The Washington herald., 1920-08-25


isn't that young lady Miss
Polly Simpson, asked Jimmy.
with specious guile.
Nav" said the boy. She's An
mabel Adams. Her pa owns this
more for? Is that a gold watch
chain7 I'm going to ket a bull
dog. Got any more dimes?'
Jimmy went to the Planters
Hotel, registered as Ralph d. |
Spencer, and engaged a room. He
leaned on the desk and declared I
his platform to the clerk. He said .
he had come to Elmore to look .
for a location to go into business.
How was the shoe business, now,
in the town? He had thought OF /
the shoe business. Was there an
opening?
The clerk was impressed by the /
clothes and manner of Jimmy. He
himself. was something of pat
tern of fashion to the thinly gid
ed youth of Elmore, but he now
perceived his shortcomings. While /
trying to figure out Jimmy's man
ner of tying his four-in-hand he ,
cordially gave Information. Yes. 7
there ought to be a good opening
in the shoe line. There wasn't an
exclusive shoe store in the place. (.
The dry goods and general stores
handled them. Business in all
lines wss fairly good. Hoped Mr.. /.
Spencer would decide to locate in
Elmore. He would find II a pleas .
ant town to live in. and the peo-
pie very sociable.
Mr.. Spencer thought he would
stop over in the town a few DAYS
and look over the situation. No,
the clerk needn't call the boy.
He would carry up his suitcase,
himself; IT was rather heavy
Mr.. Ralph Spencer. the phoenix
that rose from Jimmy Valentines
ashes-ashes left by the fame OF
a sudden and Alternative attack OF
love-remained in Elmore and
prospered. He opened shoe
store and secured a good run OF
trade.
Socially he was also a success
and made many friends. And he
accomplished the wish of his
heart He met Miss Annabel Ad-
ans. and became more and more
captivated by her charms.
At the end OF year the sitUa-
tion Of Mr.. Ralph Spencer was
this: he had won the respect OF
the community; his shoe store
was fiourishinE, and he and An
mabel were engaged TO be mar
rieed in two weeks. Mr.. Adams
the typical, plodding, country
banker, approved OF Spencer. An
nabel's pride in him almost equal
ed her affection. He was as much
at home in the family Of Mr. Ad-
ans and that Of AnnabeTs mar
ried sister as il he were already
a member.
One day Jimmy sat down in his
room and wrote this letter. which
he mailed TO the safe address Of
dne OF his old friends in St. Louis.
Dear Old Pal.
I want you to be at Sullivan's
place, in Little Rock. next We'd
nesday night, at nine o'clock. 1
want you TO wind up some little
matters for me. And. also. want
to make you a present of my kit
of tools. l know you'll be glad
to get them-you couldn't dupIi-
cate the lot for a thousand dol
lars. Say. Billy, I've Quit the old
business yeear ago. I've got
nice store. I'm making an hon
est living. and I'm going to marry
the finest girl on eaEtr. two weeks
from now. It's the only life. Billy
the straight one. ! wouldn't
touch a dollar OF another mans
money now for . s.T,Hlio1, -Nf.4rr
get married I'm going to sell
out and go West. where there
won't be so much danger Of hav-
ing old scores brought up against
me. l tell you, Billy. she's an
angel. She believes in me: and l
wouldn't do another crooked thing
for the whole world. Be sure TO
be at Sully's. for ] must see you.
III bring along the tools with
me. Your old friend,
JIMMY.
On the Monday night AFTER
Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben
Price logged unobtrusively into
Elmore in a livery buggy. He
Iounged about town in his uufet
way until he found out what he
wanted to know. From the drug
store across the street from
Spcncer's shoe store he got a
good look at Ralph u. Spencer
Going to marry the bankers
= 7iAb'As az = \ NAs Jimmy said
Ben to himself. softly. Well. l
don't know"
The next morning Jimmy took
breakfast at the Adamses. He
was going to Little Rock that
day to order his weddinE-suit and
buy Something nice for Annabel.
That would be the first time he
had left town since he came to
l,lnNnr
year now since those last pro-
fessionaI Jobs" and he thought
he could safely venture out.
After breakfast quite d family
party went downtown together
Mr.. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy. and
Annabel's married sister with her
two little girls. aged five and
nine. They came by the hotel
where Jimmy still boarded. and
he ran up to his room and
brought along his suit case Then
they went on 10 the bank. There
stood Jimmys horse and buggy
and Dolph Gibson, who was go
ing 10 drive him over to the rail-
road station.
All went inside the high, car
we'd oak ratings into the bank
ing room-Jimmy included. for
Mr.. Adams future son-in-law
was welcome anywhere. The
clerks were pleased to he greet
ed by the good looking, agree
able young man who was going
to marry Miss Annabel, whose
heart was buhbling with happi-
ness and lively youth. put on
Jimmy's hat and picked up the
suitcase. Wouldn't l make a
nice drummer" said Annabel
MY! Ralph. how heavy II is?
Feels like is was full of gold
bricks"