The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-12
Chapter Ga
GREAT PLANS

1t took Ruth a week to get over the
queer little feeling that came with
Myra's letter. For some time she had
almost thought that she was all over
her love for Tim, and that she had
built up her life again.
She knew she was not happy. But
then how could she be, when money
was so hard to make, when her out
look was narrowed by the little town
she lived in, when her progress, her
career" as she sometimes called it,
was made slow because she had never
had a chance. And too, there was the
worry over her fathers failing health
and between her and her mother
there was gradually growing a spirit
of antagorism
One by one her old schoolmates
were marrying. Though she was only
20. she had not even one devoted ad-
mirer to her credit, as the other girls
would express it. Ruth, they said. was
going to be an ''old maid"
But the girl did not care for this.
though she was conscious Of the COM
ment. She went on about her work
and built up her plans. and decided
that men and love would have no part
in her life.
She had almost persuaded herself
that she was happy this way when
Myras letter brought home to her the
realization that she would give every
thing she owned, or hoped to own, to
change places with her former chum.
After week, she was able to an
swer the letter. Her own answer
seemed tame enough when she read it
over:
1nf q rift q
about our new Fairgrounds and our
band concerts" part of her letter ran.
And Of course you would like the club.
We've become so big we have a rival
club now, which a friend of mine says
is true greatness.
Then the Civic Committee is doing
great things. I'm secretary of that.
and it and my work for the club and
This little real estate Office keep me
busy. The club has taken an old farm
house as country club, we have
furnished it from cast-off things begged
from members, and next year we are
going to have it done in fine style by
an interior decorator.
I'm trying to develop those fields
over the river-do you remember, the
fiat barren stretch beyond the Old
Bridge? I want model houses and a
model community there, but it's a big
thing, and I may not get it.
Put this can't interest you. You
have much nicer things to think about.
I suppose you have charming apart
ment, and lots of nice dresses
She tried to say something about the
expected baby, but somehow she could
not
And then her most coveted plan be-
,n1, cot
ings Ruth had gone over her ideas
with the Committee, and Langley had
obtained plans and approximate costs,
and had even made some rough blue
prints.
She got her Committee so interested
that they began winning over the town
politicians. Langley sent out tentative
offers to manufacturing centres, hop
ing to persuade some factories to build
there The city granted concessions.
But the plans dragged all that sum-
mer and fall.
Meantime the war in Europe had
started. 1t was scarcely felt in so
quiet and so far away place as Mar
ketown-until suddenly foreign govern
ments began wanting things made.
They seemed to want everything
chemicals. explosives, even shoe laces
and leather belts.
And then, that winter, the Boom
began.
And now Langley said one eve
ming as he sat at the living table in
Ruths home--"now You'll see things
start happening Today I had letter
from New York, offering me the posi-
ton of purchasing agent for some big
French concern that has become part
OF tlts Government But I'd rather
stay here and put through this plan OF
ours. But, my child, we must now
watch out for graft. This mad scheme
which the town has laughed at, is al
least being taken seriously. In few
days everyone will try to buy those
lands and then you'll see the prices
20 up
But, if we get the mayor and the
rest of the town officials to put out
city bonds, everyone can share i'll the
nrosperity-nrovided there is any pros
perity.'
And so the idea went through. The
actual land to be used for factories
was to be offered free as an induce
ment to draw manufacturing there.
The one railroad and the river afford
cd transportation good enough to start
With. Enough ground to build the
addition to the town was bought by
A CnTAT DICCNNTEDV