The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-20
TIE DAILY
HORT STORY
The Riddle Of the Sphinx
BY H. IRVING KING.

Polly Andrews and Clarence
hudson were to be married in the
al Polly thought the world OF
Iarence and Clarence thought the
world OF Polly, and tho match was
\ most suitable one in every re.
spect. Polly was now in Europe
with her mother, but would be back
alter In the summer. Meantime
Clarence took his vacation at Lux.
port'by.the.Sea. Now. II there
vas one thing that Clarence Judgon
especially prided himself on It was
MS knowledge OF women.
Clarence was an athlete OF no
mean caliber, had been on the foot,
ball team at college and could box
as well as some OF your so.called
professionals.
While Carpenter, who was al.
ways tagging about with Clarence,
looked particularly insignificant
beside this favorIte Of the gods and
girls. But not one paid any at.
tentton to Willie, anyway. But
don't imagine for minute that
there were none who disputed the
sway OF conquering Clarence. There
was George Taylor, a young farmer
Living five miles away up the Ash
vile road, modern farmer. with
800 acres under cultivation. a
graduate OF. an agricultural college,
man OF means who drove high.
powered car and had made a trip
70 Europe. George wag a huge
fellow physically; mentally he was
hnorose and dtctatorEal. In his or.
binary dress he was an imposing
young man, but in evening clothes
ne was a hobblehoy.
About three miles away from
Luxport, on the Ashville road
stood a large old-tashioned cDun.
Try place, occupied during the
summer months by Mr.. and MIRA
Parkman and ruled over by their
daughter. Ruth was no sort Of a
name for Miss Pnrkman-she
should have been called Diana
She was tall, stately, classic Of
feature, could ride, shoot run Al
car and sail a boat. When you sa \
Clarence Judson and Ruth Park
man together you saw coup,c
worth looking at--and both Rut,
the fact, VI
Ruth mingled great deal vita
,tbe hotel people, George TAYLOR
mingled sparlnsly with them and
that. apparently. only that h.
might not leave Ruth entirely 10
me monopolizIns tendencies M
clarence Judson. In other word !,
The two youths were rivals AMI
tierco ones at that. Polly Andrew.
did you say? Oh, we'll Polly was
10 Europe, Ruth was in Luxpoft.
Whether George of Clarence wa,
on duty with Ruth there was AZ
ways little Willie Carpenter
whose function seemed to he ~
carry wraps and other impeIi-
ments and to serve AZ a hut for
more or less good naturcd Jokes
Ruth treated him as she would j
cst or kindly but not
II really rbclIcvc that l!T1lr
kSlwed.otf carpenter is in love with
Wuth Parkman." said a lounger
on the hotel piazza one dav..-
whereat all his hearers laughed At
inc manifest :.hsurdity. Whenevr:
George and Clarence met on tho
piazza OF Ruth's home. as they
often did, Clarence excrtcd him.
self to be particularly brilljan;
and treated his rival with Il pune
tlltous courtesy which had In II an
exasperatIng SAVIOR OF supcriori,y;
while George only growlod AMI
Nglowered boorishly. That she
would marry one of them WINS n
toregone conclusion with the
hotel folk. and she distributed her
marks Of favor so evenly that the
summer boarders felt they could
make waGcrs upon the result with
out danger OF being accused OF
betting on sure thing.
Clarence bore with Taylor's
boorishness us long as he could:
then, one day, decided that the
time had come for showdown.
Ruth, who had been making a
call at the hotel, proposed to walk
home and Clarence proposed 10
accompany her.
Come along with U.S." said