Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-12-05

~ ~ NAAAb ~ sC
position, good looks"
Grant Maxwell perked up consider
ably. He considered the compliment
well bestowed. A presumptuous, con-
ceited individual, he did not pause to
number other qualifications that he did
not possess. but which might have a
good deal to do with Miss Vera Cor
don's ideal of a perfect man.
81 fancy I've made a hit already" he
observed with an air of confidence.
"Of course Wayne Merton is quite
a favorite with the Gordons," went on
Maxwell's friend, "but his humdrum
Ways are no comparison to your fetch
ing qualities, hey?"
"That cad p blared forth Maxwell in
a really rlotous way. "How l hate
him. They say he has money, but he
doesn't show it. He'll never last with
the exclusive and aristocratic GordOns,
though, l can tell you that. Between
you and me a little investigation on my
part has brought to light a solution OF
his mysterious past to which he
refers. When the tactical moment ar
rives l have a mine TO spring"
And the man of egotism and vanity
went his way, pulled up over the
cheap and insincere admiration OF a
hypocritical friend and chuckling as
he reflected over the clever trap he
had set to discredit Wayne Merton.
Maxwell had reason to dislike and
fear his rival. While all the Gordons
knew about him was that he was re-
ported of Independent means, he had
attracted Vera because he was so diff
ferent to the average young man OF
her set. 1t was a pleasure to have his
company. She knew he vas the author
of a series of powerful and practical
articles in the newspapers along phil
anthropic lines. He depicted in these
the crying needs of the poor, the i.
norant and the oppressed. She had
been fascinated while attending a lee
ture he delivered.
Vera had done considerable in
church relief work and was absorbed
In it. The evenings when Maxwell
called had little interest for her. His
curriculum began with golf and ended
with a~utomobiling. He had no inspira-
ton of Imagination and helpfulness.
Maxwell felt very %sanguine of maxi
ing a "ten-strike" one day as he called
upon Vera. He had got fully ready
to extinguish Merton. An adjunct to
his plot was a police sergeant whom
he had bribed and cajoled into assist
ing him in q certain way.
"Miss Gordon said Maxwell, "my
cousin, Miss Bruce, has come to the
city for a week. She is quite a social
worker and is anxious to see some
thing of the seamy side of life. have
arranged to give her a view of a police
court session. Wouldn't you like to
join us?"
Vera was at once interested and the
next morning Maxwell and Miss Bruce
called for her. His automobile landed
them at the police station and the trio
entered the courtroom. The experience
was novel, pathetic, Illuminating all at
once to the two young ladies. They
were serious, shocked to tears at
times. as poor humanity was paraded
before them in various appealing
guises. Then Maxwell suggested that
they view the station routine. In Its
main room a police sergeant mel them
and showed them the cells, the food
given the prisoners and told OF the
daily grist that went through the mill
of justice.
"a terrible record these books con-
tain" he observed, placing his hand on
a heap Of large volumes. THAT Is an
old one-1e11," added the sergeant as
Maxwell casually, apparently, opened
q book.
Look. Miss Gordon" spoke the lat
ter; NEARLY fifty names TO the page.
Why, it can't be possible! Wayne
Merton, d~isorderly, age twenty-five;
fined ten dollars and COSTS"
ooh. that cannot be our Mr.. Mer-
ton % spoke Vera, startled n with a
quick catch in her breath.
"What's the manner Wayne Merton"
smoke I'D the sergeant. II was a
pretty regular old timer. Drink was
his falling. Haven't heard from him
of late years." and then the speaker
described the man he was speaking OF
and Vera turned sick at heart, to-
the description of that Wayne Me-'
ton precisely accorded in general
terms with that of her Wayne Mer-
ton.
"Td like to show you our rogues'
gallery said the sergeant, and Max
well and Miss Bruce followed him.
Vera did not join them. She stood
pale and agitated, her eyes fixed upon
the record book where the name OF
Wayne Merton appeared. The police
clerk stared strangely as he noted q
tear fall upon the soiled page.
do you know Wayne Merton, mlssr
he asked. st is a name We are very
proud of. For two years he seemed try
!, ing to drown his grief over the death o.
two sisters. About three years age
all of a sudden he found his righ'
-;nd Evor hoard nf tho Refuge home