
the agitated. nearly heart-broken Rita
disiointedly explained, he INDUCED in
hearty laugh.
Why, my dear!" he spoke with ami
nation. those are mementoes of my
experience when for one year | acted
in tha movies and were taken TO be