Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-08-31
THE
PROFITEER
BY EVELYN LEE

sSSSSSSSSS$SSSSSSSScSSs
copyright. 1920, Western Newspaper Unionl
Marvin Leslie made the mistake OF
his life when he married shallow,
fitting butterfly of fashion, a Miss
Ethel Blake, sOjOurning near Acton
Tor month. Leslie had been brought
up In the town and had been left a
few thousand dollars by a relative.
The witching ways of the attractive
young lady fascinated him, and her
city social status and his possibility of
increasing his little capital by going
into business seemed mutually favor
able combination.
Acton was a small town and Its In
habitantS generally poor and humble,
for the most part the male population
being employed In brickyard near
Silver Lake, few miles distant,
which was quite favOrlte summer
resort In the season. 1t was there that
Leslie had first met Miss Blake, and
thereafter he took up his quarters at
the hotel He was missed in Acton
by at least one person, Miss Lucy
ElstOn. For two years Leslie had been
her constant attendant and, although
no engagement existed, 1t was pretty
we'll believed that their companion
ship would eventuate in marriage.
When the news came that he had
married Miss Blake and had taken up
new home in the city Lucy ElstOn
oh cd
herself trifle more primly than was
her wont, but IL she suffered secretly
she never showed 1t. Her neighbOrs
considered the action of Leslie base
desertiOn and he left few friends be-
hind him in Acton.
From time to time his old acquaint-
ances heard of him. 1t was rumOred
that he had "made good" in business
way AS to his wife, she turned out
to be a capriciOus invalid and died at
the end of two years. indifferently
happy in her married life. Two years
later Leslie turned up at Acton. n
little older looking but dignified. pros
porous appearing. and the first an
nouncement he made to the village
banker was:
"Well, l have retired from business
and have come back to stay. | notice
that the EIstOn house is closed"
Eyes, since September. Lucy and
her mother are at Paxton with the
married daughter"
Temporarily"
81 am told sO-sOme Illness Of the
daughter and sister, I learn. 1t is
reported that they are coming back
after the holidays"
"And l notice that the Devon place
where the brickyard owner used TO
live is vacant"
"And for sale; yes"
'Tll buy It," said Leslie briefly. It's
the Best house In town. and can af-
ford that"
Acton warmed up 10 Leslie after
few weeks. He was more genial than
of yore; he contributed literally to
local charities.
81 never saw such a provider," the
cook Of the establishment told a neigh
Dor. 'Mr Leslie has just stored his
cellar with all kinds Of supplies"
Perhaps he intends starting a no
telz" was suggested.
at isn't likely. He says It'll be
worse than the war for a year after It."
II was In December that Acton be-
gan to feel the nonproductIon, scarce
food phase Of existence. A great snow
storm crippled the railroad branch
line, and the town fuel supply ran
80 short that most families depended
on wood / All the material supplies
of -four, sugar. coffee. tea and the like
grew meager at the general store. and
actual deprivation and suffering re-
suited. At the time Of deepest stress
Mr. Leslie was reDorted confined 10