The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-07-31
Lovers Three
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

0
Copyright, 1919. by Western Newspaper unon-l
Big hulking Ike Wolcott profoundly
admired Lisbeth Todd, next-door neigh
Dor, but was too indolent to tell her
about it. His brother Luke, was also
attracted. Ike never worked Luke
did, occasionally, but he was thorough
iy self-seeking. There was a 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 little surplus cash,
Lisbeth received a box of chocolates.
If he discovered any particularly
pretty flowers in the woods she was
their recipient. He never forgot Lis
beth's birthday and his thoughtfulness
was a 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 or sold. living
up the proceeds until the old home
and sterile patch Of some lfty acres
lying beyond the edge of the town were
all that he had left.
"WeH, boys" he observed one day,
"we'ye reached the end of our string"
"What do you meanY submitted Ike,
looking scared.
yesterday I transferred my small
equity in the homestead here to a real
estate Spectator for n few hundred
dollars. l cant have you boys hang
ing around using up my last cash.
You'll have to hustle for yourselves"
"But where are you going to live,
father?" inquired Merle solicitously.
"Thcre's q 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 Il
little stock of tobacco and the like.
I'm to blame for not pushing you fell
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 a great
part of the lives of the WolcottS. Each
Of the boys sought out Lisbeth for a
special farewell. Ike told Lisboth she
moe, a., G,,rt ,r;,,1 In th, would Tho
cautions Luke did not exactly comsit
himself, but had in mind that Lsbeth
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 i'm his eyes rs
he put in Lisbeth's hand a neat little
collar pin which had taken his last
spare cent and Lsboth 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 a simple, pretty
bracelet to Lisbeth. Later he wrote
that there would be a fortnight shut
down at the factory where they were
employed, and the three Of them were
coming home for a 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 sum. Lisbeth had TO smile
at his naring tie and lemon-colored
gloves. Ike boosted of practically run
ming the factory ana 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 a day later. Both ate
their frugal father out Of house and
home, did not fancy the cramped quar-
ters of the old hut and stayed only
half a week.
And finally Merle arrived, brisk, JOY
GUS glad to find his father well ana
happy, enraptured anew at sight OF
the winsome lass who possessed his
love. Lisbeth was present when Merle
handed an envelope to his father ana
said:
"Father, there's a hit of my savings
there, n hundred dollars, and | think |
can double it for you next year. MY
prospects look pretty fair, and maybe
TN get enough ahead finally to set,e
down. and he glanced at Lisbeth, who
smiled and blushcd. "There's one thing,
though, III like to have you live in bet
ter quarters than this old shack"
"Going to-" promised the father IN
lively tone. "NIy boy, you're the only
one who has shown true blue, except
Lisbeth here. And I'm going to tell
Won some good news. I'm arranging to
buy back the old homestead"
"Why, father"
"They've discovered oil at the south
end of the patch here. It's a twenty
thousand-dollar deal for me. It'll be
lonesome for me at the old home, SO, Il
YOU are willing to run my business Tor
me and could induce Lisbeth to be-
come our housekeeper."
Thereat the embarrassed pretty one
covered her blushing face with her