The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-01-29
A Trick
of Fate
by CECfLLH LANCDON

bnAhhOus Nieu@hnt cOtieEc thFtfr
md a clear record Before him was n
glowing prospect 81 ambition lie
had worked hard as law student.
\ had been admitted 20 the bar and had
taken q months vacation at the Ia.
slstcnt command Of his uncle.
Forget everything and have good
time" said that indulgent individual
Il have placed IA liberal account at
your bankers. You begin active sery.
lee with Chapman. Burt 4 Royce ~
a full partner. and I expect to take
pleasure In watching and nurturing
your professional career. There can't
be much that you want that you can.
not have"
What Egbert wished for ut heart
was congenial companionship and
an orphan from the age Of ten aud
had lived with his bachelor uncle In
"a massive hut cherries home. I'm
| pulsiye. warm.hearted. now that his
future was practically solved he longed
to unite with II all the various social
amenities, ready and eager TO make
friends. and his artless and sincere
frame Of mind made him an easy cap
tive 10 love II IL came along.
Merton. whittier he sojourned, was
an ideal spot for the enjoyment OF
nature. lie took long tramps every
day. dining at some old-tme cross
roads hosiery. or carried n liberal
lunch. which keen exercise caused him
10 enjoy with rare rest. IL was his
NTH day 81 exile from city life and
Its turbulence that Egbert sought ths
grateful shade OF thickei near y
pretty brook. placed his package Of
lunch on the ground and gave himself
over 10 a slumbrous ease. lie closed
his eyes TO open them as a swishing
sound struck his ear.
Here you audacious robber :"
CALCULATED Egbert. arising TO his feet,
but too late TO avoid speedy action on
the part Of an intruder.
A small. brisk dog had come into
view bearing In his teeth a dark Oh
iect. which he dropped TO take n snin
at the package Of lunch. Made aware
OF the contents Of this, the animal
STRAIT htway transferred Il to his jows
and skithered away in flash.
Egbert called. whistled, ran after
the canine thief. but the latter was
speedily out Of sight. More slowly
Egbert trayersed the immediate VI
entity without result. 10 return to the
thicket and regard with considerable
surprise the object the dog had
dropped.
II was a shoe. a lady's shoe. but ~
dainty and diminutiye that Egbert de
clared that Its owner must be u mir
acle Of grace and form. II was nearly
new. was OF expensive fabric. and
built along the lines of fashion.
Il declarer ruminated Egbert.
"where did the dog ever come from
and where can be the owner OF this
marvel OF shoemaking excellencer'
and he began to mentally construct
fairy creature TO fit the shoe. She
was worth the pains Of looking for,
he decided. and a sensation born OF
romance urged him TO traverse quite
distance In search Of the lady In
question. but vainly.
He returned to his hotel late In the
day. the shoe In his pocket. lie placed
II on the stand ut the side OF his bed
aud smiled at the vast romance hts
mind conjured as he went ca sleep. II
was seyernl hours later that he aweke
1 hall Aa.N h.slt
less that he found himself unable to
struggle to an upright position.
/, Egbert experienced a suffoeating
sensation that warned him Of serious
peril. Then conception OF the cause
OF the same aroused him Co desperate
gas. coming from a leak In the supply
pipe or from the Jet. which had IN
some way been turned on yExrr the
light was cxtlnguished.
lie CROPPED and tried to cry out. His
hand met the top of the stand. II
and then with all the strength he was
capable Of he hurled Il at the broad
imnsom over the top OF the door OF
, the room.
Crash There was slight relief
of the poisonous pressure. For mo.
! ment sensihlllty deserted Eghert. but he
, was reawakencd as n servant IN the
corridor was showered with the falling
glass. burst opea the door and Egbert
was saved
and the shoe saved met" he re
fiected the next morning. and before
noon he was yetraversing his route ~
the day before. A certain belief In
fate. an lnexpllcahle desire 20 IND the
owner of the shoe possessed him.
TravcrsinE the slipping shore 81
the brook Egbert spurred up as In the
sand he detected the Impress of dogs
feet Next his glance fell upon
dainty heel marks Of shoe. and then
OF one Of coarser mold.
"Not mates :" breathed Egbert. ut
must be shel' and turning past q
grove he came In sight OF the canine
rubber and at his side a winsome-
faced. graeeful'formed young lady.
eli was one OF Tosec's mlschlevous