Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-04-16
cAn
Honest Man

BY MARY ELLIS BARLEY
Copyright. 1919 by the Western Hsws-
paper Unios)

You have asked me what is trou
ing me- spoke Alden Ross. his fir
expressive face grave and earnes
AS my closest and truest friend, va
nave a right to know. There is
shadow In the background"
Il surmised some st,one reason 70
your generally depressed condition dur
ing the past few weeks" observed WI
Hed Lang. you have been unIIk,
Yourself, and want TO help you II Il
Is In my power"
doubt IL, replied Ross, somewhat
gioomily. "A skeleton in the closet is
not very comfortable possession, and
am sorry TO say that have discoy
cred one"
Drive II out" suggested Lang. We
hemently; Danish IT. ignore H."
Alden Ross shook his head sadly. 81
WISH ! could, Lang. but a sense OF
Justice of duty is involved. Shadow
ana skeleton, It is with me constant
~. And Just as there came an angel
80 the threshold"
Wlfred Lang regarded his friend
'ritically Il say Ross" he rallied
have you been absorbing these I'M
wholesome sentiments out of some old
Jlood-and-thunder rOmance?"
No, from dread reality" answered |
lioss seriously 81 will tell you the
story, briefly. About two months aeo
became acquainted with young lady
whom met at Noyes Lake She was
here with some girl companions and
chaperon, and those few days were
me most delightful of my life. We
irliied INTO most friendly acqualnt
dhceship You would not blame me
II You knew how charming was Miss
fthel Nolcott; less so II you could re-
alize how much | had learned TO love
ner. told her that had. and she was
gracious and responsive l was pIaced
~ delicate position, meeting her and
becoming engaged to her, all within
TWO weeks time.
she came Of a family high up in
social way and Of extensive wealth.
The chaperon at the very last recoe
nized the situation. and at once took
Ethel under her wing.
Rapid and most promising prog
fess, commented Lang saucily aWhy
he gloom over such an ideal situa-
Non?'
Because have discovered the ut
yer hopelessness OF the case" replied
Ross modify. you know that what
iliie l have in the world was left 10
me by mn aged aunt NY father died
= pauper When returned from NV
recent trip | contemplated changing
NY HVlng quarters, and started in to
hfow away the letters OF several years.
had only known that my father from
position of opulence. In Il single dov
lmoSt became a poor man. He never
ola me why such documents came
cross among his papers three days
Iter had seen Ethel Wolcott re-.
called the terrible reason"
Lang looked grave. lie knew his
iend WAS not II sensatlonalist. and
Is haggard face and sorrowful eyes
I'D Lang that he was suffering
To YOU my closest friend, can re-
'al this dreadful secret" resumed
oss. In word just before my fn.
er s strangely sudden transition from
ra'th 4" poverty. his partner n man
med Morse, disappeared The firm
rs Ross 4 Morse. and they dld a YER,
rye exporting business From tho
cuments happened across. n
emed that the firm had become in.
hted for very large amount To
bert Nolcott the father of tiAs girl
owe. Al the time of giving up bust -
$ my father. widower. with my.
I removed TO another part of the =
intry. living secluded. and he never
word OF mouth explained the real
nation to me. \ letter signed by
. N"lcott | found. denouncIng Ross
Morse aS COMMON swindlers. In
econd letter he demanded the nay.
nj of his claim or he would send
II my father aud his partner To the
iteniiary | am satisfied that when
claim was paid II beggared my
ier. but the criminal phaSei Don't
see that the son of the man Rob
Molcott denounced rs a thief can
er hope 20 win his only ,auehtergn
Was after long thought and con
ation with his friend that Ross
ded upon the course he would FOL.
Two days later he visited the
where Ethel lived. Clearly. truth.
p ne told her his story 4 strange
came INT" her eyes as the men
~ his fathers misfortune seemed
'call something she had heard her
rr allude 20 In the past.
must see papa she hreathed cr.
ny. "i'o not go away until l re.
= re-eatersd the room few min
later with her father. who stepped
ard briskly and grssped with
I'm the hand Of the bewilderei
r. Ross he said my daughter
old me OF you. IL Is a great re-
"a my mind 70 meet the son Of
whom l greatly miSfudeed II