Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
From
The Dregs

BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

paper AhAon-l
In prOsaic routine way John Ross
overalled Shirisleeved, devoted his
time from daylight 10 dusk looking
after his business In dingy old ware.
house stored with secondhand furni
ture and general office equipment.
That was his especial line. All the
big buildings knew Ross and when n
tenant became delinquent as 10 rent
and II was was found necessary to
seize upon his possessions, Ross was
sent for He paid small price for the
stun, carted il away To his warehouse
and sold IL out later To new tenants
of the buildings who were attracted
by low prices.
II was far different John Ross.
however. who repaired TO his home
when his days work was done. The
same neat, natty suit he wore going 10
work he resumed going back to his
family, where he never allowed the re
hottest flavor OF "shop" 10 intrude.
pretty home she kept up so well more
than all of Elits. the daughter.
Very rarely did Eliza visit the old
warehouse and. when occasion re-
Quired. never got beyond the once I'M
I'll one day with q bosom companion,
Inez Bruce, they reached the grimy
building to find her father absent on
business. The bookkeeper did not de-
muir when the visitors ventured be-
yond the Office 10 the space devoted 10
storage. The presentment aroused the
liveliest curiosity OF lnez who in her
shallow. casual way, was interested In
great variety of knick-knacks such
az antique lamps. penholders, fancy
waste baskets and unique furniture.
Elita however, was infused with 4 ro-
mantle sense OF the presentment. Here
was an old battered chair that seemed
10 tell a story of long years Of toll and
service. scratched and splintered. and
her fervid Imagination pictured il oc-
cupied by some struggling business
man who. like il. had come TO the end
of his usefulness probably with disap-
pointed hopes and broken spirits
ing property torn and dusty she con
ceived were mementoeS OF the vision
OF a sanguine promoter whose cher
ished dreams never came 10 fulfill
ment. Then, slowed away in "A corner
was small old-fashioned desk. There
was nothing particularly attractive
about il, but II centered Elita's atten
ton.
There is he vesy thing want She
told lnez 1T will it into corner
Of the music room at home and not
take up too much space | must ask
father to have 1t fixed UP and sent
home
1t arrived. resplendeutly revsrnished
and renova ed. and was indeed quite a
convenience 10 Eliza. Then one day
purely by accident she discovered 4
secret drawer in the desk. Inside lay
a half-folded half-rolled manuscript
1t was voluminous and bore signs OF
having been handled Il good deal. With
curiosity and then with consuming in
terest and then with fervor and de
light. Eliza read a story that enrapt
soul and mind.
II was palpably. according 10 its title
page. the first effort OF him whose name
appeared upon il as author-Arnold
White.
About the unknown, unseen author
Elita wove rare glamor OF mystery
There was scarcely d day for a month
that she did not read and reresd some
portion Of the story Then she started
out 10 trace the source from which the
desk came. She enlisted the co-Opera.
tiOn OF one of the men at the ware
house. Finally she learned that the
desk with other poor belongings had
come from "A certain address. At last
she met the former lbndlady of Ar.
mold White. who told a story Of strug
giles against poverty and diSappoint
ment on the part of her tenant who al
last, shattered i'm health. left for New
Mexico and had not been heard from
since. A photograph of Arnold White
showed a face that thenceforward was
enshrined in he memory of Eliza. She
was i'm love with shadow
Six months went by. Not 10 her
parents. not even 10 her bosom friend
Inez Bruce. did Eliza impart her Sc
cret she had gone To II publisher who
offered 10 publish the hook II she
would bear the expense. This Elita
was + ny able 10 do. although her in
dulgent father wondered why she re
quired 50 much money. In the name
~ Arnold White the volume went
forth 10 the world.
II was AN instantaneous success
The publisher was fully Informed by
Elita of the true authorship OF the
story and all the circumstances and
as edition after edition was put forth
and the profits accrued. Elita mDde a
special deposit Of them at bank She
had advertised in broad way for
some trace Of Arnold White. hut had
received no word until certain day.
All, that day. As she entered the
office of the publisher there sat the
man she had worshiped In secret-Ar-
mold White. i'm flesh and blood From
obscure life. health regained, but a
common laborcr in mine he had been
called by the fame his name had ac.
duired. His ewes looked gratitude and
devotion and love into the shrinking
timid ones Of Elita as he poured forth
The story of his wanderings.
ON the eve " the publication ~ his
second book. with = sure literary fu.