The Lamar register., 1920-03-03
EARNING A
BRIDE
By ALVAH J. GARTH

Hdu IL Deautl1ul nome, loving WlIe,
a daughter good and beautiful. His
business cares were nominal in 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 year II slight siege of rheumatism
had magnified into locomotor ataxia,
and for double that period of time los
Ing weight was laid to anemia. When
his physician had dispersed the final
symptoms of both dlstresses, Clyde
looked around for some new ailment
and found it-a wenl
"It is simply growth In no wise
connected with the nerves or arteries.
harmless as wart or corn" his physf-
clan told Clyde. "The slightest opera
tion In the world viii remove II en-
tirely. for IL has no roots"
mo cutting or slashing, or blood
poisoning for mel" objected Clyde,
with vigor. 81 shall let II develop till
we see what comes Of It."
Nothing will come from 1t except
vagaries," tersely responded the physi-
clan, but the wen became a petted
ldiosyncracy Of the Impressible Clyde.
He nursed IT. he measured II daily.
He thought Of II the first thing in the
morning. and the last thing at night.
He guarded II from contact as though
a wrench might tear II 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 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 man In England. The
Instance persisted In monopolizing
Clyde's thought, and he was nervous.
irritable. and scowled at the caller.
"Mr. Clyde" spoke the latter, well.
groomed. refined appearing young man
with a slight air of timldity. Il have
come to see you about a subject Of
great Importance TO myself. sup
"I don't" responded Clyde. gruffiy.
barely glancing at the card rendered
and scanning the name II bore. Then
a faint recollection Of having seen a
person resembling his visitors among
guests of his daughter at house
party came to him. Before he could
speak. however. there was sudden
and startling interruption.
Overhead there was n terrific detona-
tion. then n sound Of crashing glass.
From windows overhead there rnIned
down outside a shower of brittle par
ticles. Bits of plaster from the cell
ing fell all about the desk. Frantic
cries and rushing footsteps on the
floor above told Of an unusual com
motion.
'An explosioni There's a chemical
concern overhead" gasped Clyde. He
struggled to his feet. His visitor
grasped his arm and as he noticed the
hallway without rapidly filling with va
por, rushed thither. urging. dragging.
half carrying the shaken Clyde with
him. The latter gave utterance to a
terrible yell.
My drinl Let EOl Inc wen = Dut
he was forced to the nearest elevator,
crowded with excited people, and
pushed In.
Agitated, bareheaded, Clyde stood
on the ground floor. confused and
frightened as second detonation fair
ly shook the building. Then In a 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 extinguished. and
no further danger. Timorously Clyde
went back to his office.
He shnddered as he noted the ef-
feet of the second explosion. A great
hole had been torn in the ceiling. driv-
ing down the heavy plaster and a
shattered beam. Had he retained his
seat at the desk he would have been
MANNED or killed.
"Where's the fellow who dragged me
out. just In timer" he painted. 81 owe
him everything. His card? All. here
It is-'Ronald weston"
'Oh. papa are you safe?" cried an
anxious voice. and Wanda Clyde stood
in the doorway.
"Incrediblew calculated Clyde, as
something rolled down his inside
sleeve into his hand. "The wenl''
There II was. the object Of so much