The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-24
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
-Four winds
sY r RAY BAKER

BY r. RAY BAKER
erTltTE vanderbilt IS on me
lgain,r said Jerry Fourwinds
sitting before Fred calder's
e. u can feel It tuggtnl
& ting is stronger every sue.
Ag day, Don't you ever feel
tou used to travel up and down
nd ACROSS this old world with me r
Fred shook his head and smiled
as he lighted his pipe.
mo more he sighed, but the
slghswas expressive Of contentment
Not since Hazel came into my life
have ] felt the cali. You should be
married, too, and then you could
settle down and defy the fateS that
seek 70 send you To- far places. |
liked the old life, the adventures We
vent through together. remem-
her our tilt with polar bears and |
recall our tiger hunt In the jungles
andso wrestle with hunger In the
Rocky Mountains. and they have
6eeorae bright spots in my memory,
because Of the thrills and comrade-
ship connected with them but love
49, greater adventure than any OF
All Of them. I'm satisfied and !
thought You were, too, now that
that very desirable young lady has
splace IN your scheme Of existence,
Inlbe frank and say that It wouldn';
be d square deal to go and leave
her now. when she has come to
care for you. Besides, o rolling
stone you know, doesn't become
plastered with grcenbacks."
IA The flickering light Of the flame
I'm the fireplace reached out and
brought Jerry's face into bold re.
lief It was q young face with some
lines, but otherwise no evidences Of
cafeS. It was a good face, too, and
handsome, with eyes that burned
4 w1ttNlife.
Sim sorry he said after a pause
while he putfed on a calabash. "but
can't give up. | think a lot Of
Carrie, but ! can't resist the call Of
the long trails. I'm rightly named
the four winds have woven "a spell
about me that / can't shake off. I've
kept this job as auto salesman fol
TWO years and that's q record for
me. I'velsaved up come cash-about
ibuf hundred dollars-and I'm COINS
to Brazil. may not gather green
barkss but Ill have adventure, which
my system requires. ] thought once
I'd marry carrie-it she'd have me
but it's no use. told her last
night when left her that was
going away for a week and foolish
IS made an engagement with her
for q week from tonight. Ill have
to break that engagement, that's
all, ! have a favor to ask OF you
WIN you 30 to her tho next day,
inter- the engagement that I won't
J, keep and explain to her what a
Worthless fellow ! am?"
There was a. serious look on
Fred, countensnce rs the light
fSom5the fire turned Its attention TO
him,
an do It u you insist" he said,
but It's the wrong way. I'm disap-
pointed In you, ] confess, but I'm
your friend, OF course, Just the
same and will try to make salts
fsetofy explanations. You had bet
Ter think Il over, though, before you
take the step"
'sIieaye tomorrow morning" Jer-
~ answered. my mind is made
knd5he did. An carly train bound
for the south took him out OF Wa
verly, his eyes shining with excite
fnent Of once more hitting the
trail,f and perhaps little with re-
sret over some one he left behind
,Noiglrl Is going to tie me down
Ierry muttered as he watched the
outskirts Of. the city flash rast. y
am leaving Just in time. She was
Eetting a pretty strong hold on me,
Poor Fred! He's settled for good"
Jerry settled himself In the smok-
NJ and tried to pass the time with
magazines but somehow couldn't
set interested in the printed page
"a ne used to when travelling, He
was unable 10 account for this dis
turned condition OF the mind, ou'
finally decided it was the two years
spent with his nose to the srthu,
one, as he phrased II. He would
yercome 1t in a short time, he was
entident.
les IN the afternoon the car oecame
;es 2ed and Jerry shared his sea-
VIII 4 young travelling man. They
discussed business and reconstruc'
ton AMI bolshevikL and other mat
ters and before long tho talk turn
"a 70 personal matters. The travel
itSr man seemed inclined TO be sen
tsmental and finally admitted he
WAS in a Joyful mood because h
swas returning 10 his home IN tne
west and never was going to leave
az last my firm has given me 3
stty territory" he said, and now
an stay with the wife and Kids
what do you think Of this?'
aThat's the wife and kids" ne sac
nrnudly. "whats the verdict?"
sFine," said Jerry, with real ad'
r,iration. The travelling man lapse:
ma silence and appeared lost II
affection SO was Jerry.
n the diner that evening Je'r1
II aeross the aisle from you7l
.ouple, who continually spilled q
.seh other and patted each otae'
s I'M in what was intended to b
I Eurreptltious rnAarer. neglectint
fheiT food shaneful'T.
stIInnaymooners:" gvunted the "a