The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-11-03
Her Weight
in Gold
By MURlEL LEE
rs. 1890. western Newspaper union.)

4 Atwood with fixed determination.
FERN stick asserted his mining part
nef. Dan Forster.
Don't blame me, Dam" went on the
Arst almost pathetically, for he and
Forster had been close friends. II
have cheerfully invested half of my
resources in this Golden Bar PROPOSE
lion to find that am not adapted for
the Ib::::iness. There's gold in the bed
o& TIE old MinoAka, for we have found
Il. but It's all guess work as to locat-
Ing 1.-THE particular spots where 1t Is
massed up In sufficient quantities to
my for taking Il out"
/ Il, .'Well. II you haven't the patience
70 wait until the dams and bins are
put IN, quit, It and no hard feelings.
One thing, though, do yen intend to
draw out your share Of the capital
now In the bank to cover work con-
tracted for?"
s".Not a penny of It," replied Atwood
promptly. go the limit on that, Dan.
You see. have only few thousands
left and Tn going to make a new try
IN real legitimate business. I've got
fair opportunity to do 1t down In
Appleton.
s.'What line, Bruce?''
81 Boots and shoes, an established
store. Owner sick and has to sell out.
I've got some new ideas as to running
such q business. I'll not be content to
simply drudge along and make liv-
Ing. II ! can't see big future In the
proposition. I'll sell out and get to the
big cities"
, Within the week Atwood was sole
proprietor Of the shoe store In Apple
ton. He had the place renovated and
bought dazzling electric sign. He
spared no money to make the show
windows attractive. The opening day
was signalized by band concert. At
wood circularized the district for miles
around and on Saturday there was a
constant rush Of farmers and tEeir
families and sales were beyond his
1Ondest anticipatlons.
The new advertising wrinkle Of the
week was the settling In place Of
handsome weighing scale, capacious
ana ornate, with broad alluring dial
and everybody was invited to weigh
themselves free Of charge. Very few
passersby ignored the opportunity.
One afternoon Atwood was standing
near the door when a young lady and
an old gentleman, evidently her father.
halted as the former spoke in mu-
.acal accents. "Of, papa, I want to
weigh myself. / haven't done so since
I came home from my visit East"
Atwood came forward and waved
his hand toward the scale, receiving a
smiling recognition of thanks from the
heWitching young lady as she stepped
upOn the scale platform.
Zone hundred and twenty-five
pounds" announced Vivian Dalton.
~sNhy, papa, home cooking has In
creased my weight over six pounds in
i week" !.
.'That adds so much more to your
value" was the affecti0nate reply,
worth your weight in gold. The for
tunate young man who wins you will
have to qualify up to that standard"
ssOA, what a lovely pair Of slippers !"
acclaimed Vivian, and in her haste to
ct nearer to the show window her
foot caught In the extending top plate
IL the platform and tore away the
heel Of her shoe entirely and a part OF
the sole. She would have fallen only
sthat Atwood caught her. For feet
lSg moment he held in his arms this
dainty, sweet creature, whose value he
estimated even beyond that expressed
81 her proud and loving parent. She
ma to come inside and remained seat
Awhile the cobbler repaired Ter dis
ordered fOotgear and both she and
hef father expressed their thanks for
Tie prompt and helpful attention.
" can't forget her." sighed Atwood
the next morning. "Aiy manager says
her father is the money king in the
tDwn. Pretty plainly he indicated that
Her husband-to-be must have her
weight in gold HIM! One hundred
ma twenty-five pounds. Why that
would be a little fortune. I'll forget
her. Probably I'll never see her again.
i couldn't match her with silver even
IA the present state Of my finances"
But the next day Miss Dalton came
into tie store to buy the pretty slip
pers she had fancied. During the fol-
lowing week she again visited the
place to Introduce lady interested in
charity for the poor. Would Mr.. At
wood contribute a pair Of shoes to chill
dren Of poor families.
.Oh, surely" And more than that,
,.s3ust bring in the sizes needed as
new worthy applicants In need appear"
And the radiant smile from Vivian
that rewarded his good heartedness
xully compensated for his impulsive
generosity.
Another month went by and those
two met at several local functions.
Then Atwood was invited to the Dali
ton home and was made to feel as q
welcome guest.
One day he received letter from
Dan Forster. Golden Bar had paid out
ricf! Enclosed in the missive was a