Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-28
EARNING A
BRIDE
BY ALVAH J. R


Copyright, 1920, Western Newspaper Union)
There was no reason why Richard
Clyde should not be a happy man. He
had a beautiful home, q loving wife,
a daughter good and beautiful. His
business cares We're nominal In a hand
somely furnished office, where he an
swered a few letters and had a steady
income from a prosperous Investment
business.
The worm In the bud was fancied
Illness. Clyde had leisure to nurture
all kinds of dismal forebodings. Thus,
for n year a slight siege of rheumatism
had magnified into locomotor ataxla.
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 wenl
at is simply n growth in no wise
connected with the nerves or arteries,
harmless as a wart or corn" his physi-
elan told Clyde. 1.-THE slightest opera
ton in the world will remove 1t en-
tirely, f0' 1t has 40 roots"
mo cutting OF slashing, or blood
poisoning for me p objected Clyde,
with vigor. II shall let It develop till
we see what comes Of It,"
Nothing will come from It except
vagaries." tersely responded the physi-
clan, but the wen became a petted
~hiosyncracy Of the imrressible Clyde.
He nursed it, he measured 1t daily.
He thought Of it 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 up tumors, cancers and goitres.
One afternoon a stranger entered the
Clyde Office. It's proprietor had been
reading an article in a medical Jour
nal of a 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 mar In England. The
Instance persisted in monopolizins
Clyde's thought, and he was %nervou
irritable, and %scow1ed at the caller.
"Mr. Clyde" spoke the latter. a we'll
groomed, refined appearing young mar
with a slight air Of timidity, 81 have
come to see you about a subject Of
great Importance to myself. sup
pose you don't remember me-"
81 don't" responded Clyde, gruf'r,
barely glancing at the card rendered
and scanning the name It bore. Then
a faint recollection Of having seen a
person resembling his visitors among
quests of his daughter at q house
party came to him. Before he could
speak, however. there was a sudden
and startling interruption.
Overhead there was a terrific detona,
ton, then a sound of crashing glass.
From windows overhead there rained
down outside a shower of brittle per
ticles. Bits Of plaster from the cell
ing fell all about the desk. Frantic
cries and rushing footsteps on the
motion.
"An explosion! There's Il chemical
concern overhead gasped Clyde. IIo
struggled to his feet. His visitor
grasped his arm and as lie noticed the
hallway without rapidly filing with va
por, rushed thither, urging, dragging.
half carrying he shaken Clyde with
him. The latter gave %utterance to &
terrible yell.
MY arml Let go! The wen," but
| he was forced TO the nearest elevator.
crowded with excited people, and
pushed in.
Agitated, ba~reheaded. Clyde stood
on the ground floor, confused and
frightened as n second defamation fair
ly shook the building. Then In q min
ute or two a building employee came
down. He quieted the fears of the
muddled group by announcing that two
explosions had occurred, a fire start
! ed, but quickly e~xtinguished. and
no further danger. Timorously clyde
went back TO his Office.
He shuddered as he noted the eff
feet OF the second explosion. A great
hole had been torn In the ceiling. driy-
Ing down the heavy plaster and a
shattered beam. Had he retained his
seat at the desk he would have beer
manned or killed.
where's the fellow who dragged me-
out, just in timer he painted. 81 owe
him everything. His card? All. here
II is-'Ronsld weston"
ooh, pspai are you safer cried an
anxious voice, and Wanda Clyde stood