The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-05
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Treasure.
BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
NeWspaper Syndicate,)

!. 7 was 3 rather haBBaro, cafe~WOEn1
E froWning face, that Gaylord Sum.
q ner carried into the private den Of
+ Otis Layard. He chewed more than
smoked the cigar that his host gave
him as they took seats before a crack
ing log that furnished heat and an at
moBphere Of comfort from its repose
within the blackened confines Of fire
place.
No word was spoken for spell.
Layard leaned back and waited for his
Z friend to state his errand, but Sumner
seemed in no hurry. He simply champ
q ed on the cigar and occasionally par
took Of some smoke and stared dream
= lily and somewhat morosely into the
fire. Finally he announced abruptly.
"PVe quit my job"
Layard's eyebrows elevated in sur
prise.
That's queer" he observed. you
haven't had It more than two months
and It pays a pretty fair salary, &C.
cording to my ideas. The Superior
Auto company is quite some concern
and to be Its sales manager is no mean
occupation. What's the idea?"
Gaylord rested his elbows on his
knees and with his hands formed a cup
Of his square, determined chin. He
sat in moody silence for another brief
period, then smiled wry kind Of
smile and explained:
I'm going huntington that treas
ure Of yours"
Layard laughed, as though some
thing had struck him as being ridicu-
lousy funny. When he recovered from
Il the outburst Gaylard was maintaining
grave although not rebul1ing de-
meanor.
you can't mean IT,"
II do though" Gaylord contradicted
I'm sick Of this burg and everybody
in It with the exception of you and two
or three other people. Yes, I'm going
after that treasurer you offer to
split fifty.fifty still holds good"
y Layard was froWning.
Look here, Sumner. That was all
very well year ago-when made
the offer. You will not resent it, l am
sure, If recall that you did not
amount to a great deal, financially ana
ambitiously speaking, about that time.
You had no responsibility in life and
were hitting 2 pretty rapid pace. I
put that treasure proposition up to
you more to get you away from that
gang you were travelling with and to
get you out In some pure air than with
any idea that the money could be
found. never did take any stock in
the thing, myself, and l have kept the
may the old miner gave me more as q
curiosity than anything else"
Gaylord was staring intentlY at the
burning log, "a girls eyes persisted in
gazing at him fromthe fireplace, girl
with somewhat plain but attractive
face, with hair that was blend of
auburn and gold. He knew full we'll
that Gaylord told the truth about the
way he (Gaylord) had been living o
year previous. He knew it we'll, be-
cause 1t was what had cost him the
girl, who had meant very great deal
to him and who, now that she was
gone, he had come to realize was life
itself to him.
They had been engaged and their
wedding planned to take place in q
year. The year was up today, and
7 here was he, lonely and morose, with.
out knowledge Of her whereabouts.
. The girl would have stood by him,
he was convinced in spite OF his glar.
ing faults, and in spite of the repeat
ed SCATTERING OF his resolution to do
Ibetter; but there was her father to
reckon with. Gaylord could see now
that the father had been square
enough about 1t and had only looked
after his daughters happiness; al
though at the time the decree, "You
have had your last chance" seemed
wholly unjustified. Twice the girls
father had tried to reason with Gay.
lord and pursuade him to chance his
mode Of living and finally had givon It
up as hopeless and closed the doors
bf his home, to his daughters fiarce,
who then ane there ceased to be q
Z f:ance. The girl insisted to the last
that she loved Gaylord and cried when
she gave him back the ring, but de.
elared she knew her fathers course
was the best and that duty to him
made i. impossible for her. to disra-
gard his wishes. Furthermore, she
said, she knew Gaylord would mot lead
y tbe life ne did II he really ncared for
Her.
Thereupon, Gaylord. set out to
/ schange his ways" The climax OF his
only love affair awoke him and gave
him a new perspective on life, He
4 worked hard and kept away from his
former boon companions. He said he
you'd SHOW her." but he didn't have
much Of a chance, because the girl
and her father moved away a week aft.
o. Gaylord had received his ultima.
tim. No one knew where they had
gone But Gaylord lived in hope of
receiving letter some day and kept
his life clean in spite OF the tempta.
lions that assailed him to indulge in
Farions stimulants that might induce
forgetfulness. Well, here 1t was a
gear later and he had a good posi-.
ton, and had won respect, but NO letter
had come. Finally his hopes had van.
ished and in search Of some relief for
bis heavy heart he had determined to
eccept Layard's offer.
i have given UP my Job on the
strength OF the chance to hunt for
. Treasure" he said, land you surely
won't 90 back on me. Maybe It is 4
gild-goose chase, but want to try It,
Just the same"
X Layard cast his partly consumed
cigar into the fireplace and went into
an adjoining room, from which he re.
tliFaed shortly with a fin hoY fnop,