The Owosso times., 1921-04-29
The $500 Bride
By HAZEL SMITH
20. 1921, Western Newspaper Union. D

Dut Wh0le year Is an eternity,
Muricl," pleaded Frank Crawford, as
he bade goodby to his fiancee, Muriel
Lee, upon the stOop of her boarding
house.
Muriel was adamantine. my dear"
she said for the twentieth time, II
won't start married life In debt"
Frank went away disconsolate and
Muriel went to bed and cried herself
to sleep.
But on the next evening Frank was
back, jubilant. In his hand he held
copy Of the evening paper.
LOOK, dearest" he cried, thrusting
II before her eyes. do you see this?
Mumford & Curtis have promised a
hundred dollars to the first one of
their employees to get married. And
Caber & Roche, not to be outdone,
have made a similar offer. Now,
then!"
but, my dear boy, you aren't an
employee of either firm" protested
Muriel.
mo, but don't you know / can ar
range to begin my vacation tomorrow
morning? And those department
firms always want help of some kind.
Why, tomorrow morning / can get
position at eight dollars a week as
a packer, and well get married at
noOn."
Suppose they don't pay?'
"Of course they'll pay"
"Well," said Murlel, after an inter-
val of thought, "if you can really get
that position PHIL meet you at the
marriage license bureau at half-past
twelve Which firm are you going to
try?"
'Mumford & Curtis" answered
Frank. II know man in the packing
department. He'll take me on"
you're sure 1t won't be Caber &
Roche?"
"Sure. Whyr
'Oh, nothing. I just wanted to
know" said Muriel.
His first act on awakening in the
morning was to read it again. His
second was to telephone to the Office
asking that his vacation might be
counted as commencing from that
morning. To effect this was easy,
for he was one of large force of
clerks in the big life insurance Office
where he was employed, and his work
could easily be undertaken by others.
Then he put on an old suit and went
down to the big department store Of
Mumford & Curtis, which stands, as
everybody knows, at Seventh avenue
and Hollis street.
"YOu want a job?" queried the
woman superintendent. "What can
you do?"
"Fve had some clerical experience"
answered Frank.
SWELL" said the superintendent, 81
believe they want some addressers
just now. Write your name on this
piece Of paper. That's all right. Now
I'll take you to Mr.. Briggs"
Yes, Mr.. Briggs could use an ad-
dresser. But the pay was only eight
dollars week. However, there would
be chances of advancement.
"He fell for it." Frank announced
to Muriel later. "He tumbled right
in. Well. worked at full blast till
noon. had to work, Muriel to keep
from jumping up and shouting. And
at the stroke of the hour / was up
and out of the Office and across the
square and down town on a surface
car-and here l am"
Ard Murfal hI,,cl,inr dix-tpaIx nm
tered the Office Of the marriage H.
cense registrar with him, and five
minutes later they emerged, carrying
the coveted paper that gave them the
right to be made one, and stood up
before the minister and were actually
one.
Twenty-Five minutes later they were
in the presence Of the head of the
great firm himself.A
"You can hand lne check for a
hundred dollars" answered Frank,
blithely. "We Were married this
morning-and herbs the certificate"
He slapped it down before him.
"Bless mew exclaimed Mr.. Num-
ford. II never heard Of you in my life."
"I'm surprised at that" answered
Frank, solemnly. "Why, Mr.. Briggs
engaged me to address envelopes this
very morning.
"what3 what? You were only en-
gagged this mbrning."
II believe, Mr.. Mumford, that your
offer made no reference to length Of
service. OF course, II it was not
meant I can obtain position with
Messrs. Caber & Roche" And Frank
turned on his heel.
"StOp!' shouted Mr.. Mumford.
"Have you actually had the nerve to
Why, I'll have to offer hundred
dollars again II / pay you-if / pay
you. Confound you, why didn't you
pay this trick on Caber & ROcheT
"I attended to them," spoke up
Muriel quietly. 81 worked there az
a wrapper this morning In the brass
goods department. We thought we'd
get the money from you first and
then hurry over there. You see, Mr..
Mumford," she said, pleadingly, I'VE
want TO start our honeymoon this af-