The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-09-23
. Her Weight
!. in Gold
By MURIEL LEE

% 1890. western Newspaper Union

80
Atwood with fixed determination.
"Tl stick, = asserted his mining part
ner, Dan Forster.
Don't blame me, Dam" went on the
first almost pathettcally. for he and
Forster had been close friends.
have cheerfully invested half OF my
resources in this Golden Bar PROPOSE
ton to find that am not adapted Tor
the business. There's gold in the bed
of the old Minouka, for we have found
it, but it's all guess work as to locat-
ing the particular spots where 1t Is
massed up in sufficient quantities to
pay for taking 1t OUT
: "Well, If you haven't the patience
to wait until the dams and bins are
put ii, quit it and no hard feelings.
One thing, though, do you intend to
draw out your share OF the capital
now in the bank to cover work con-
tracted for?"
Not penny Of It," replied Atwood
promptly. Go the limit on that, Dan.
You see, have only few thousands
left and I'm going to make new try
in real legitimate business. I've got
fair opportunity to do it down In
Appleton.
What line, Bruce?'
Boots and shoes, an established
store. Owner sick and has to sell out.
I've got some new ideas as to running
such business. I'll not be content to
simply drudge along and make liv-
ing. If I can't see big future in the
proposition, I'll sell out and get to the
big cities"
Within the week Atwood was sole
proprietor of the shoe store In Apple
ton. He had the place renovated and
bought a dazzling electric sign. He
spared no money to make the show
windows attractive. The opening day
was signalized by band concert. At
wood circularized the district for miles
around and on Saturday there was q
constant rush of farmers and their
families and sales were beyond his
fondest anticipations.
The new advertising wrinkle of the
week was the settling in place Of a
handsome weighing scale, capacious
and ornate, with a broad alluring dial
and everybody was invited to weigh
themselves free of charge. Very few
passersby ignored the opportunity.
One afternoon Atwood was standing
near the door when a young lady and
an old gentleman, evidently her father,
halted as the former spoke in mu-
steal accents. 'Ot, papa, I want to
weigh myself. l haven't done SO since
I came home from my visit East"
Atwood came forward and waved
bis hand toward the scale, receiving a
smiling recognition of thanks from the
bewitching young lady as she stepped
upon the scale platform. ssls
"One hundred and twenty-five
pounds" announced Vivian Dalton.
why, papa, home cooking. has in
creased my weight over six pounds in
a week.
"That adds so much more to your,
Value was the affectionate reply,
worth your weight in gold. The for
tunate young man who wins you will
have to qualify up to that standard"
ooh, what a lovely pair of slippers!"
exclaimed Vivian, and in her haste to
get nearer to the show window her
foot caught in the extending top plate
Of the platform and tore away the
feel of her shoe entirely and part Of
the sole. She would have fallen only
that Atwood caught her. For feet
ing moment he held in his arms this
dainty, sweet creature whose value he
estimated even beyond that expressed
by her proud and loving parent. She
had to come inside and remained seat
ed while the cobbler repaired Ter dis
ordered footgear and both she and
her father expressed their thanks for
the prompt and helpful attention.
II can't forget her." sighed Atwood
the next morning. 'My manager says
her father is the money king in the
town. Pretty plainly he indicated that
her husband-to-be must have her
weight in gold HIM! One hundred
and twenty-five pounds. Why that
would be a little fortune. I'll forget
her. Probably I'll never see her again.
/ couldn't match her with silver even
ia the present state Of my finances" Z
But the next day Miss Dalton came
into tie store to buy the pretty slip
pers she had fancied. During the fol-
lowing week. she again visited the
place to introduce a lady interested in
charity for the poor. Would Mr.. At
wood contribute a pair Of shoes to chill
dren Of poor families.
'Oh, surely" And more than that,
"just bring in the sizes needed as
new worthy applicants In need appear"
And the radiant smile from Vivian
that rewarded his good heartedness
fully compensated for lis impulsive
generosity.
Another month went by and those
two met at several local functions.
Then Atwood was invited to the Dali
ton home and was made to feel as q
welcome guest.
One day he received q letter from
Dan Forster. Golden Bar had paid out