Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-10-19

What sort Of time did you navef I
suppose you can just phone the folks
that something else has turned up"
NO" said Malcolm, I'm going to
take the job myself, IL you don't want
IT,"
"You take a job?" shouted Tom.
"You. the richest fellow In h frat,
with a trust fund of goodness knows
how much and no folks at home to
tell how to spend it"
"0h, of course | have a little money,
But still there are bitches sometimes.
Well, the fact is, / have my own par
ticular reasOn for wanting to earn my
W way this winter"
So In a day or two 1t was bruited
about through the fraternity and nnal-
ly all about the campus that Malcolm
Crimson had lost his money but a
taking 1t like a brick and not saying
how 1t happened. Meantime he moved
away from the frat house, went back
only for the weekly meetings and was
looked upon as a 'darned good SPORT"
to be willing to take a housework job
rather than chuck college entirely.
Meantime Malcolm Crimson fell
more deeply and deeply in love. He
decided that the time to tell the
charming Emma of his sentiment was
at the junior ball. BY Christmas he
had asked her IL she would go to the
ball with him and was infinitely re-
lieved when she accepted, with the
entire approval of her mother.
Then came a telegram from NAL
collins uncle and guardian, Roger
Smith. who had apparently decided to
travel five hundred miles to visit his
nephew. 1t was disturbing and Nal
colin did not conceal from the Ginner
family that he was disturbed.
I'm asking an enormous favor" he
said to Mrs. Ginner. Hell be here only
a day-while he Is here would you
mind letting me pretend that l am
boarding here, not working? I'll ex-
plain 1t all sometime" Mrs. Ginner
agreed, but later was puzzled over
the request. If the uncle believed
that the boy were not working then it
must be that he had enough money
sent him to make it unnecessary IL
he had the money, what did he do
with it? Perhaps he had lost money
gamblingNQr something, and was work
ing to pay a debt of honor. 1t was
too much for the easy-going Mrs. Gin
ner. SO she kindly asked MALCOLM
to invite the uncle to a family dinner
at which every one, including Mr.. Gin
ner himself, would be primed to treat
Malcolm like a paying bOarder.
But something very unexpected hap
pened at dinner that night. Mr.. Gin
ner recognized In Roger Smith his
very dear, old college friend.
IF I'd known that my nephew was
boarding with the family of my old
friend, how happy / should have
BEEN"
"You certainly ought sto have been
congratulated Oh having a nephew
willingly work his way through col
lege wen when he has no money!"
said Mr.. Ginner.
works his way!" exclaimed Mfr.
Smith, and then there had to be ex-
plantations. Mr.. Ginner had forgotten
for q moment the instructions of his
wife.
Then all eyes turned on poor, en-
barrassed Malcolm.
swell, now the cats out of the
bag" laughed the uncle, "why don't
you tell us why you did it7"
Malcolm looked very intently at
Emma and Emma blushei.
Because" said Malcolm, looking
first straight into the eyes of Mr.. Gin
ner and then at his uncle. "because
the first time I came on an errand for
a friend Of mine, 1 decided that want.
ed to-to-take Emma Glnner to the
junior ball"
WANTED to take her to the junior
ball" Knocked the uncle good ma
turedly. why don't you be frank
and say you decided you wanted to
marry herr"
There was a little startled cry from
Emma and a gasp from Mr.. Ginner.
'That Is what l might have said, sir,"t
said Malcolm very sOlemnly. Then
there was an awkward silence and
then dinner progressed and every one
was very merry,
That evening a little later Malcolm
went on his accustomed trip to the
cellar to tend fires and, Emma fol.
lowing his whispered injunetions, went
with him. Standing in the coal bin
together they plighted their troth, and
five minutes later back in the family
living room crayed theiv families
blessings.