Ellsworth American., 1920-03-24
EARNING A
BRIDE
By ALvAH ]. GARTH

daughter good and beautiful. His
business cares were nominal In a hand.
someiy furnished office, where he an
swered few letters and had n steady
income from prosperous investment
business.
Inc worm In the bud was fancied
lliness. Clyde had leisure to nurture
all kinds Of dismal forebodings. Tins
TOT year a slight siege of rheumatism
mad magnified into locomotor ataxia.
and for double that period of time los
ing weight was laid to anemia. When
his physician had dispersed the final
symptoms Of both distresses. CLYDE
looked around for some new ailment
and found it--a wenl
1T is simply a growth In no wise
connected with the nerves or arteries
harmless as wart or corn" his physi-
cian told Clyde. "rhe slightest opera-
ton In the world will remove 1t en-
tireiy, for 1t has no roots"
NO cutting or slashing, or blood
poisoning for met" objected Clyde.
with vigor. II shall let 1t develop till
VIC see what comes of Ii.
Nothing will come from It except
vagaries," tersely responded the physi-
clan, but the wen became petted
idiosyncracy of the impressIble Clyde
He nursed 1t, he measured II daily
lie thought Of 1t the first thing In the
morning, and the last thing at night
lie guarded 1t from contact as though
wrench might tear II loose and
drench him with his life blood. He
studied up tumors. cancers and goitres.
One afternoon a stranger entered the
clyde office. It's proprietor had been
reading an article In a medical Jour-
nal of case that bore a very distant
analogy to his own, where abrasion.
metallic poisoning and Inflammation
had raised lump the size of an egg
on the foot of man In England. The
Instance persisted In monopolizing
Clyde's thought, and he was nervous,
irritable. and scowled at the caller.
"Mr. Clyde" spoke the latter, a we'll
groomed. refined appearing young man
with slight air of timidity, 81 have
come to see you about subject of
great Importance to myself. / sup
pose you don't remember me-"
Il don't" responded Clyde, gruffly,
barely glanclng at the card rendered
and scanning the name 1t bore. Then
n faint recollection of having seen a
person resembling his visitors among
guests of his daughter at house
party came to him. Before he could
speak, however, there was a sudden
and startling interruption.
Overhead there was a terrific detona-
tion, then a sound of crashing glass.
From windows overhead there rained
down outside a shower of brittle par
ticles. Bits Of plaster from the CELL
Ing fell all about the desk. Frantic
cries and rushing footsteps on the
floor above told of an unusual com
motion.
AN explosion! There's a chemical
concern overhead" gasped Clyde He
struggled to his feet. His visitor
grasped his arm and as he noticed the
hallway without rapidly filling with va
por, rushed thlther. urging, dragging,
half carrying the shaken Clyde with
him. The latter gave utterance to a
terrible yell
he was forced to the nearest elevator,
crowded with excited people, and
pushed in.
Agitated, bareheaded, Clyde stood
on the ground floor. confused and
frightened as a second detonation fair
ly shook the building. Then in min
ute or two a building employee came
down. He quleted the fears of the
muddled group by announcing that two
explosions had occurred, a fire start
ed, but quickly extinguished, and
no further danger. Timorously Clyde
went back to his office.
He shuddered as he noted the eff
feet of the second explosion. A great
hole had been torn In the ceiling. driv-
ing down the heavy plaster and
shattered beam. Had he retained his
seat at the desk he would have been
MANNED or killed.
where's the fellow who dragged me
out, just in timer" he painted. 81 owe
him everything. His card? All, here
1t is-'Ronald weston"
"Oh, papa are you safe?" cried an
anxious voice. and Wanda Clyde stood
In the doorway.
"Incredlblel" calculated Clyde, as
something rolled down his inside
sleeve into his hand. "The went"
There 1t was, the object of so much
interest and worry, clean swept from
its place by the vigorous handling he
had received from his rescuer Clyde
tore off his coat, rolled up his sleeve.
Clean as whistle, he had been bereft
of the crowning burden of his fancIed
ailments
"Ronald Weston" he again read
from the card. "He must be found at
oncel Wanda, strange young man
has saved my lifel And he delivered
me from the frightful menace of that
mon No taIaphnua nuuharo