Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-12-31
The Friend, Indeed
By ROSE TRAVIS
IA 1870. western Newspaper Union.)

lie Thorpe. He came down the steps
Of the house a decidedly grave and I'M
spttled expression upon his honest,
open face.
ANY Robbins clasped her hands
rarvously as Thorpe shook his head
rather gloomily and sighed. 81 don't
measure up to your fathers require
ments. Amy" he observed, (which
means no engagement allowed, and
therefore our marriage indefinitely
n~ostponed. Plainly, he thinks my
prospects do not justify our union I'M
I'll | have a permanent position and
something saved up"
But oh Willis, W. could live on
50 little" exclaimed Amy.
0That would not be justice to you,
dear. No, he is right, but | have a
certain idea in view l told him moth
inc about. have learned that a for
est preserve officer is to be appointed
for this district at a salary that would
lift us far beyond your fathers re-
strictions. | am going to try and get
Il. / don't want the matter stirred up,
for few know of the political plum
soon to be offered. If they did !
would be crowded out in the rush. |
have some good letters to men of
note and influence at Springfield, and
I am going to put in two weeks down
there pulling wires and trying to
land the appointment"
"Oh! Willis. l do hope you get it,"
81 understand that Senator ROssiter
could have a good deal to say about
II. but l haven't as yet found anybody
who knows him."
81 shall be so lonely while you are
gone"
swell. there is your bosom friend,
Carrie Trevor. to comfort you n
that new prospective beau of hers,
Martin Hood, will act as cavalier for
you both when occasion requires"
"Oh! shall stay strictly at home
and just think of you all of the time"
declared Amy loyalty.
Thorpe fortified himself with his
letters of introduction and commenda-
ton and a few hundred dollars he had
saved, and left for the state capital
the next day. Political tactics were
something foreign to his experience,
but he was keen witted and in a day
or two was quite posted as to the
mysteries and manipulation of lobby
ing and the like. He felt himself for
tunate when one day he was intro
duced to a man named Seth Price.
The go-between who brought about
this apparently important acquaint-
anceship assured Thorpe that the fine
dinner he bought him and a sum OF
money he loaned him comprised well
deserved consideration.
price will fit you out, sure. He
understands all the ropes and always
lands his client" declared the man.
"Just follow his orders, tip him a
couple of hundred for his help and
you've bought a splendid position
cheap"
There was a week of hopeful an
ticipation, of many promises, of daily
variety and activity for Thorpe. Then
one day an honest man informed him
that he was wasting both time and
money, for Price had no real inf1u-
ence, and was deceiving him.
Thorpe was disappointed, almost
discouraged. Then his aunt { wrote
him a letter that upset him greatly.
She was naturally a shrew and a
trouble maker, as he well knew, but
she injected a poison into a certain
dark insinuation she made that
aroused Thorpe's jealousy and caused
him no little unhappiness.
THAT young fellow, Martin Hood,
whom everybody supposed was the
special beau of Carrie Trevor, is show
ing a great deal more attention to
Amy than to his supposed lady love.
You had better be getting home, Will
lis, If you do not wish to lose Amy,
for they are together nearly all of
the time"
Thorpe vas pretty gloomy all n
way home on the train, divided be-
tween worry about his d~isappoint-
ment and over Amy. 1t IA twilight as
he passed the Robbins home. Thorpe
caught sight of two familiar figures
there in the garden-Amy and young
Hood. She held his hand and was
looking up into his face as if betoken-
ing the deepest emotion. If they were
only friends, they acted as though
very dear to one another.
Hood was all excitement, as though
greatly pleased with something. lie
patted Amy on the arm Familiarity.
Pardon me for intruding." Thorpe
spoke harshly, ~but it appears to me
that some explanation is due me right
here and now."
To his establishment. instead OF en-
Darrassment at detection, confusion
over untimely discovery, "the guilty
twain" ran towards him all smiles ana
exultant. 9
"Oh, Willis !" chirped Amy gayly'
such newsl"
Congratulate me upon my sue
cess - or;ol Hao5 o-+apdipn his hand.