The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-07-21
Harold Tries Out
a Love Test
Bv FREDERICK CLARKE
20. ISL. N.ss.s.n NewsI...per Cnlon-J


1T would take wise girl TO fool
me-" boosted Harold Mercer. You
have no idea how fellow with money
and position is beset with the traps
and ailuremenrs of the cOquette; and
tie average woman. i'll my experience,
is ii selfish, sordid creature"
While 1 entirely disagree with you,
and beg leave 10 remind you of your
estimable sister, Lucy" retOrted his
friend, Dale Burton. what is the es-
pecial cause of this outbreak at the
present time. may ask -.
Just this" explained Harold. I'VE
are going TO summer for two weeks at
Pleasant Lake Lucy insists that we
shall seek out her friend. Miss Eta
Morris. I've seen her portrait, and |
am going TO determine il there is one
woman in the world who really cares
for III man for himself alone"
LAS how. now1?' ,propOunded Dale.
dubiously.
Il have simple plan. Ii is an old
one, l will admit. but ii is results l am
after. Nothing would please Lucy bet
ter than To have this Miss Norris for
ii sister-in-law. Nothing would give
me more delight than to find real,
genuine-heartt girl who thought more
of love than dollars. Without letting
either of them know it. we will ex-
change Identifies. You shall be Har-
old Mercer. the gentleman of leisure.
the heir Ia the Mercer fortune. I will
become Dale Burton"
When the TWO young men arrived
at Pleasant Lake next day, Dale Bur
ton was The brother of Miss Morris
dearest friend. They were introduced.
Then with few words that made
Harold vince. as TO her pleasure at
meeting the fiance of her dearest
friend" Miss Norris turned to vel
come The pretended brother of Lucy
Mercer.
We'll" yawned Harold, diSmally, as
he and his friend reached their hotel
later. YOU seem to have made Il hit"
Think so?" smiled Dale, coOlly. II
must say she's delightful piece of
perfect femininity. OF course. though
she wishes to make dear Lucys
brother The guest of honor"
'Hunph - growled Harold, and went
to bed wretched and jealous. and de-
Gliding that he had stumbled into an
UpleaSant pit of his own making.
Every time after that, whenever he
met Miss Norris. Harold felt like a
man who had lost a precious treasure
Yes. I'm going home tomorrow"
declared Harold, Il week later. I've
made Il fool of myself and missed the
chance of my life. 1 think you had
better back out of the dilemma. too.
Dale" he advised, anxiously The
girl has a beautiful cOnfding spirit
and may-may take a fancy 10 YOU"
Nonsense :" jeered Dale ITS lust
her natural thOughtfulness for Lucy's
brother don't you see?''
Harold was returning from a soli-
tary tramp down country road. when
he ran across Dale rushing along in
great state of excitement
Say, Harold" ne burst forth.
heres work for the friends of Miss
Morris Somebody broke into the
house this afternoon and stole all her
jewelry."
Harold said he met three rough look
ing strangers, one of them carrying Il
gun, an hour previous proceeding down
country road away from the village.
He took up the trail.
Harold traced them to a campfire in
the woods, surprised them and made a
dash for Il jewel case one of the
thieves had dropped; next for the gun.
'March-tO the town." ordered Har-
old, extending the weapon. and an
hour later he had safely Gagged his cap
tiveS
He was solemn as an owl as he re-
turned the jewelry to Miss Morris.
Her gratitude and friendliness warm
ed up his heart little. She insisted
that he was thoughtful, valiant. and
had done her a grateful service. Then
he spoke of going away, and her love
~ face fell. He could not help it
reserve to the winds He was a for
lOrn human being. and he told his
love.
But what about Lucy" she began.
and was interrupted by a violent start
on the part of her visitor. His eve
had fallen on an album open on her
writing desk. Its first picture showed
himself! The light fairly blazed
across his bewildered mind.
"Then-then-" gasped Harold. you
knew"
That you were really Lucy's broth
erY' questioned Eta, shyly. Eyes.
from the first. From the very first.
too she continued. Z"
She paused in fa1tering confusion.
Harold Mercer had learned his lesson.
No more doubt, duplicity or analysis
now! He had found his fate, he was
sure of it, and he kissed the sweet
hands away from the blushing face
as he told Eta so.