The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-06
THE, DAILY
SHORT STORY
DAILY SHORT STORY Y..x TX TX
FiFTY-F,rIS s * * q. TX xxx

DAILY SHORT STORY Y..x TX TX
FiFTY.FlFTY ..x..x TX TX TX. x
BY DORA NOLAN.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
TED JOY came into the family din
ing room doing out the morning
mail and commenting on the ex.
ternal appearance OF each letter be-
fore parting with II. Here's. one for
you from Aunt Ann, mother; the ever
unwelcome little bill for yours, dad:
two for yours truly, and only one fer
you, Sally. What's happened to Chef?
skipped you two days now" H.
paused TO scrutinize carefully lao,
square. brown envelope. ignoring ins
sisters outstretched hand while he
remarked: Says Fifty-fifty' f. the
corner-and some ldress-soands
like a tooth paste
"or a. lottery number" added his
father. Give the lett to sulv. Ted;
you're worse than country postman."
Sally was glad to hide her disap-
pointment at not receiving letter in
Chefs familiar scrawl by appearing
Interested In the one bearing the cryp.
tic number. Quickest way to find
out is to open it, suppose" and Sally
suited the action to the word.
CHANGING at the first few lines, she
turned over to the signature, exclaim.
ing in surprised tone: why, it's
from Chefs sister, Elizabeth. They've
taken ! tile house out in Brownsville.
It's on river, and it's hardly finished
yet"
Then. reading along, They've taken
4 IN hV tho vaors aYnant IN tIara
most of the time. They've named 1t
'Fifty-fifty.' She wants me to come
down over the weekend"
Believe in being original, don't
they?" commented Ted. 81 like Eliza.
beth; shes good sport"
"A clever little woman, and her hus.
bands brilliant fellow-always en-
joy his stories. Come, Ted, or we'll
be late at the office" So saying, Mr.
Joy, followed by Ted. walked out OF
the room and out OF this story.
Il Mrs. Joy turned to her daughter:
. sally. haven't you and Chef made up
that absurd quarrel yet? II you don't
look out you'll lose him. And then"
Mother" Sally interrupted calmly,
looking up from the letter she was
still reading, "Chet and l have not
quarreled. It's merely difference of
opinion"
Call 1t what you like" Mrs. Joy
persisted, at amounts to the same
thing. When was young girl was
glad enough to give up her work when
she married. You're a mighty lucky
girl to get man with a salary like
fChet's.'N
Mother" it isn't the money-but
what's the use of arguing? just can.
! make you understand. Listen. Eliza
beth says that their new home would
Just about fit into our living room and
that It has five rooms. She is fur.
nishing 1t according to the ideas she
absorbed In Greenwich village
painted furniture, ). in. bright colors.
She says its dandy blur to put W
when you're broke, to pretend to pre-
fer that sort OF thing to solid mahog.
any. She wants me to come down and
help her decide on some Of the colors.
She asked Chef, too, but he can't get
away. So I'll go, mother, IL you don't
mind can't do any more up at Mrs.
-Barlows until that cretonne comes"
When Sally Joy alighted from the
train at the Brownsville station Il was
raining steadily. No one was there to
meet her. She ran inside, but the lit
tie building was empty. Through the
window she could see dilapidated
buggy standing outside and Ford,
with curtains tightly drawn. came
humping down the road. It stopped
with a Jerk and man jumped out.
The long, yellow oilskin slicker and
SLOUGH hat pulled down would have
disguised him from his best friend,
but by a certain indefinable something,
perhaps, his brisk movements, Sally
recognized him instantly.
Something sang in Sallys heart.
TITS Chef! It's Chet!" but she deter
minedly squelched that something and
presented an unsmiling face to the
young man.
, Chester Radiker seemed oblivious
to her GOODNESS. With much gallantry
, he took her bag, complimented her on
her appearance, helped her into the
car and kept up running fire of con.
versation during the three.mile drive.
He described his sisters house in an
amused fashion, commented on its
name, and to Sally's question, why
fifty.hfty% answered that he would
leave that to Elizabeth to explain.
"of course" thought Sally inward
ly; this is all for the benefit of the
jitney man. He's making a show of
treating me like any guest OF his sis
ter. Ill be just as nonchalant about 1t
as he is"
~ When the car stopped and Chef
pulled back the curtains Sally beheid
a tiny house, hip rooted and shingied,
nesting close to the country road. On
the broad veranda stood Elizabeth and
her husband, his arm about her shout.
ders. While Chef was settling with
the jitney man his sister drew sally
indoors and up TO the guest room,
where q cheerful fire burned on the
hearth.
Take of your wet things and get
into negligee,' she commanded, "and
let's make ourselves comfy hero by
the fire. The men of the house will
start dinner. I want to talk to you
before we go down. SO save your en-.
CARNATIONS about the house AMI the
view-you can't see IL well, anyway,
tillslater."
tsE4rst. mi nnnfasa That +oId 49,,