The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-12-30
"A MATTER OF
CHOICE
tCopyright. 1920, western Newspaper Union,
b. v J. GARTH

~S -
world" j.
"Action is what I wish to expert
ence," spoke Bert Haywood, business.
society, politics, and such SO that !
gain a training that fits me for my
final mission in life"
Adventure for me!' chirped Aleckf
! Martin doughtily. Battle, wild ami
mails, aviation, fighting outlaws or
trailing animals: The daring and
thrilling is my forte"
And then Reuben Merle and the
three who had spoken looked at Cliff
ton Bross inquiringly.
Come, speak up, Clifton ]" ordered
bluff, hearty Reuben Merle. "How do
your %tnclinations run :"
!. II can say 1t in a word" came the
careful measured reply, Education"
andtthe old man looked impressed. the
others amused.
"As if six years in college hadn't
: given you a surfeit Of that" jeered
Martin.
swell, Iwish to- use It in practi-
cal way out in the world" supple
mented Bross.
"Take your fling, lads" broke in
Merle. "You have the time to demon
strate your various preferences. Then
come back and settle down, and. there's
room enough and money in this lonely
old house for all Of you-and four
pretty, CHEEKY wives in the bargain, 1t
you chooses"
"He was a quaint old fellow, this
Reuben Merle, and he. had been like an
own father to the quartette OF lads
he had adopted from al orphan asy
lum eight years previous and develop
ed into manly, intelligent young fel-
lows. He had now started them out
on an independent test" as he called
it.
"Come back satisfied; that is all I
y ask" he told them, and although he
missed them from the first he consoled
himself by philosophizing that q few
months ION their own hook" would
) vastly expand their ideas.
It was three months to a day when
Robert Wayne one morning burst in
upon Merle with a hearty handshake
and a cherry mote Of gladness.
bad penny-bound to come back to
you! !" he tried to joke. Well, I've
had my fill of travel. On the way to
the slope we we're; nearly frozen to
death and starved, stalled In a snow
drift. Tried to get to Honolulu.
Steamer wrecked and lost all my be-
longings. Intend to do my travelling
right around this comfortable dear old
home and study law with a purpose"
"Good" commended Merle heartily.
you're settled then. Wonder who
will be the next one?"
It was Haywood and he little
resembled the spick and span young
knight errant who had left home with
such lofty ambitions.
"I'm through he reported with de-
finiteness. "Action? I got It with a
vengeance. Thought I had a business
head and joined in with a promoter.
He got my money at the beginning
and. 7 have been hanging around wait
ing for the gorgeous dividends ever
since. I eat humble pie, I do, and If
you'll let me rest a bit I'll put up my
single as a doctor and find my action
with surgical experiments and acids"
"You're welcome. I a tell you
that" said Reuben Merle, and was
tender and indulgent as a loving shepr
herd welcoming stray lambs back to
the home fold. "
- It was just a month after that when
Aleck Martin put In an appearance.
They scarcely recognized him. He
had a half-healed seal on his cheek,
one armNin a sling, and 'limped.
Adventure" he explained briefly.
81 got 1t In a mining camp when a
joyful cowboy flung a bowie knife at
that cheek. A playful encounter with
a grizzly did the rest"
"Wonder what has become Of Cliff
ton Bross and his quest for practical
education7 I" more than nee suggested
Merle, and one day he walked in.
Whereas, he had been naturally pale.
and slight looking, he was noE5
.bronzed and husky. He greeted all
. hands with a new self-assurance that,
bespoke success, or at least. sa~tisfac-
ton.
aAll here?" he commented in "a
pleased way. "Good! I have solved
the problem Of practical education, j
am pleased to say. l have always
maintained, you know, that . man
may be a gentleman farmer, or a
scientific carpenter, II he has the
brains. Fellows, I've learned more
about agriculture IN eight months than
L could have acquired by study In MS
many years. Dear old patron, friend
and adopted fatherl / have come back
to ask you to put me in charge Of the
farm here" @e
aWelli WE'LL" commented Merle IN.
"a gratifed way. How did you come
to take up the plowshare and harvest
err" s
.Well, 1t was fate responded CHI;
ton. Il fell sick al a farmhouse,
Kind people took me IN. a kinder
49, 5Mg i 1890 A-~#~-A# 49,