The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-13
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Second Choice.
BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright 1919, by Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.


b .ADTE Marshall came out OF the
III cIoal1oOm with a little SKIP in
~ her walk and a lot OF hnpEmesS
a her eyes, and went behind the coun-
cor 20 prepare fOr the big rush o. par
min hunters enticed by announc smeat
AZ tie sy3T1mOth yellow tag safe ct
KILLER BY.Irers dry goods store.
HTB1'e the excitement" inqlE ed
riIlis Edmonds, offering stick OF
gun which rioved acceptable.
Cant tell yOu," demurred Sadie
a. &c stripped the wrapping off the
gum and placed the delicacy in her
mouth. ITS a secret, but-gee! I'm
happy"
TaHe gcoWled. She felt like re-
claiming the gum, but 1t was too late
sadie was chewing It recklessly. -
9oh, all right; keep it to yourself.
snorted Title, and proceeded to turn
her back on the other girl and display
unusual energy in busting some bolts
Of muslin.
But sadie couldn't keep it. T1l
tell you" she said, eli you promise not
20 tell anyone else; and Tillie turned
With the scowl still on her face but her
ears wide open. "I'm-I'm engaged to
one OF the finest young men in the
world"
Titles face was radiant With smiles.
She seized both Of the others hands
and pumped them up and down for a
\ full minute while she showered con-
ordinations on her.
Good! Fine!" she beamed. Whom
you going to leave US, and what's the
gentleman's name? Is it that one
saw you walking with in Central Park
feeding the squirrels couple Of weeks
ago?"
The light Of happiness in sadie's
eyes lost some Of its brilliancy, al
though 1t was by no means dispelled.
NO" she said somewhat less en-
Enthusiastically, "he's not the one, al.
though he asked me only last Sun
day. That's Mr.. Piper, but he's not
the one I'm going to marry, although
l have to confess ! like him an awful
lot. My future husbands nanE is Jas
per Jewels, and he's got loads Of mon
ey and drives q motor car and-eyery.
thing"
Title shifted.
I'm kinda sorry" she said. ~ liked
that Mr.. Piper real well what little
saw of him, and l get suspicious OF
these fellows who have lots Of money.
How do you know he's rich and has
an automobile" 81
well, I've ridden In the car with
him." declared Sadie, "and as for his
heing rlch-wby, he told me so himself
and you ought to see the clothes he
wears! He's spick and span always,
! :cil you. Mr.. Piper, as said, is nice
nj has been very good to me, and IL
= hadn't been that Mr.. Jewels bodied
up
Then the bargain hunters began to
arrive and there was no time to talk
or th'I'LI Of Natrimouy for the rest Of
tac day. About the time the 5 o'clock
Whistles weie blowing a blonde young
man CARRIED IN blue and white strip
ed suit Of cut and shade that bor-
tlered on the radical entered the white
goods department and Sadie introduce
cd him as her intended He had an
easy grace Of manner and a winning
smile that quite captivated the sales
girls-all except Tillie, who simply
said, "Howdy do, glad to know you. }"
and continued showing bolts Of cloth
back on the shelves.
Sadie chung to his arm as they left
the store and entered a big green
touring car that stood at the curb.
Those few salesgirls who were able to
scramble to the window did SO and
stood gaping as the machine whirled
away.
After having dinner at a restaurant,
SADIE and MIR. jewels took ride in
Brooklyn before going to the theatre.
While on the ride Sadie was presented
with ring containing dazzling white
set. Then, Just in time to see the be.
ginning Of lie performance they drove
up to the theatre.
The play was good one. 1t had
enjoyed q long run at the theatre and
still was drawing big houses. But Sa-
dies enjoyment Of it'was considerably
fnterfered with by her conscience,
which was awakened by the presence
o. young man seated across the aisle
three rows down. The young man had
dark-browr lair and wore rather plain
but neat clothes. Evidently he was
IN the company OF two others, who sat
On either side of him, for he could be
seen conversing with them frequently.
"Mr. Piper unused Sadie. "How in
the world can'he afford to como to this
show? He works somewhere in a fac.
tory in Brooklyn. forget Just where
he said"
Her conscience was bothering her
because Of the treatment she was ar
cordtng her own heart. She knew that
sne really cared more for Mr.. Piper
than for her present escort, and she
also realized that it was the lure Of
wealth that had caused her to accent
JeWePs offer Of marriage.
Her acquaintance with M. Piper
dated SIX months back, to one day in
late summer. when she was canoeing
with two girls chums on tseogo lake.
None Of the three knew anything OF
the management OF q canoe, and they
nearly paid dearly for their rash adj
venture on the water. They were
about half mile from shore when the
canoe overt Irned, and if 1t had mot
been for Robert Piper, who, with two
otner young men, padded up at the
nght moment, It is unlikely that any
- tne Gir1s would have escaped vita