The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-05-04
The House That
Jack Bought
BY DORA NOLAN.
10 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)

this world, but outside of ancient
mei0drnmas few as mean as Jack
Eigers'. However, jacks uncle was
dead, and because of the little for
tune which he had broken the Ten
commandments to accumulate, In
less than six months after his demise
Il bulged the hip pocket OF his nephew
IN the form of Il large roll of bills.
Then the nephew sat down and
made out score against his Uncle
J0hn. There was the time when
hundred dollars would have saved his
father's life--and the expenses of the
pttiful funeral. 1t had taken his
mother year of scrlmping and work
ing by gnslight to pay them Then
her illness ut the time when he Jack,
had just started In on his first job
ne would never forget that! Well. II
was too late to do anything for his
mother now; but somewhere in the
big city there We're men and women
In Just such distressing circumstances
he would search them out and make
Uncle John, dead, do for them what
Uncle John. living, had refused to do
Tor his own kin. AS for touching any
or the money himself, the idea was
repugnant to Jack. He didn't need 1t.
But IL there should be any left he
would make Uncle John give him a
present--the idea tlckled his sense of
humori
The ease with which Jack Elgers
paid off all the items on that score
would make convincing argument
for the divide-everything-u up equally
variety Of socialists. Now, In quest of
some slight remembrance for himself.
we find Jack strolling down that
broad avenue known the world over
for Its display Of luxury and lovely
women. and lingering three $1,000
bills. all that remained of the miser's
hoard.
Jack was gazing. without much in
terest. at a display Of dewdrops of
the millionaire variety when he no.
ticed girl gazing intently into the
window of the next store. Exclusive
Shop of Original Creations" the sign
read. He moved on and stood beside
her. "By Jove." he exclaimed inward
~. shat girl might be natures own
model Of feminine beauty and all the
others on this avenue, In their con-
ventional getups. mere copies and
adaptations of the original"
Jacks eyes followed those Of the
girl to the gown they were fastened
upon. "Well, I'll eat my hatw This
exclamation on Jacks part was invol-
untary as well as audible and was
called forth by the embroidered Dor
der on the gown In question.
This extraordinary theme consisted
OF the same motive repeated several
times--a small shingled cottage snug
Cling close to the ground. 1t was only
a step from Its lattIced porch to a lit
tie garden laid out in paths and blaz-
Ing with flowers Of the grandmother
variety. Across the front of the
house stretched row of dormer win
dOws and above them red brick
chimney pulled curls of slvery smoke.
At Jack Elgers' exclamation the girl
turned to look ut him; the situation
seemed to Jack to call for some fur
ther remark. So with his usual d.
rectness. I'm settling scores with
Uncle John by spending his money i'm
the last way he would want 1t spent.
n you want that dress, why, he'll play
fairy godmother."
The girl started like one waking
from a dream. ''How absurtl!" she
answered. "It's the house / want, not
the dress-I designed that myself"
With these words she vanished into
the shop.
Jack Elgers had seen the only thing
ne wanted on the avenue. and he
could not go In and buy 1t. cash down /!
Also there was that business trip to
the West he was due to start on the
next day: It didn't leave him much
time. II he could only do something
to make her think Of him occasionally
while he was gone! Squarlng his
shoulders and taking a frmer hold on
his stick. Jack opened the door of the
little shop and walked In.
"COuld speak with the--er-archi
tect Of the house depleted on that
gown In your Window" he inquired Of
the saleswoman who came forward
II will ask madame" replied the
clerk. and disappeared behind screen
at the rear Of the shop. Miss Has
tings," voice called.
"Carol." echoed another one. "You
are wanted out In front"
~ thought" began Jack without pre-
amble when Miss Hastings stood be-
fore him. "that perhaps you would be
80 kinI as to tell me whether there Is
such a little house-in the flesh
mean. n so, l wish tO'buy It,"
Carol Hastings answered as direct
". "Yes 1t exlsts-in my dreams.
But one can't buy dreams with
money. not even with Uncle Johns"
sometimes one can help along In
the fulfillment Of them. though" re-
turned Jack, and he smiled with such
good nature and friendliness that the
giri smiled back. II am going to
prove that to you before many days.
u nd hA dA.