Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-04-08
CHECKED UP
BY ALVAH J. GARTH

lated Hiram Smith. pursuing up his
lips and furrowing his brow In a stern.
complaining way as he read a business
card In the corner Of the envelope of
a letter he had Just received.
What is the trouble, Hram?r in
CURED his better half.
Look and see 'Smythe & Co.
Brokers' That's false colorS Norman
seems to be sailing under. Plain
Smith isn't good enough for him, it
seems. SO he has to spread-eagle un-
der another name"
Wen" rejoined Mrs. Smith placid
~ smith is, in fact, plain common
name, and maybe the city way is to
change IT,"
Change lti' cried Hiram, fire in
his eye. SAY If all the Smiths left
the world tomorrow it would feel the
! lack Of them | won't have this, and
I'm going to give Norman good,
sound piece of my mind. Why as he
! opened the envelope. 'its isn't from
Norman at all, and Hiram proceeded
to read the Enclosure.
"Humph y he observed finally.
Here's something to consider. Just
listen, Martha. This letter is from
Norman's stenographer, Miss Ava
! Brown, and 1t says that Norman is in
! trouble, is away from the city for a
| day or two, and, because she is inter
cstrd in him and the business, she
asks me to come on at once and have
a consultation with her. Tell you, I'm
worried ami disappointed / gave
Norman $4,000 to make his way in
the world, ana here's break"
II was no mystery at all, Uncle Hi
ram found, when he entered the office
Of Smythe K Co. two mornings later.
He looked savage as he noted that
name blazoned in gilt on the plate
glass windows, but he quoted down
! as he introduced himself to the pretty
and sensible looking young lady in
! charge.
| II like your looks" he announced
| buntly, and your eyes tell me you
are a girl in the habit of speaking the
truth. Now, then, tell me all about
! It."
The recital that followed, serious
end anxious, sobered Uncle Hiram not
little. II appeared that some bad
/ advisers had induced Norman to make
IN spurge" That of the name was
u part of it, plunging outside of ethi-
| cal securities was a second.
"If Mr.. Smith had only kept on
steadily with safe securities he would
not have had any trouble declared
the young lady "lle was iuhueAced
however, by set of reckless 81 ula-
tors, and has lost nearly ail liSeap
ital He is proud, and wanted to
make money too fast He has been
a good friend to me- Mr.. Smith, civ
ing me employment when ! was out
Of work, or the prospect of II, aud I
! like him-and something more than
\ that" ANA the speaker flushed.
"And he likes you-and something
more than that. is that IT," iusinuated
Hiram blunty.
81 hope So," assented Miss Brown
! frankly cat all events, wish TO help
him and save him. with your assist
uncc. of course
You put It straightforward ann
buslnesSlike,' said Hiram, and I'll
think IL over" which he did. Then
he resumed "Now, then Miss Brown,
I've decided what / win do First
thing. wen 90 over the books and
clear up all the debts, Next, no more
silly fods like using the Smythe name,
Then Norman has got to cut out his
expensive clubs and two-hour lunch
cons, and training with set Of young
fellows who play with bank accounts
ana don't care whose they are, Wen
take that name off those windows and
make il smith & Co, as II ought to
be. right away"
Hiram actually enjoyed the next two
days Miss Brown was a girl to like
more and more The better one became
acquainted with her The loyalty.
/ truthfulneSs, and honest business sense
/ she displayed completely won Hiram
over 10 was the third morning after
his arrival that his nephew entered
The office
"Who changed those signs on the
windovs?" he began Stormily when
! AVA silcucrl him with the prompt
warming reply
Your uncle who is in the next
room"
Norman Smith became meek as
lamb ais DE- confronted the latter who
was stern and dignfed ms ne said
"S,t down want to have talk
with YOU No don't close the door
Mis- Brown is better business genius
than YOU are, and has my confidence.
NuN chen
"Nou talt wisdom. Uncle Hiram"
+ & conceded aud I'm Doe glad to turn
over new loaf"
AN right" spoke his uncle. "Nouu
End lots Of encouragement and heIp.
O. yon an IN hc your hacker in
reasonable way and Miss Brown who
doesn't spell her name with am g.
tr-gej onto q or ans such fol.de-rol Is
q safe balance wheel II YOU Ike her
and something more than that" CON
aluded ne I'D man, slyly. "tell her
81"