The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-01-22
"A
Slight Mistake
~
- ALDEN CHAPMAN

(cspyrishs, 1919. ~ the western News
paper Untsa)
As Royce Merrill walked by the desh
Of the little hotel at Tordville where
he had passed the night. and paid biz
bill the clerk ~ he placed the key
In its boz took thence Letter and
tossed It to him. Very casually the
transient guest obssrved IL opea ns0
and one-cent stamp, discernc0 that II
was an advertisement and threw II
on the floor without even giancing 1T
it, supcrscEiption.
An humble, modest sort of . young
fellow was Royce Merrill. Brought up
IN the country and longing to get back
again to rational Villages life. he count
ID two years experience A. the ad-
vance agent Of q cheap show ~ 20
much time lost. Where he was head
Cd for Merrill scarcely knew. He was
drifting, half.plannIng, finding q 20
sition In some promising country town,
awaiting any circumstance or adyen-
ture that might develop the future. and
ready therefore ~ to anything that
might come along.
A. Merrill left the deSh q heavy-ast.
pretentious-appearing man arose
from his seat In the lobby, picked up
the diSdained envelope. read its ad
dress aud cAuckied. Then he started
sitter Merrill. At quiet street corner
~ overlook him.
"A word with you, II you please.
Mr.. Pierce Danton,' he spoke, catch
Ing and holding Merrilrs arm.
Somewhat mistaken. aren't you"
challenged Merrill. THAT Is not my
name"
"Oh, yes. II IT," insisted the other.
You just dropped this. didn't you
and hs extended the envelope. and cure
enough II bore the name he had men-
toned. II am Zeb Brown, deputy
sheriff Of Princeton. twenty miles down
the line. I've got the right to detain
you, and ~ there are some explana-
tons for you to make at that same
burg, I'm going to take you there"
you are exploiting 4 case OF mis-
taken identity. my friend" observed
Merrill, pleasantly enough and grow
Ing curious.
Hardly. don't suppose you will
deny that this is your picturer
The deputy sheriff extended g pho
ioEraIh and Merrill looked half star
He'd tremendously puzzled. The pic
lure was that Of 4 man marveiously
himself.
"All right" he spoke readily. Go
ahead. Do you arrest meY'
Il don't, unless you get too cleyer,
" ugly. It's simple. Silas Bland, my
'riend, the hotelkeeper. sent me to
hunt you up. 1t isn't 90 much the
ifty dollar board bin you ran up UNI
Ter false pretenses and skipped, A. II
= the wounded pride Of his pretty
laughter. Myrtle. She don't want you
'Ack because she cares for you, hut ,
ne wants to see you punished for
her father and humiliating
er. You went around Princeton hint
Nc At the hit you had made with her
-nslghborr are gossiping. Now she
, deserted bride that was to be, t
nd she will take her dainty, wom- :
My wsy OF showing her utter scorn In
GU publicly. and you will have to
sttle up that bin and suffer her con-
tmpt"
Quite romance. Pretty girl Of
'nded dignity. and q scaps4oat want
d. Once more Mr.. Deputy Sheriff.
m not the man you are looking for" !
1T won't Co." persisted the other
oggedly. I'm risk H."
II was an ideal town. Princeton.
bis WAS the first discovery Merrill !
ade then that the Atlantic hotel was
very attractive place OF abode. As :
was led into its reception room his \
hcial guardian sang out through an :
Zen doorway: "Mornin'. SIR
"Si" did not respond, but q very
Unity. sparkllng.eyed. lovely .faced \
RI Of eighteen crossed the threshold.
here was fire In her pretty eyes and ;,
indignant fiush upon her bonny