Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-08
"a
Slight Mistake
Bv ALDEN CHAPMAN

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES >>>$>~~~~~~O
Copyright. 1919, by the Western News
paper Union.)
As Royce Merrill walked by the desk
of the little hotel at FOrdville where
he had passed the night, and paid his
bill the clerk as he placed the key
in it's box took thence a letter and
tossed it to him. Very casually the
transient guest observed it's open flap
and one-cent stamp, discerned that it
was an advertisement and threw it
on the floor without even glancing at
it's superscription.
An humble, modest sort Of a young
fellow was Royce Merrill. Brought up
in the country and longing to get back
again to rational village life, he count
ed two years experience as the adj
vance agent of a cheap show as so
much time lost. Where he was head
ed for Merrill scarcely knew. He was
drifting half-planning, finding a po-
sition in some promising country town,
awaiting any circumstance or adven-
ture that might develop the future, and
ready therefore as to anything that
might come along.
AS Merrill left the desk a heavy-set,
unpretentious-appea man arose
from his seat in the lobby, picked up
the disdained envelope, read it's ad-
dress and chuckled. Then he started
after Merrill. At quiet street corner
he overlook him
"a word with you, if you please,
Mr.. Pierce Danton," he spoke, catch
ing and holding Merrill's arm.
Somewhat mistaken, aren't you,"
challenged Merrill. "That is not my
name."
ooh, yes, it u.s." insisted the other.
"You just dropped this, didn't yOu,"
and he extended the envelope, and sure
enough it bore the name he had men
toned. 81 am Zeb Brown, deputy
sheriff of Princeton, twenty miles down
the line. I've got the right to detain
you, and as there are some explana-
lions for you to make at that same
burg, I'm going to take you there"
"You are exploiting a case of mis-
taken identity, my FRIEND" observed
Merrill, pleasantly enough and grow
ing curious.
Hardly. I don't suppose you will
deny that this is your picture?"
The deputy sheriff extended a pho
tograph and Merrill looked half star
tied, tremendously puzzled. The pic
ture was that Of a man marvelously
resembling himself.
Cali right" he spoke readily. "Go
ahead Do you arrest me?"
II don't, unless you get too clever,
or ugly. It's simple. Silas Bland, my
friend, the hotelkeeper, sent me to
hunt you up. 1t isn't so much the
fifty-dollar board bill you ran up I'M
der false pretenses and skipped, as it
is the wounded pride of his pretty
daughter, Myrtle. She don't want you
back because she cares for you, but
she wants to see you punished for
swindling her father and humiliating
her. You went around Princeton hint
ing at the hit you had made with her
-neighbors are gossiping. Now she
is a deserted bride that was to be,
and she will take her dainty, wom-
anly way of showing her utter scorn in
you publicly, and you will have to
settle up that bill and suffer her con-
tempt"
quite a romance. Pretty girl, Of
nd r
ed. Once more Mr.. Deputy Sheriff,
I'm not the man you are looking for"
"It won't CO." persisted the other
doggedly. 'I'll risk it,"
1t was an ideal town, Princeton.
This was the first discovery Merrill
made, then that the Atlantic hotel was
very attractive place of abode. AS
he was led into it's reception room his
official guardian sang out through an
open doorway: "Mornin', Si!"
Isl" did not respond, but a very
dainty, sparkling-eyed, loveIy-faced
girl Of eighteen crossed the threshold.
There was fire in her pretty eyes and
an indignant flush upon her bonny
cheeks. She advanced quickly, paused
dismayed, scanned the smiling captive
closely and 1uttered forth:
ooh, Mr.. Brown, you've made a
dreadful mistaken
II told our friend that back at Ford
ville," said Merrill, with a courteous
bow to the young lady of engaging
presence.
where's your father?" demanded
the village functionary, "I'll see what
he says about it,"
"Down at the post Office" and Myrtle
Bland stole an interested glance at
Merrill. "You can go after him while
I try and apologize for the fearful
blunder we have made You won't
run away while he is gone, will you,
Mr.. -?
'Royce Merrill Not 1, Miss Bland"
declared he
''f any reasonable sum, or a month
free of the best we have will fix up
our hideous mistake" said honest ST.
las Bland, after he had heard the
whole story, wen settle the score
willingly"