Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1919-11-28
The Golden
Horseshoe
o0
by VICTOR REDCLIFFE
Copyright. 1919. by the western News
paper Union.)

paper Union.)
There was q memory Of the most
tragic hour of young Bertram Wynn's
life that he never forgot. He had left
his home ten miles distant with a dark
cloud lowering over past and present.
and had sat down at the edge of
bluff lining a waterway to think, to
and morally. The outlook was desolate
AS in an evil dream he summed up the
disastrous climax to advice he had
given his father as to investments,
that had brought John Wynn to the
verge of bankruptcy. He had sought
solitude to analyze the shock, TO with.
stand It's crushing weight IL that
seemed possible.
Darker and more forbidding grew
his scowling brow as he faced the
facts. Gloomier and more repelling
seemed the future. His eyes fixed on
vacancy, his lips grimly compressed,
he drew a revolver from his pocket,
turned it over speculatively in his
hand and then hastily thrust II upon
the ground behind him as the sound
Of approaching voices reached him.
A picture in vivid contrast to the
dismal visions wrought by his de-
spending mentality was presented.
Framed in the golden sunshine was
group of little children led by, or cling
ing to- lovely girl of about eighteen.
She seemed TO be their teacher and
they just let out Of school or return
ing to ii. AS she passed the spot where
Bertram sat she seemed momentarily
startled, and then as if impressed with
the sadness and desperation depicted
in his face half wavered, and passed
on. Somehow that glance TO Bertram
seemed full of human sympathy and
encouragement and as the group van
ished the circumstance left an impress
Of JOY and innocence that recalled his
own bright youthful days. He was glad
as. reaching behind him, he found that
the revolver had slipped over the edge
of bluff into the water beneath, and he
arose shudderlng at the spasm Of de-
spair. which had so nearly led him to
take his own life.
Bertram Wynn went to large city
and CHANGED to secure board with an
Italian family whose head had been a
man Of considerable means In his own
country. This man took fancy to
Bertram and finally asked him to Join
him I'm an export business he had
started He had influence abroad and
had secured some orders Of magni-
tude. Bertram worked hard. At the
end OF the European war they secured
a contract for a large consignment ct
machinery, duplicated 1t later on, made
enormous profits, and, one year after
leaving Chesterton, Bertram returned
a rich man.
His experience had made him human
and considerate, and his past dark
days actuated him towards making
brighter those Of the unfortunate and
unlucky whom he met. He first re-
couped his fathers lost fortune and
enabled him to complete some phllan-
thropic plans his iii fortune had him
dered. Bertram was kindly and friend
ly with all his old associates and had
ever an open, helpful hand for the
poor and lowly. One noon time, pass
ing a group OF workmen whom he
knew near the plant where they la
bored, he was invited to engage In a
game at quoits. In lieu of the usual
metal discs ordinarily employed in the
sport. horseshoes were used. Bertram
entered into the game with zest. He