The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-10-27
Waking Up
BY ALDEN CHAPMAN
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had saved several hundred dollars and
| both his employer and his daughter
Ruth, who helped in the store, liked
him ana admired his thrifty ways.
! Ruth had been almost unconsciously
an important element in forming the
| character Of the young man, but store
Ruth, thrift and humble contentment
Went all to the winds one day, when
Il letter arrived informing Morton that
he had fallen heir TO a small fortune
He resigned his position in the store
by telepLene half wild with the i'm
mediate possession of several thou
| sand dollars representing accumula-
! tions on investments, the principal of
which was to become his further on.
Then a few days later he appeared
at the store respendent as to attire
and jewelry adornment
1--WE been so Dusy getting used to
being rich" he declared, that
couldn't t(get around before. Mr.. Gray,
If you need any money, I've got a
thousand or two you can have to ex-
pand your business
you're good-hearted fellow,
Greg" spoke the storekeepcr, "but
slow and sure is my motto and never
rooms
Il think I'll speak word or two to
her, If YOU don't object"
81 won't, ana neither will Ruth. We
ttf..e ,nu tIn ,,,t,t, for tkntu
Morton sought out Ruth. As Ais
| ewes fell upon her neatly garhed form
and expressive face, a vague sense of
abandoning good old friends assailed
him, but the emotion was only tenn
porary Glare ANA glitter had already
fascinated him, and lie was eager TO
get back 10 comrades who were indul-
| gently helping him TO spend his newly
| acquired wealth. She greeted him in
friendly, familiar way, as was her
custom With him. hut there was Ger
tain shyness,. he quickly noticed,
which he attributed TO a realization
on her part if changed.
Il went shopping yesterday, Ruth"
he said brightly, ito get my cousin II
sunburst pin, and I've bought YOU one,
too" and he extended a little velvet
case exposing pretty bauble with
half dozen diamonds in it.
II cant accept such an expensive
present from YOU Greg" spoke Ruth
Ia Il subdued tone, but give Inc hlat
rCseJud IN yJdr butt0nhole."
If Greg followed an impulse he
wou'd hayesgathered her into his arms
and tod her what lie thought of her.
Already however. the wiles of new
social influence had enyeloped him.
The idle and pleasure seeking had
claimed him as their own, particularly
for his money. There was IA group of
newly made comrades who hung about
him daily. There was a Miss Vera
Burgoyne to whom he had been intro
duced, his senior by Il few years but
artiticially concealng the fact. She
had set her cap to capture a young
man hardly her equal socially, hut
with promising prospects. At heart
coquette, she had dazzed Morton
quite, and his male friends had made
him believe that match with Miss
Burgoyne would put him up in the
world materially They feasted on his
generous bounty and 6attered and ca.
joled him. He was in for iollty and
when one day he appeared on the
street with hat controlled by tiny
Wire ana shot it up from his head in
oraaffnU oruu.ip taurac hie nl,,,,x.
noted him 80 original" When again
Morton drew mock revolver from
his pocket, snapped it and landed a
cigar between his teeth, it was de-
nominated "the classiest hit of the sea-
SON" He was courted like a king, but
one day
Morton never forgot it. He had dis
covered that he had used up his entire
cash, even overdrawing at bank. On
top of this came word that the CON
Germ in which his capital was invested
had failed and his entire principal was
swept away.
Late nights, excitement, his loss
brought on a natural reaction.
Deserted by his friends, in debt and |
haraSsed with new troubles, he fell /
III and lay in fever and delirium for
over asweek.
"Queer," was his first word, family
spoken, as he opened his eyes to nor
nal coherency.
"Ah, better? That's good" spoke
The bluff, hearty tones of Seth Gray.
We thought you would be better
Jared for here than at the hotel. one E
1ood thing. we haven't been pestered
With those new friends of yours Miss f
3urgoyne sent a servant to inquire af-
er you, once. only"
"That's more than I expected" said
Norton, "for she dropped me in a flash
when she heard of my loss. Not that
am sorry. False, selfish humanity.
md you took me in. Well, I'll be able
o get about in a day or two and re-
ieve you of my charge. l suppose
'ou feel Il bit hard at me leaving you
he way | did"
"Oh, yes" observed Mr.. Gray sat
irically. $50 much so that Ruth and
uarreled over which should sit I'D
lights and care for you. SO much so.
hat ] am going to offer to take you