Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-11-05
Straight and
Crooked
By cECILLE
"a. 1920, western Newspaper Union-'

mere struggling hamlet INTO q oWl
village 1t had two well traversed thor
~oughfares only. The first n had been
called Straight street from time i'm
memorial and was APPLY so designated.
Branching off from it was what had
beer originally a mere COW path. No
effort was made TO untangle its sinu-
osities. The precise opposite Of the
broad, far extending street called
Straight, It was naturally termed
Crooked street. As time went on ana
the town grew they changed the name
10 Belleplaine avenue, but the old set
tiers and even The younger generation
very often called it by its old name.
1t was probably mere circumstance
that lodged Vernon Blair on Straight
street. The thoroughfare was respect
able and he was Of a character that
would seek such an environment. 1t
was prediction, however, that drift
ed Blake Massey TO Crooked street.
Gradually that avenue had become OBJ
scure, its houses dilapidated. 1t was
the social dumping ground of the town
and what there were of drinking places
and the like found a harbor that suit
ed them. Massey had decent rooms
above a pawn shop. He liked to be
amid scenes of activity and excitement
and the place suited him. He never
stopped to think that the companion
shin he incidentally gained was not
elevating, but he cherished his lively
evenings among men who liked to see
what they called life"
He had charge of a floor in the
principal department store of the
town and Vernon Blair was the man
ager Of another paying the best sal
arv in the establishment. Blair had
worked hard and faithfully to gain
this pre-eminence. He had honest
dreams Of n future and when he fell
in love with Lesbia Burrows he fan
cied he saw success before him..
Blair was uneasy when he learned
that Massey had been introduced to
Lesbia by a mutual friend and noted
that his fashy ways had a certain
effect in interesting Lesbia, her fami-
ly and her friends.
There was a Haunting, specious fell
low named Greg Barth with whom
Massey trained and one day at the
noon hour these two met in a restau-
ran near the store,
"Well, I fancy I've set the ropes"
was the greeting Of Barth. $50 far
as this Burrows girl you are so wild
over, is concerned, / don't think her
folks will tolerate much of Blair's
company after a letter I have got a
particular friend of mine in Empton
to write reaches them. That will be
his quietus."
"Now then, about his position at
the. store"
"You know that little cousin of
mine, Ned Trotter, was transferred to
Blair's department last week?"
Eyes"
"Well, leave the rest to Ned. I've
posted him and he is clever as they
make them. Pretty soon Blair's de-
partment will be in a muddle, missing
goods, neglect in deliveries and all
that. You understand"
81 do" assented his unprincipled
confrere, land l won't b~egrudge a
liberal rake off when I get the new
position"
A month later to the amazement of
everybody who knew him, Vernon
Blair was dismissed from the service
of the store. Because the parents of
Lesbia began to act cOldly and sus-
piciously toward him he left Mill
Vile, attempting no explanation of his
dismissal, and took a subordinate posi-
ton in Empton. This confirmed Il
certain suspicion Mr.. and Mrs. Bur
rows entertained, for a letter that
coupled his name with a young lady
who came from that town had reached
them. Lesbia mourned, but She bore
her grief in silence for circumstances
allowed no meeting with Blair again.
One day Lesbia was passing a
street corner when an automobile
f~uriously driven turned it sharply. A
lad of about sixteen was directly in
it's path. He was borne down and
then tossed against the curb. The
spot was only a square from Lesbia's
NOME. one ItCuSnlASu llC idh do 4NCh
Trotter, knew that he lived poorly
with strangers and in her sympathy
and interest in an orphaned boy had
him conveyed to her own home.
For a week Ned was given tender
and willing care by the Burrows fami-
ly. His injuries were quite serious,
but he mended rapidly. He a seated
in an invalid chair on the porch one
day, when he noticed Lesbia gazing
at a photograph, her eyes brimming
with tears. The original of the pic
ture at a glance he knew to be Yer
non Blair.
The better nature of Ned stirred
within him. He recalled the plot
against Blair in which he had been in
duced to act. He knew about the
false letter. He had come to idolize
these new friends who had done so
much for him.
aNT;ee Durrou-c - no SnoIra UI how