The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-03-25
Lady
Bountiful
BY JESSIE e. sHERwIN
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News.
paper UnionD

derment when. after mysterious alb
! sence from his accustomed haunts.
Derby Dan renppeared attired respect
ably and with money to treat his
friends royalty.
Left a legacy7" "Struck new
lny7" "FOund pocteiboo< and like
expressions hailed Dan. hut he only
smiled wisely and. as his money finally
gave ont, ceased tO be an object OF
comment and interest to all except
Baldy Moss who was his chosen chum
In famine and plenty alike. and one
day Dan cOnGded his secret to Badly.
"Tell you. partner" he reclted. II
struck a queer snap. 4 young fellow
made bargain with me at three dol
lars day to keep sober. report AT his
room every evening from seven to nine
and answer his qucStionsY"
about what? propouuded Badly
skepticnlly.
"Oh. how we follows of the tomato
can and the rope hclt live. Human in
terest information. was the way he
put II. | told him all | knew. one
day he says I guess we will cancel
the engagement Dan, | must confess
70 being disappointed in you. It's the
pathetic and pitiful, the real struggles
and misery Of the poor and unfortu-
nate have been looking for
"Why Whatever was he after"
Hes story writer. or tries -or
hopes to be. lie was looking for real
J IL,
81 see. ! see" nodded Badly mus
ingly. "Say. Dan. ii ever we run
across him point him out. will you?"
II was about Il week after that
when Dan suddenly seized Baldy's
arm aud pointed to a young man cross
ing the street %
"That's him" he spoke quickly.
"Leave the rest to me-" directed
Badly, and put OF on the trail 0f
Merrill Hoyt with the hail: "AIisier,
can have n word With you?"
"Certainly," nodded Merrill
81 heard you're one of those guys
who write for the papers" projected
Baldy. 81 guess. too, that you want
To dig under the surface and get "A
|
You seem To have surmiscd what
I'm trying to find" answered Merrill
with whimsical smile.
well. | aln't much up in litatoor,
but ! suppose you are after heroes and
sberos. ] know one good and beauti-
ful as an angel. She came TO the ten
ement where used to live before my
| MI t,A \ 70 nd
started in to help the sick and needy.
Say, that gh'l has worked all day In
the factory and uses every cent she
, can spare for others. They call her
{ Lady Bountiful. but her v~al name IL
! Alice I.isle. Last week she pawncd
her neck chain to buy baby buggy
for u little crippled child and pay the
rent for sick washerwoman. Say,
believe there's mystery about her.
too, and that's what you want In
stories. don't your She isn't no com
mon clay. that's sure. and her pretty
face and ways in movie picture
would make whole play of itself"
Badly furnished further details ana
Merrill bestowed five-dollar bill upon
him, but Baldy's final words we're: II
say. mister. IL Lady Bountiful turns
out to he n princess In disguise and
your story about her makes you ia
nous. you'll blow me TO an extra ten.
eh ?"
One week later Merrill Hoyt became
room tenant of an old woman on the
same floor where Miss l.isle was To-
Gated The first sight he had OF the
young lady carried out the claim OF
Baldy that she was indeed good and
beautiful as an angel" A week spent
In close proximity to herself and her
humble neighbors proved n revelation
to Merrill. There was not a woman
or child In the old tenement that had
not some story OF kindness to dis
close Then Merrill was introduced
TO Miss -Lisle by his landlady. Day
by day Ne learned more and more to
estimate her royal worth and night
after night he wrote upon "hs great
back" which her loveliness and help
fulness inspired.
Merrill fell III and never knew who
had aided in nursing him until he was
/ back to normal. II was his landlady
who told him OF the visits of Miss
I.lsle to assist her In caring for the
delrlous patient
And OH" she said, "how you rnved,
and all about her, and how you were
, going to write her In lovely story.
, And she blushed SO beautifully when
in your fever you began to talk about
love- and how she should he your own
when you sold your book and-and
here she comes now"
And, flushing from self-conscious-
ness, Alice Llsle entered the room. II
was the beginning OF pleasant asso-
ciation mutually cherished, and few
weeks later, well and strong again.
Merrill told his love and all the story
OF his object In coming to the tene-
ment
I "we win have TO wait TIL my book