Mexico weekly ledger., 1920-10-14
With the Help
of His Friends
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
10 1890, by Meclufe Newspaper Syndicate,


70 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l
Jack Heaton emerged from the tent
and threw himself down on the pine
needles beside Tom. where's Courty'
he asked.
"ChasHdg II skirt" Toms voice held
utter disgust. "It's the limit. Here
we fellows come up here on a camp
ing trip and the first thing Court does
Is to fall for a pretty face staying over
at the hoteL It's playing the deuce
with our plans"
"RIghto," returned Jack, chucking n
pine cone into the lake. per sched-
ule, we should now be catching black
bass on Lost Loon pond"
1.-THE funny part of 1t is" unused
Tom. "the lady In question turns an
iceberg shoulder on Court. | happened
over on the steamer dock and. take
It from me, she has no use for him."
Jack sat up quickly. "All the more
reason that we should nip It In the
bud before he's smitten beyond hope
"LIsten here, boy. What's the first
thing a man objects to In a pretty
woman7"
"Her belonging to somebody else!"
replied Tom promptly.
"PrezackIy. old top. Same with a
woman. She wants to think she's the
first and only. Now bark tU my little
scheme. You put Court wise-don't
tell him how you get the information,
that Isn't neCeSsary-tO the fact that
the beautiful girl Is engaged. Get 1t?
Engaged. Only 1t would spoil her good
times up here II the men got wise.
For my end of II, I'll hint to Miss Will
lis that Court Is not what he seems,
that he has never got owe a youthful
love affair. Still loves the fair hand
that gave him the mitten. Get meT
81 get you" said Tom. "hut why do
you draw the pleasant end of 1t? And
how" he continued suSpiciously, "do
you know her name, and how can yon
anage II conversation with herr"
We'll" said Jack, slightly emhnr-
raSscd, II happen to have met the
girl she's staying with. Sally Dalton.
Our canoes bumped and-oh. I'll man
age all right. Only, for the love of
Pete, lets he speedy about It or we'll
be too late with our assistance"
Few sChemerS find their Opportuni-
ties lying so neatly in wait as did Tom
and .Idrl, when they padded over to
the hotel that evening. apparently
Iurcd by the seductive strains Of the
4 three piece orchestra playing for the
weekly hop. First they spied Court
leaning against n veranda pillar, ga2-
Ing moro1cly Mt n thin young moon.
Then ON III" lawn they deserted Mir
lam Willis in the midst Of a little
group Of men.
BEAT 1t, Tom" cried Jack. lover to
Court. and. so long as you're in it nj
nll. 90 in strong. I'll wait my chance
with Miss Willis"
Twenty minutes later. Tom had sue
cecGcd in reaching the point he de
sired In his conversation with Court
shes some locker" he vas saying
AUTOMATICALLY. Then he set off his
bomb. "Hcr hancP is a lucky man! =
Even IN the darkness Tom could fee
Courts piercing glance. Miss vii
Iis-cngaged?"
ooh. years and yeArS-three years.
Tom threw 1t off casually. Then
goadrd by Courts silence. he elaborat
ed. shes Keeping It dark up here
for various rcAsons-hut she's reall!
absolutely infatuated with him"
Look here. Old chap'-C0urt's voice
souttira strangely hroken-"did she
she didn't get YOU to tell me all this?
"No-oh, no." Tom retrcated II
alarm. "OnIy-It seemed as If yO'
ought TO know"
Tom felt Courts hand gripping hi
shoulder. "ThNnkS, Tom" he said
'You've been II genuine friend" Thpl
Tom found himself alone.
Tom gazcd after him douhtfully. In
terfrrinc with loves young dream-b
! George, he didn't know about it. The
his spirits rose. Tomorrow at thi
time their tents would be pitched o
Lost Loon pond.
Meanwhile" Jack. after n series q
h successful maneuvers which afterwar
: he recalled with pride. succeeded i
rounding up Sally Dalton, having
q dance with her, getting an lntrodu'
Q ton to Miriam Willis. suggesting {
the latter that they sit out a dance o
n the veranda.
!, Then. after n few remarks on til
It beauty Of the night and the numerous
,,ee ness Of the stars. Jack adrOitly intr,
he duced the subject of Court. "Pot
~ Court" he said. she tries SO hard
Of enjoy himself. That affair a few yea
ago. He's never got over it,"
n Indeed! How interesting M
Miriam'S cool voice was more thG
merely polite. "Do tell me about 1t
well, it-er--seems the girl jilt'
, film. But he never stopped loving he
-, Says he never will. Unusual, isn't 1t
n. very" returned Miriam dryly.