Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-12-03
The Strange
Guest
By PERcIVAL BROOKS
%. l92O. Western Newsnnner Irnion :

tering things-they are good enonoh
as they are, as long as we are r..
gether." "e 'O-
Dear little woman ~ enthused tbe
recipient of the letter and his heart
warmed and home, poor as if was
seemed a fine reckoning haven at that
moment.
Hafd as Nellie and he had worked
on the little ten-acre patch of ground
at the limits of Weston. they wound
up at the end of every year in debt
1hey mad enough to eat and that was
ABOUT all. There were two little chill
uren' however. Father and mother
aid not mind wearing old mended
clothes, but they deplored their in
ability to dress their children as those
OF their neighbors were attired.
IF we only had a little capital TO
invest in fertilizers and the machinery
TO DO real farming, I wouldn't call
the king my brother" Walter had as
serted s%trenuously. "Why, the old
stumps and rocks rooted out and q
year given TO preparing the land for
real cultivation, and I'd show YOU
results"
But they never yet had the money
or the time to carry out Walters plan.
1t was certainly practicable, for 9th
ers with money had made grand sue
cesses. So, burdened with debt and
the prospect ahead more forlorn and
unpromising than ever, Walter had
held a serious consultation with Nellie.
Il know no trade" he confessed.
THE city is probably crowded with
just such unsuccessful and disappoint-
ed fellows as myself, but it must offer
some opportunities to a willing man."
He had come to Alton, a thriving
little city, to try his luck. Three
weeks earnest effort to secure work
went for practically nothing. He grew
homesick for the wife and the little
ones. He wrote so to Nellie. The
answer to his letter decided him. He
spent two hours at dusk strolling
about the streets thinking it all over
and decided to start back for home
the next morning. There came a slight
sprinkle Of rain and, as he wore his
best suit of clothing, Walter stepped
back into the entrance Of a broad
doorway just above a fashionable res
taurant. Supper rooms upstairs" he
read on an Illuminating globe and it
made him think of home, for his prov
ender for the day had been light.
He had but two dollars in his pocket
and was saving of that, for it would
take him only two-thirds of the way
home.
AS Walter stood under shelter a
m~iddle-aged man, opulence prevailing
in dress, manner and ornament, came
down the stairs, glanced along the
street. then into the lower restaurant
and then CHANGED to take Walter with
in his vision. He wore a light over
coat of peculiar pattern and this he
removed as he re-entered the arch
way, half halted, studied Walter close
ly and then approached him.
"Young man." he spoke, shave you
the time and inclination to partake
Of a very princely supper?"
"Why," replied Walter, smiling at
the oddly of the circumstance, IL
scarcely understand you"
every well. Some friends are
gathered for a little banquet; others
expected have not arrived. We are
Just thirteen as it is, and the super
stitious ones won't sit down until we
have filled the fourteenth chair"
81 shall be glad to be at your serv-
ice" said Walter simply, and a few
minutes later found himself n of a
party of men who suggested refine
ment and wealth. He who had invited
him spoke an occasional word to him,
but Walter did not intrude upon the
general conversation.
"Such a meal" he told Nellie after
ward. and said it to himself. For two
hours. as a truly hungry man, Walter
reveled at a table of luxury and
plenty. He thanked the man who had
invited him when the repast was over
and came down to the street alone ike
q man III Il uI6dIu. IIc Stol lSU a. NHNS
for his boarding house. Half way
down the block, just ahead OF nm, a
man acting s~uspiciOusly stepped from
a dark alley. The coat he wore at
once attracted the attention of Walter.
II was the n he had noticed on his
recent friendly host. In a HASH wal
fer decided that the lurker had stolen
the garment and had slipped out the
rear way with it.
".Just a minute, my friend, ne
smoke, hurrying to the man and seizing
him by the collar. "Stolen property
eh?" But the slick thief evaded ae-
tention by slipping out of the garment
and dashing away.
Walter returned TO the banquet room
IN fell his story. The owner OF the
coat excitedly rummaged the garment
revealing a large package of papers
INV friend. you have lone me a