The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-07-01
Jerry Cured of the
Wanderlust
.:ssssass
BY r. RAY BAKER
=
BY r. RAY BAKER


'Ine WanueFluSI ID VI bhc o5"As
said Jerry Fourwinds, sitting before
Fred Calders grate-fire. Il can feel
1t tugging, and the tug Is stronger
every succeeding day. Don't you ever
feel it--you who used to travel up and
down and across this old world with
me-" ,,.a Z,
he lighted his pipe. .a
mo more" he sighed, but the sigh
was expressive of contentment. moi
since Hazel came into my life have
felt the call. You should be married,
too, and then you could settle down
and defy the fates that seek to SEND
you to far places. liked the old life,
the adventures we went through TO-
gether. remember our tilt with polar
Eears and recall our tiger hunt ~
the jungles, and our wrestle with hum
ger In the Rocky mountains, and ttheE
have become bright spots ID my mem
DRY, because of the thrills and COM
radeship connected with them, but love
| Is greater adventure than any or all
of them. I'm satisfied and thought
you were, too, now that that very desiE
able young lady has place in your
scheme of existence. I'll be frank and
| say that it wouldn't be square deal
| to 60 and leave cher now, when she
has come to care forsyou. Besides, a
rolling stone, you know, doesn't be-
| Tnlo ctap xr-ith ho5 .IyS
The Pickering light of the fame in
the fireplace reached out and brought
Jerry's face into bold relief. 1t was a
young face, with some lines, but other
wise no evidences of cares. 1t was
good face, too, and handsome, with
eyes that burned with life.
SIN sorry" he said after a pause
while he pulled on calabash, "but
| can't give up. think lot of
Carrie, but I 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 an auto salesman for
two years, and that's the record for me.
i I've saved up some cash--about four
hundred dollars--and I'm going TO
Brazil. may not gather the green
backs, but I'll have adventure, which
/ my system requires. | thought once
I'd marry Carrie-if she'd have me-
but it's no use. told her last night
when felt her that was going away
for week, and foolishly / made an
engagement with her for week from
tonight. I'll have to break that en-
gagement, that is all. have a favor
to ask of you. Will you go to her the
next day, after the engagement that
I won't keep, and explain to her what
a worthless fellow ann"
There was serious look on Fred's
countenance as the light from the fire
turned its attention to him.
"Tll do 1t If you insist" he said, "but
It's the wrong way. Pm disappointed
in you, l confess, but I'm your friend,
of course, just the same, and will try
to make satisfactory explanations.
You had better think it over, though,
before you take the STEP"
Il leave tomorrow morning." Jerry
answered. MY mind is made up."
And he did. An early train bound
for the south took him out of Wayer-
~ his eyes shining with the excite
ment of once more hitting the trail"
and perhaps little with regret over
some one he left behind.
mo girl is going to tie me down"
Jerry muttered as he watched the
outskirts of the city flash past. I'm
leaving just in time. She was getting
pretty strong hold on me. Poor
Fred! He's settled for good"
Jerry settled himself in the smoker
and tried to pass the time with maya
zines, but somehow he couldn't get in
terested In the printed page as he
used to when travelling. He was m
able to account for this disturbed con-
aition OF the mind, but finally de-
eided 1t was the two years spent with
MS nose to the grindstone, as he
phrased It. He would overcome II in
short time. he was confident.
In the afternoon the car became
crowded and Jerry shared his seat
with young travelling man. They
discussed business and reconstruction
and boisheviki and other matters, and
BEFORE long the talk turned to personal
matters. The travelling man seemed
Inclined to be sentimental. and Bnour
admitted he was in joyful mood be-
cause ne was returning to his home
IN the West and never was going to
leave 1t again.
AT last M firm has given me- a
city territory" he said. "and now 7
can stay with my wife and kids wbot
do you think of thls?"
mats the wife and kids" he said
proudly. whats the verdictr
Fine" said Jerry, with real ad.
mlratlon' The travelling man lapsed
into silence and appeared lost n 70.
! UGcTtOn. No wpS IAr,.,,