The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-13
A Silent Hero
BysAIDEE EsTELLE BALLOON

The rotund, suave proprietor of the
Z Argyle house at Alton reversed the
hotel register as the morning train
brought In a solitary guest. He was
young man and he would have been
puzzle to most observers. His nose
bore deep dent and was fractured
at the center, and the rest Of the face
was marked here and there with scars.
He was bronzed as though from ex-
cessive exposure, one hand he moved
In slow, laborious way, as though
1t was hurt or stiff from some re-
cent injury. There was half drag
ging limp to one limb.
The new guest rested two worn va
Uses on the desk and wrote his name,
Bentley Wood" in clear, forcible APP
pearing letters. At that Jabez Hall,
the hotel keeper, reached toward the
letter case and drew thence sealed
envelope "That is for you, reckon"
he said. waiting for you since day
before yesterday Any particular floor
you favorY
The newcomer ran his eye rapidly
over a written page, looked consider
ably discomposed, and said: "If you
4 had asked me that before ! read this
letter, would have said your best
As 1t is-your cheapest. I expected
to have my employer meet me here
tomorrow. I find he isn't due for a
week. I am very short of money I'M
til he does come. Will you trust me,
awaiting that? There Is my baggage,
and 1t is quite valuable"
Jabez Hall directed probing glance
at the young man. Something In the
frank, clear way in which he spoke
conveyed favorable impression.
rSure I WILL" he answered simply.
"Thank you." nodded Bentley Wood,
who comprehended that the big-heart-
ediboniface had noted that he was in
mo condition for climbing stairs. Then
he consulted a memorandum book and.
asked: us there family named Els
ner in the town.
"Oh, yes" came the ready reply.
You mean Judge Elsner's family, for
they are the only one Of that name
hereabouts. The judge Is dead, but
his widow and Miss Elsner are at the
old home. She Is sister to Lieut..
Mark Elsner, who was killed at Cha
teau Thierry, overseas. They live at
: the end Of this street, last house, and
a large one. You can't miss it. Dan,
take the gentleman's luggage up to
room twenty-One."
The guest strolled about the lobby
for time, then about the public
square, and If he was interested In
them that day. After he had returned
to the hotel the porter, Dan, approach
ed. his employer with a curious ex-
preston upon his his dusky, grinning
face.
"Boss," he said, IT happened to take
pitcher Of water up to twenty-one,
and that new customer had one Of his
suit cases unpacked. Bless you, if I
ever saw such contraptions before
There were Knives and bayonets, and
helmets, and bombshells, and lot Of
war medals"
"H'm" responded Jabez thought
fully.
That phase Of the situation was also
puzzle, and then an irritant to Duke
Burson. The latter had been regu-
lar but unwelcome caller upon Wanda
Elsner before news of the death OF
her brother had reached her. Since
\ then she and her mother had practi-
kc w.. closed the house Of mourning
iag. visitors. Burson trained with
a loud and reckless group. The mys-
terious stranger troubled him, nettled
him. 1t aroused his jealousy to dis
cover possible rival.
In his shallow way Burson perpe-
trated mean revenge. He had an
artist friend, and one morning Alton
awoke to find the bulletin board near
the post office disfigured with an ex-
aggerated travesty ridiculing Bentley
Wood. 1t depicted figure with a de-
formed nose, shortened arm and n
twisted foot. Everybody recognized
ne caricature, but few smiled at it
except Burson and his gloating friends.
A week later the town woke up to
decided sensation. There was new
arrival at the Argyll house, Senator
John humphreys, anu the iocai pdper
announced that, under the auspices OF
n notable literary bureau, he would
deliver lecture on the war abroad.
- And Duke Burson, passing the old
bulletin board the next morning, stood
spellbound and shamed. The carica-
ture Of Bentley Wood had been I'M
needed. Beside 1t was two sheet
placard bearing a photograph of Bent
ley Wood, and announcing that he, a
hero of Chateau Thierry, would tell
his story of valor and suffering and ex.
hibit relics Of that world noted bat
tie crisis.
And then romance percolated
through persistent local gossip. Bent
ley Wood had been the close comrade
of Lieutenant Elsner abroad. He had
been with him when he died, had
brought from him last message to
his mourning sister, and had become
a welcpme guest at the Elsner home.
Duke purson' land his chums skunk
mr. or the lecture hall listening to the