Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-04-08


In the wood. His mother. had siistin-
gnished him by this name, from the
frail Tom, who was his father. Nov
that both were gone, the faithful son
awakened bitterly to sense Of his
own loneliness. With the CHEEKY
mother awaiting him each evening in
HE neat cottage home, this busy life
among sough lumbermen hal seemed
neither protitless nor dull. Big Tom
dreaded pnlgnantly his evenings. He
wondered II lie might not arrange to d
leave the work here and go 10 morn
cOmpaniOnable field in the city. But
whom could he trust to carry on his
great interests, which had grown to
remarkable success? No, the life which
he had been obliged to take up when
bis fathers declining health made
work no longer possible, must still be
the life which would hold his frctting
spirit. And as he gazed with somber
eyes through the opening between the
trees, he beheld an unbelievable thing
. girls figure advancing rapidly to-
ward him.
The girl, dropping her suit case be-
fore the Office door, and sounding
tentative knock answered the question.
To Toms astonished stare, she gave
q wistful smile IF You please"
asked the wonder-girl. twill you direct
ne to hotel-or boarding ltouse2"
she added ut his evident glance Of
lismay. II left the train at the last
stop. and have walked, searching upon
my way. The place 10 less populated
than l thought"
Come In" suid Big Tom. cordially.
Before this girls difIldence his, self
CONSCIOUSNESS vanished.
"why did you Gomez" Tom asked
abruptly.
The girls crystal clear eyes me.
his frankly. 81 came to hide away
from man" she replied, "and left
the train ut the most isolated spot I
could find. hopsd,"-impatiently she
brushed the tears from her fringed
lids,-''to find work here. Stenogra-
ply perhaps, and support myself"
Big Tom whistled. "You know. your
own business Of course" lie said, but
don't you think you'd better go back.
Surely there is some other way
This is the only way" the girl an
swered decidedly.
III it's che only way" he said brisk
~ and you are determined in it, why.
you may become my typist, this min
ute, I'll he almighty relieved to find
one Even In this wilderness I'm busy
man, And there's my mothers cot-i
tage, all ready for you to keep house
In. 1t will be pleasant to think of
you there, sort Of keeping things go
Ing"
'And you?" asked the girl breath
iessly, where Will you be?"
"NVhy. right here" Mr.. Tom replied.
81 bunk here now half the time"
So the plan worked out like happy
fairy tale, and the new arrangement
Of affairs ran smoothly, as affairs were
won, to run, with Big Toms planning.
The girl bAde him. cali her "Joy BE
cause she had put her sorrows behind
her," she said.
His love for her grew to a sort of
reverence. In Joy, was personified all
the beauty and truth and purity of
the book women whom Tom had wor
shipped; almost the only women
that he had cared to know. And ev-
cry day. little Joy, singing about her
neat cottage, or over the books in the
cabin Office, grew more and more into
the very spirit OF her name. 1t was
then that Rawlings Of the city. end Of
the business came out to the forests
to consult personally with Tom Here
ford. And when Rawlings faced Toms
little stenographer ne srammered in
what he was saving and left the room
patiently perturbed. Big Toms
troubled eyes noted Joys sudden pal
lor and when Rawlings had gone she
came to him with gesture Of resig-
nation. II will have to leave you, Big
Tom" she said YEARLY.
rawlings is not the man you are
hiding from?" he asked sharply.
Joy shook her head. HE will send
the other man to find me-" she told
him.
/ Suddenly, she was sobbing.
"You don't understand, Tom dear"
she cried, 1.-THE man ran away from,
was my promised husband"
Instantly his arms released her, ac-
cusingly his eyes held hers.
Listen the girl went on, II was
for years secretary to wealthy WON
an who loved and trusted me. Before
she died, she begged me to marry her
/ only sen. that might guard her for
| tune and convert him from reckless.
ness to wisdom. agreed, only when
thought that he loved me. He was
winningly attractive in young girls
eyes, and also thought-Oh Tom
hew could l ever have thought-that
cared fer him: we agreed before
witnesses that we should be married
a. sosn a. the requirements Of the
will were adjusted.
| Dazsdly Big Tom turned to answer
the telephone. When he replaced the
receiver, he swung about and held
cut his arms.
"Jey Of my life" cried Tom eKultant.
IL, you dent have to 60 back. You
are not going back, until you 90, a.
! MY wife. That was Rawlings; hi
sallsd to say that ths man you ran
away frsm 10 married and already he
has taksa steps to secure his moth:
| er's money"
lie can have 1t ALL" said Joy
| ca Ketly.