The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-06-03
EARNING A
BRIDE
By AivAH J. GARTH

There WIS no reason why Richard
Clyde should not be happy man. He
had beautiful home. a loving wife,
daughter good and beautiful. His
business cares were nominal In hand
someIy furnished office. where he an
swered a few letters and had steady
incoiac from prosperous investment
business
The worm in the bud was fancied
illness. Clyde had leisure 10 nurture
all kinds OF dismal forebodIngs Thus,
for year a slight siege of rheumatism
had magnified into locomotor ataxia,
and for double that period OF time los
ing weight was laid to anemia. When
his physician had dispersed the final
symptoms of both distresses, Clyde
looked around for some new ailment
and found it-a wenI
-It is simply a growth In no wise
connected with the nerves or arteries.
harmless as wart or corn" his physi-
clan told Clyde. THE slightest opera
tion in the world will remove it en-
tirely, for It has no roots"
No cutting or slashins. or blood
poisoning for mel" objected Clyde.
with vigor. Il shall let 1t develop till
we see what comes of it."
Nothing viii come from it except
vagaries," tersely responded the physi-
clan. but the wen became n petted
idiosyncracy of the impossible Clyde
He nursed IT, he measured ii daily
He thought of il the first thing in the
morning. and the last thing at night
He guarded it from contact as though
a wrench might tear it loose and
drench him with his life blood. He
studied M turrr.Ts, cancers and goitres,
One afternoon stranger entered the
Clyde Office. Its proprietor had been
reading an article in n medical jour
nal of case that bore a very distant
analogy to his own, where abrasion
metallic poisoning and inflammation
had raised a lump the size of an egg
on the foot of a man in England. The
instance persisted in monopolizing
Clyde's thought, and he Was nervous,
Irritable. and seowled at the caller
"Mr. Clyde" spoke the latter, a we'll
groomed. refined appearing young man
with a slight air Of timidity. 81 have
come TO see You about subject of
pose you don't remember me-"
II don't" responded Clyde, gruffiy,
barely ylancing at the card rendered
and scanning the name II bore. Then
faint recollection of having seen a
person resembling his visitors among
guests of his daughter at a house
party csme To him. Before he could
speak. however, there was a sudden
and startling interruption.
Overhead there was a terrific detopa-
tion. then sound of crashing glass.
From windows overhead there rained
down outside a shower OF brittle par
ficles. Bits of plaster from the cell
ing fell all about the desk. Frantic
cries and rushing footsteps on the
floor above told of an unusual eonl-
motion.
An explosion! There's chemical
struggled to his feet. His visitor
grasped his arm and as he noticed the
hallway without rapidly filling with va
por rushed thither. urging. dragging.
half carrying the shaken Clyde with
him. The latter gave utterance TO
terrible yell.
My arm! Let sol The wen ~ but
he was forced TO the nearest elevator,
crowded with excited people. and
pushed i'm.
Agitated, hareheaded. Clyde stood
ON the ground floor. confused aud
frightened as a second detonation fair
~ shook the building. Then In a min
ute or two n building employee came
down. He quieted the fears of the
muddled group by announcing that two
explosions had occurred. fire start
ed. hut quickly extInguished and
went back to his office.
He shuddercd as he noted th- ef-
feet OF the second explosion. great
hole had been torn in the ceiling. driv-
Ing down the heavy plaster and
shattered hcam. Had he retained his
seat AZ the desk he would have been
maimed or killed.
"Where's the fellow who dragged me
out. Just in times" he PAINTED. Il owe
him everything. His card1 All. here
II is-'Ronnld Weston
"oh. papa, are you safe7'' cried an
anxious voice, and Wanda Clyde stood
in the doorway.
"Incredlhler calculated Clyde. as
something rallied down his inside
sleeve into his hand. THE wenr'
There II was, the object OF SO much
interest and wnrry clean swept from
It's place by the vigorous handling he
had received from his rescuer. Clyde
tore or his coat. rolled M his sleeve.
Clean as whistle, he had heen hereft
q ~. - III