Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
HIGH AND HANDSOME
w YHEN old Charlie Myers died
M he left young Charlie a
large fat mortgage on the

farm. q slim. starved-look
ing little trotting nlly and q knach
for handling horse flesh. Young
Charlie had . college education Of his
own acquisition. about SIS and ar
overwhelming desire to move into
Muncie and marry Elizabeth Coates
This was toward the last of May. BY
the FIRST Of June the mortgage, hav-
ing eaten everything else on the
Charles $1s, leaving him the FLY,
the knack, the education and the
overwhelming desire.
Now. none of these four things is
exactly what banker would call a
quick asset, and the first thing a
banker wants to know is the nature
and amount of your quick assets.
Elizabeth was the youngest daughter
OF old Henry Coates of the First Ma
tional Bank. The three older Coates
girls had not done very we'll Henry
Coates was positive that Elizabeth
should make no mistake in a matri-
monial way. When Charlie went to
talk with him old Henry promptly
discounted Charles horsemans
his f1lly and his college education. AS
for the desire. it was not listed as an
asset in the first place.
You see. Charlie" said Mr.. Coates.
leaning back in his swivel chair and
"it wouldn't be fair to you. nor to
Elizabeth either" A lot of the boys
could fall in love with her easy
enough. What I'm waiting to see is a
boy who can stay in love with her
after he's found out what her bills are
,1 I, OF for fI,nyv far ,r
two"
But, Mr.. Coates" Charlie pro-
tested.
wait a minute" the banker con-
;tiaued- shes a pretty girl. and
pretty girls come high. Her upkeep
right. and I like you, but you couldn't
support Elizabeth"
Gut" Charlie was again sup
7 know what you're going to say.
You've got a college education. and
that's fine. What you ought to do is
put it to work. Sell your little trot-
ting oily and start yourself in bust
ness. When you can take care of
Elizabeth. come and talk to me again.
time" he added, maliciously winking at
the youngster.
"Well, I will" said Charlie deter
ninedly. sticking out his lower jaw.
and she won Z.
Sore at heart. Charlie got up and
took his hat
IF can do anything to help you.
can on me-" said Mr.. Coates.
Thank You. was Charles spoken
I reply. To himself he added the com.
! But it was hard to dislike Mr.. Coates.
who. besides being Eiizabethss father.
WIS a nice though old fellow. AS he
! reached the door Charlie heard Mr..
! Coates calling him. and when he un
derstood the bankers question. even
the resentment softened somewhat.
"Oh. Charlie" called Mr.. Coates.
shows the little filly coming aiongg'
stepping high and handsome"
Charlie replie ed siailing.
II hear shes gdod,' said the bank
, er. But Charlie take my advice
Charlie shook his head
Tell you what I'll do" persisted
Mr.. Coates. Just to show I'd like
to see you ge& ahead, I'll buy that
hily Of you. fll give you $500 for
money and US it to get yourself
started in business of some kind.
That's fair enbugh What do you
say?'
Il could useIh her for the family"
said the. banker 1T is too big
gamble to spend Simmer and a lot
of money getting ready to race when
she may not trot at MI for the races.
4, You can use the $780,
Charlie shooks his hessS aaastsrned
Think it over Charlie" Mr. Coates
called after him.
The boy went doyn the steps bluer
than any debtor with a past-due note
called in a tight place. He walked
as il his whole future had been FORE
IL
FLY. She was worth more than Mr..
l Coates offered. Charlie. bordering
his problem. found himself nearing
the Coates home for consolation.
Elizabeth. sitting on big porch swing.
greeted him smiling. II It isn't old
and let me cry with you a WHILE" she
called as he approached the house.
Gloom" said Charlie. lis my middle
name. You'd be gloomy. too. if you'd
lost what I've lost"
And what have you Iost?'' she asked.
motioning him to a seat in the swing.
I've just been to see your father"
said Charlie. I've lost his daughter"
Pooh. and two poohs," Elizabeth re-
torted. Il question your statement two
ways, young man. In the first place.
can you lose what you have not had?
| In the second place. have you really
! lost herr"
! Charlie smiled a wan smile, which
| widened into a grin. mo answers
both questions" he declared The girls
bubbling good nature and heartening
\ smile made the day over for him. But.
Elizabeth. I've sure got to get out and
rustic some right Off,
What did dad say" she asked.
IAN the things We read in books, and
IT., eome more. Style in which she's been
I accustomed. you know. Then he Of
! fered to buy the FLY"
why didn't you sell her and use the
money to
II couldn't start more than a peanut
stand with what he offered-$300.
She's worth more than that as buggy
: horse"
Charlie, I'm ashamed of dad. The
ideal"
THE two sat in silence for a time
before she spoke again. Charlie.
what are you going to do"
The boy shook his head.
what do you want me to do"
For answer he reached into an
inner coat pocket and brought forth
Horseman. On the front-cover page
was a picture of old Charlie Myers. in
cap and jacket. up behind great
black horse. The boy turned the
cover and fumbled through the pages
until he found story of his father 8
death Folding back the paper, he
pointed to the last paragraph OF the
story:
Nothing is left now Of the stable
that Charlie Myers used to race
across the land except one trotting
hlly, a daughter of his great old
trotter, Loyeless, son OF Lockheart.
out Of Love Not. This filly has a