The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-11-20
A Romance
In Colors

BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE
Copyright. 1919. by the Western Nsws-
paper Union.)

reply Of the young matron, Mrs. Ran
som, who was the mother of two chil
dren whom this new boarder had al
but adopted so far as kindness ant
llberality were concerned. "On tht
contrary Mr.. Wharton is bluff, free
and open, and acts like a man glad tG
get out in the country where he car
do just as he pleases. No indeed, no;
at all mysterious, but can say
queer"
in what way, now?" urged Mrs
Doty, who was a confirmed gossip.
well, he spends half of his time
with the children, romps with them,
takes them on long auto rides, buys
them all kinds Of toys ana makes kites
for them; in fact he seems extrava-
gantly fond Of juvenile company"
Going to stay long with your
"A week or two vacation he told me
when he first came" replied Mrs, Ran
som. But 1t has run into his third
week, and he shows no signs of going
as yet"
The inquisitive Mrs. Doty having dis
appointedly exhausted the theme IN
der discussion, chose new subject
challenging her inquisitiveness.
"Who are the folks who have taken
the Gale placeY she inquired.
Now, there may be a mystery"
spoke Mrs. Ransom spriehtly, They
are new people ana keep closely to
themselves-a sour-vsaged old mqn,
mis- spinster sister, and, they say, a
niece Haven't seen the girl close at
hand, for, you know, the Gale place is
surrounded by that high-spked brick
wall but a glimpse now and then from
our bay window shows that this niece
Is graceful, and, | think, pretty She
never leaves the grounds, and one or
the other Of the man and woman is
with her whenever she is in the gar
dem
Just then there sounded out echoes
of joyous, excited shouts and, pointing
through the open window space, Mrs
Ransom said: "There Is hr. Wharton
now" and the nelghbor peered curious
ly at the new boarder.
Mrs. Ransom had reason to especially
notice this fact, for the day previous
he had presented one Of the children
with n large rubber ball tastefully dec
Grated with alternate red and blue
stripes. In a game Of toss ana cAtch
ire had sent il spinning over the brick
vail of the Gale place, and that was
Al. In 1f I.. lnI
little lad to whom he had presented
It with a promise to place it.
That night at dusk Mr. Wharton had
m animated juvenile escort as he sent
mp tile red and blue kite with a red
and blue lantern attached TO its tail
As he guided It aloft the string broke
nnd it, too fell within the extensive
grounds Of the Gale place.
"And he did it a-purpose' de-
clared little Benny to his mother
later on. 81 saw him snap the string"
1t was two days later that the man
who had taken the Gale place came
over to the Ransom home and ar
ranged for a regular supply of fresh
eggs butter and milk. Their delivery
became the task of little Benny. The
second evening of this function he
startled his mother and very much in
terested Mr. Wharton by handing the
latter a folded note.
The pretty girl over there gave me
The letter." said Benny, "and half
'lolar not TO tell anything about it.
she said was to give the letter to the
red and blue NAN and forget all about
H."
That's me, and here's n dollar to
lelp you forget it, Benny" observed
Mr.. Wharton, and he hastily perused
he note and went at once to his
'oom, chuckling nOtousy.
Mrs Doty was right-there is
mystery herew soliloqulzed the puz-
lied Mrs Ransom,
Mr. Wharton was gone into the VIII
age all that evening and Mrs. Ran
om went to bed after his return to
,e awake trying to solve the enigma
# his queer actions. She dozed, to
le awakened by soft chuggng sound
oming apparently from the rear OF
he house, and hastened TO a window
hat overlooked the back garden.
There stood an automobile red and
lue, and Mr.. Wharton was just help
lg a young lady into il, whom the
river drew into his arms and kissed
npturously. Away went the machine.
lr. Wharton, all smiles, waving his
and after its inmates suggested fa-
lerly blessing.
Next morning, when Mrs. Ransom
lme downstairs she found her board
! awaiting her, his suitcase at his
de.
you dear little woman" he said.
I'm leaving a neat little bonus in ad-
tion to my board money, as | have
1t to get back to business
And the young lady, sir, aud the
lung man and the automobileg" hut-
red Mrs. Ransom.
"Oh you saw the elopement. eh?
ell. my son was the young man.
hon: I have assisted in getting away
tll the poor, prosecuted victim of
latives interested i'm her fortune.
an and wife by this time. You see,
rad to use Don's favorite college col
s. with which Lucia was familiar, I