Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-01-23
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.l
By A. W. PEACH


Rose Barker faced the issue brave
ly as she had faced other difficult prob.
lens in days past. Without any par
ticular ability except willingness to
work hard, she had won her way into
the good will of the great real estate
Arm, and was about to enter on the
new duties of the position, when the
grave but kindly faced physician had
told her the cause Of the harassing
pain In her side, and ended with q
statement that involved the word Top
Grafton"
On the evening that the verdict had
been given, her faithful and unobtru-
sive lover, Elmer Horton, who had
worked In her old office came to see
her; and before she realized what he
was doing, in his quiet way he had
drawn from her some of her fears and
doubts. The steadfast love in his
eyes-and they were not handsome
eyes-may have been the cause.
TITS the Barker luck, Elmer" she
said. smiling bravely. "Alone in this
Dig, dig WORTH
You forget me-" he broke in, his
steady eyes twinkllng.
She choked an instructive desire to
hug him. you old dear, how faithful
and kind you have been to me; and
you know I never can love you"
Perhaps" he answered, smiling at
her mood.
"Ah, wonderp Then her smile
twisted bit. "Well, must have It
done; but the money end of it--rm
poor as Jobs turkey-was It Jobs
turkey7 Hold on" Her chin was
quivering, but her eyes were smiling.
II have one thousand dollars after all.
Did you know that2"
He protested great establishment.
"Some one did love me enough to
give me one thousand dollars" She
hunted through an old wallet that evil
IDENTIFY contained cherished treasures,
and drew out rumpled check" You
remember old Mr. Pruit-"
do II He used to sit and ramble
on by the hour with you while I was
only asking for five minutes to make
love to you"
She shook her head warnlngy.
None Of that. Well, I did try to be
good to him. He was little out Of
his head, you know. Just before his
last sickness he came In and gave me
this check with great flourish. You
know he always talked of having
money. I'm glad he thought he had.
Poor old tender-hearted man, the land
lady told me the city had to bury him
at its own expense" Her eyes shad-
owed.
He took the check quickly The
writing was so errntlc that It hardly
made sense. Clearly enough, II was
the vagary of an unbalanced mind yet
II did represent pleasant memory;
and Horton sought TO divert her mind
from the last thought she had spoken.
She sensed his effort, however, and
smiled back. "Elmer, it's the Barker
luck; and I'm going to face It in the
way father and mother did. TomOr-
row I go to the hospital. ] am going
to let them do as they want to with
me; and afterward - why, after
ward" She looked at him with
stricken eyes She knew that weeks
must pass after the operation before
she would be strong enough to take up
work once more; and where was the
money coming from to enable her to
live as she should and grow strong
during those weeks2
He took up the check in desperate
"Say, Rose Bee, indorse this check;
an I'll try to get 1t through. Per-
haps the old chap did have this
money!
"Whnt are you thinking about2 That
check is some old thing he had around.
See how yellow It is He was lit
tie crazy. No, don't be foolish"
He held his fountain pen toward
her.
Endorse here, please" he said, d.
rectly.
"All right, sir" she assented. max
Ing a game Of It.
He folded the check and placed 1t
III DONhtls lhNh hC lOOhSh
at her hungrlly. "Rose. is there any
thing I can dor
"Please don't look at me that way"
She rose, her face white. "You have
been so good TO me, so faithful and
kind wish could reward you. He
had risen, and she put her hands on
his shoulders and looked into his eyes.
"But can't give you anything except
my thanks. You might-send me
few flowers-if-good-byp
His big heart could not speak
through his slow mind. He said awk-
wardly: "I'lI remember And Rose Bee,
remember that the Barker luck may
take turn. You know the old saying
modernIzed-It's a long lane that has
no ashbarrelp So buck-up-and be Of
good cheerl Good-by"
She smiled at his "modernlzed say
ing" because she knew he wished her
to; but after he had gone she stood
long In silence, and realizing as she
never had before that the man who
like gold, would wear brighter with
the years.
When she awoke into a pain-fllled,
ether-scented world, the first glance
of her sick eyes fell upon the flowers
his gift. The sight held and checked
her sinking soul. She drfted away to
sleep, anchored 70 love that would
not let her go.
When again she awoke, the smiling
nurse said to her: Here Is short
EADAm MrEn