The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-08-07
"A
Slight Mistake
C.1
BY ALDEN CHAPMAN
BY ALDEN CHApMi
. Observation-Disclosures:

" the .lltlp Motel nj fufilNllle Nhclt
h. had passed. the night. and paid his
ia The clcrh rs he placed the key
iu iis buN took thence a letter and
tossed u to him Very casually the
transient guest observed It's open Hap
aud onc-ccnt stamp. dlscrrncd that 1t
was an advertisement and threw II
on he nnnr without even glancing al
Us ~Lurrscription.
An humble. modest sort OF young
FELLOW va. Royce Merrill. Brought up
in the country and longing to get back
ngain Ia rational village life. he count
ed two Years experience as the adj
Vance agent OF cheap show rs ~
much time last. Where he was head.
cG for Merrill scarcely knew. He was
drifting. f-planning. finding n p"-
sition In some promising country town.
awaiting any circumstance or adyen-
ture that might develop the future and
ready therefore as To anything that
might come along.
A. Merrill left the desk hcavy-Set.
rctcntiouS-appearing man arose
from his seat in the lobby. picked up
the disdained envelope. read its adj
dress aud chuckled. Then he started
otter Merrill. At "A quiet street corner
he overlook him.
~ word with you. II you please.
Mr.. Pierce pnnton." he spoke. catch
ing and holding Merrlrs arm.
Somewhat mistaken. aren't you"
challenged Merrill THAT is not my
name"
"Oh. yes. 1t is" insisted the other.
"lou lust dropped this. didn't you"
| and he extended he envelope. and sure
enough IL bore the name he had men
toned. IL AN Deb Brown. deputy
sheriff NJ Princeton. twenty miles down
the line. I've got the right to detain
| you. and ~ there are some explana-
| tons for You To- make al that same
turg. I'm going to take you there"
you are exploiting case of mis-
taken identity. my friend observed
Merrill, pleasantly enough and grow
ing curious.
Hardly. don't suppose You will
deny that this * your picturef"
The deputy sheriff extended pho
tograph and Merrill looked half star
tied, tremendously puzzled. The pic
| turr was that Of man marveluusly
resembling himself.
AN right" he spoke readily. "t;o
ahead DO YOU arrest mef'
Il don't. unless you get too clever.
or ugly. It's simple. Silas Bland, my
| friend. the hotelkeeper, sent me to
hunt you up, 1t Isn't SO much the
| fifty-dolar board bill you ran up UNI
der false pretcnses and skipped, as IL
is the wounded pride Of his pretty
| daughter. Myrtle. She don't want you
| back because She cares for you. hut
she wants 10 see you punished for
Swlndling her father and humlliating
/ her. You went around Princeton hint
/ iEg AT the hit you had made with her
I -ncighhors are gossiping. Now She
I is "a deserted bride that was to be-
/ and She will take her dainty. wom-
/ anly way Of showing her utter scorn in
/ you publicly, and you will have to
settle up that bill and suffer her con-
tempt"
quite romance. Pretty girl. Of
/ Tended dignity. and scapegoat want
ed. Once more Mr.. Deputy Sheriff,
IN not the man you are looking for"
ut won't go" persisted the other
/ doggedly. I'm risk it,"
II was an ideal town. Princeton
| This was the first discovery Merrill
/ made. then that the Atlantic hotel was
n very attractive place Of abode. As
/ he was led into its reception room his
official guardian sang out through an
open doorway: "Mornin'. ST."
"Si" did not respond. hut very
dainty, sparkling-eyed. lovely-faced
/ girl Of eighteen crossed the threshold
There was fire in her pretty eyes and
an indignant flush upon her bonny
cheeks. She advanced quickly, paused
| dismayod. scanned the smiling captive
closely and huttered forth:
"oh. Mr.. Brown, you've made a
| dreadful mistake!"
Il told our friend that back at Ford
yllle," said Merrill, with courteous
bow to the young lady of engaging
l presence.
where's your fatheri" demanded
the village functlonary. "T'll see what
/ he says about IT,"
"Down at the post Office" and Myrtle
/ Bland stole an interested glance nj
/ Merrill. "lou can 20 after him while
| try and apologize for the fearful
hlunder we have made. You won't
run away while he is gone viii you.
I Mr.. -
Royce Merrill. Not I, Miss Bland"
declared he
III any reasonable sum. or a month
free Of the hest We have will fix up
our hideous mistake" said honest 81
I las Bland. after he had heard the
whole story, "we'll settle the score
willingly"
"Why. IL hasn't cost me anything ="
replied Merrill. with Jolly laugh.
"I'll stay the month and maybe longer.
for like the town, hut I'll pay for H.
What this little trick Of fate has led
me into decidedly pleases me-" as he
looked at Myrtle and she at him with
modestly-yeiled eyes. I'D ask nothing