The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-30
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Broken Rules.
By DWIGHT .INeLE scoTT.
Copyright 1918, BY the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)

IN the yeA of our Lord nineteen
eight, one who could wear white
! vest and mix cold or hot exhilarat-
ing things and keep the customers
smiling into the big mirror earned
forty or fifty dollars week; for some
fifteen minutes of strenuous exercise
within a roped arena, twenty by TWEEN
ty, a certain husky athlete Is reputed
to have received fifty thousand dol
lars; men who could handle iron while
it was hot were earning twenty dollars
day. During this prosperous era the
efforts Of the Rev. Rorace ChitWood.
whose "let not your heart be-trouDled
struck soothingly the deepest notes Oh
mortal woe, and whose what God mas
1oined" set vibrating the most SUI
blime chords of human Joy, were APP
praised by society at six hundred dol
lars year, and he got that much
some years.
So when the Rev. Chltwood died he
left mortgage on the little home IN a
Jersey town, twenty-eight dollars IN
back salary, a determined widow and
Little Chit.
ut is the only thing can do we'll
and had rather 1t would be here than
elsewhere"
Indeed Mrs. Chitwood, ! have never
forgotten those pies and that cake you
made for the church supper and l re-
member my promise perfectly" 1t
was the steward who spoke. He had
once been member of Rev. Chit
woods congregation. So Mary Chit
wood: became pastry cook at big
beach front hotel, and because school
was out and because Mary Chitwood
wanted him near, Little Chit became
bellboy extraordinary out in front.
Here the small, active little figure,
the rakish way he wore his cap atop
of his sunny hair, his pink cheeks and
that cherub like smile of his, soon
made Little Chit an institution.
Whats all the excitement, sonny?"
old Colonel Job, the hotels most con-
sistent crouch, paused, slipped a hand
full of "coppers" into the lads snug
coat pocket and patted little Chit on
the head.
"oh, haven't you heard, colonel? The
Money Princess is coming today"
"Huh-that child in Chicago that
there has been so much in the papers
about?"
Eyes, sir, the real Money Princess
and she is coming to our hotel today"
"Tell us about it, DEAR" prim old
Miss Harvey, who spent the year
round in the hotel and who had seri-
ously wanted to adopt "her ptnk-faced
cherub," drew Little Chit near to her
chair. ~,
Strange indeed how the hotel was
agog. Ex-Presidents and Italian
princess had come with less eclat. In
one day the register had contained
the autographs of Rudyard Kipling, Ii
Hung. Chang, Jim Corbett and Harry
Thaw, yet there had scarce been rip
pie through the great lobby. But
now
"You see she is the richest little
girl IN the whole world. But she hasn't
any mother nor father, nor even aunts
or cousins" explained Little Chit
quite seriously. But she is coming
on private train with lot Of people
who look after her and they have fixed
up almost a whole third floor for
them"
The honking of automobile horns,
the chatter of bags upon the marble
floor, the forward rushes of bellboys
and porters; they arrived. The Mon
ey Princess herself was almost lost In
the hubbuh. Cana her governess,
came her nurse. came her music
teacher, came her maid, came her
housekeeper, came the eminent DR..
Louise Craig Lakeland, the child hy-
gienist, came others and the servants
Of others.
Little Chit picked up small black
bag, trimmed in gold. He touched his
cap and smiled. The Money Princess
smiled back.
When they reached their floor again
The hubbub of inspecting many rooms.
Dr.. Louise Craig Lakeland knew that
the semitic principles of ventilation
had been violated. She got out an in
strument with a fan wheel and dial.
And of all things! The music teachers
room was done in salmon and laven-
der, the housekeeper had ordered ros-
es-there were sweet peas in all the
vases, the rooms faced the east, the
morning sun would annoy-to be sure
The ocean was inconveniently in that
direction, too-could they make their
apartments do?
Again Little Chit touched his cap
and smiled at the small girl standing
In the midst of all this connection and
looking very sweet and very lonely ano
very much like any other little girl of
Twelve might look who had long yellow
curls and red lips and pink cheeks and
blue eyes.
Again the Money Princess smiled
back and opened a little gold mesh
) purse that hung from her graceful
young arm.
Not from you, princess"
The Money Princess closed the bag.
"You know" she said, II like you, little
boy very much"
"And like you, too, princess"
1t was a week later and Little Chit
had just delivered ice water. Quite
suddenly but softly the door opened
and the Money Princess slipped into
the hall. She put her fingers over her
lips.
Listen, Little Chit" she whispered,
u am running away from them"
Little Chit stood transfixed.
Did you ever" she continued, have