Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-12-29
Two Kinds of
Specialists
By r. RAY BAKER.


4-~~<~~S~~->-~~~>~~> >~~>~->~~-~~->~~~>4
e. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Melvin Hamilton was a specialist in
love.
Seth Johnson was also q specialist,
but In a different art.
Melvin was Rockfords Lotharlo. He
was the idle son Of rich merchant.
with a dark, attractive face, and when
he smiled and showed double rows of
dazzling white teeth, and when he
brushed back his luxuriant raven locks
well, the girls just surrendered their
hearts.
OF course, Melvin's finances some
times played part In his cOnquests,
but often they were just incidental.
His handsome person and entrancing
personality were the big assets, and
his money simply gave him time to
practice his arts. He was supposed
to have an executive position in his
fathers store, but he spent most of
Ills time driving In his big car and
~ooing fair maidens, and when he had
wooed them successfully he cast them
aside.
Its an age Of specialists" he told
a friend. Look at the doctors who
succeed, and the lawyers, and the
business men. They all specialize in
some particular line. I've specialized
In love affairs, and that's how l con-
quer the young women. Love? No, 1
don't love any Of them; but do love
to make them love me, and then lose
interest. There's no girl l really could
feel serious about"
Seth Johnson never thought Of love,
or If he did, his mind was not per-
mitted to dwell on it. He had admired
girls, but from a distance. He lacked
initiative where they were concerned,
and, besides, he was too busy special
izing in something else, and, in addi-
ton, he was homely, with big freckles,
and his clothes seldom looked neat
He had to hustle for a living.
Into Rockford to live came Susan
Mcdonald, with her curly golden hair
and her smiling gray eyes and her
clever mind and winning personality.
She was not specialist, except Mn
being herself. The game Of love was
not one of her accomplishments. She
had never cared seriously about man,
but II she did she would not, play the
game" because she was too frank.
No coquette was Susan Mcdonald.
On the bureau in Melvin Hamiltons
room was row Of girls photographs
reminders Of his Victims" young
women he had won and tossed aside
with broken hearts. When he saw
Susan he resolved to add her likeness
to the collection.
Pulling social wires he managed to
get an introduction, and ere long
Susan rode in the big car, not fire.
luently, but occasionally. Melvin tried
his arts on her, gradually working up
to the climax, but he failed. He had
met his Waterloo, and 1t made him
desperate. Baked In the game, he
really fell In love for the first time
in his life. Into the bottom Of trunk
went the photos on the bureau. Mel
win had decided to marry.
Susan loved him not. The only ter
restrial objects she cared about were
her father and flowers. She lived
alone with her only surviving parent
in the big house they had bought, and
she loved him dearly. She insisted
that a big flower garden be created
on the premises, and Mr.. Mcdonald
acquiesced, as was natural where his
daughters wishes were involved. In
the meantime she enjoyed herself OBJ
serving the floral beauties Of Rock
ford, for the town had some fame on
account Of It's numerous attractive
lawns and flowers.
That was where Melvin Hamilton
made mistake-in not educating him.
self to care for flowers. He should
have used bouquets Instead Of choco-
lates to storm Susan's fortress, and
he should have catered to her desires
in that regard. She never forgave
him for heedlessly stepping on violet
while they were strolling in the woods
one day. With all his specializing.
Melvin had not learned that one way
to woman's heart Is to specialize
in her hobbies.
Seth Thomas, gardener, had been
engaged to plot out the beds In the
Mcdonald garden.
No, there was no magnet in Seths
appearance, but he knew flowers from
the ends Of the roots to the tips Of
the petals. On paper he plotted out
the beds, and after several consulta-
tions with Susan, he started putting
in the plants, with her assistance.
The task took weeks and during
that time Susan became we'll ac-
quainted with her gardener. 1t would
have been difficult really to know
him under the circumstances, but
flowers were his pets, his hobby, his
profession, and discussion Of them
and his fondness for them drew out his
real nature. His knowledge of them
and his fondness for them made him
almost a hero in the eyes Of the girl
who tried to be his assistant,