Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-03-02
Two Kinds of
Specialists
By r. RAY BAKER.


g. 1921. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Melvin Hamilton was a specialist in
love
Seth Johnson was also a specialist,
but in a different art.
Melvin was Rockford's Lothario. He
was the idle son of rich merchant,
with dark, attractive face, and when
he smiled and showed double rows of
dazzling white teeth, and when he
brushed back his luxuriant raven locks
well, the gi.Is Just surrendered their
hearts.
OF course. Melvin's finances some
times played part in his conquests,
but often they were just incidental.
His handsome person and enhancing
personality were the big assets, and
his money simply gave him time to
practice his arts. He was supposed
to have an executive position In his
fathers store, but he spent most of
his time driving in his big car and
wooing fair maldens, and when he had
wooed them successfully he cast them
aside.
ITS an age of specialists" he told
a friend. Look al the doctors who
succeed, and the lawyers, and the
business men. They all specialize In
some particular line. I've specialized
In love affairs, and that's how | con-
quer the young women, Lover No,
don't love any of them; but / do love
to make them love me, and then lose
interest. There's no girl / really could
feel serious about"
Seth Johnson never thought Of love,
or If he did his mind was not per-
mitted to dwell on it. He had admired
girls, but from a distance. He lacked
initiative where they were concerned,
and besides, he was too busy special
Izing I'm something else, and, in add
ton. he was homely, with big freckles,
and his clothes seldom looked neat
He had to hustle for a living.
Into Rockford to live came Susan
Mcdonald, with her curly golden hair
and her smiling gray eyes and her
clever mind and winning personality
She was not q specialist, except in
being herself The game of love was
not one of her accomplishments, She
had never cared seriously about a man.
hut If she did she would not, play the
game" because she was too frank
No coquette was Susan Mcdonald.
On the bureau in Melvin Hamilton's
Nh
reminders Of his victims" young
women he had won and tossed aside
with broken hearts. When he saw
Susan he resolved to add her likeness
to rhe collection.
Pulling social wires ne managed TO
get an Introduction, and ere long
Susan rode in the big car, not fire.
quently but occasionally Melvin tried
his arts on her, gradually working up
to the climax, but he failed. He had
met his Waterloo, and it made him
desperate, Baked in the game, he
really fell in love for the first time
in his life Into the bottom of trunk
went the photos on the bureau Mel
win had decided to marry.
Susan loved him not. The only ter
restrial objects she cared about were
her father and flowers. She lived
alone with her only surviving parent
in the big house they had bought, and
she loved him dearly, She insisted
that big flower garden be created
on the premises, and Mr.. Mcdonald
acquiesced, as was natural where HIS
daughters wishes were involved. In
the meantime she enjoyed herself OBJ.
serving the floral beauties OF Rock
ford for the town had some fame on
account of its numerous attractive
lawns and flowers.
That was where Melvin Hamilton
made a mistaken not educating him.
self 10 care FOR flowers He should
have used bouquets instead of choco-
lateS 10 storm Susan's fortress, and
he should have catered TO her desires
In that regard She never forgave
him for heedlessly stepping on a violet
while they were strolIng in the woods
one day. With all his specializing,
Melvin had not learned that one way
to a womans heart is TO specialize
in her hobbies
Seth Thomas, gardener, had been
engaged to plot ont the beds in the
Mcdonald garden.
No, there was no magnet In Seth's
appearance but ne knew flowers from
the ends Of the roots TO the tips OF
the petals. On paper he plotted out
the beds and after several consulta-
lions with Susan he started putting
In the plants, with her assistance
The task took weeks and during
that Time Susan became wen ac-
quainted with her gardener. 1t would
have been difficult really 10 know
him under the circumstances. hut
flowers We're his pets, his hobby. his
profession, and discussion Of them
and his fondness for them drew out his
real nature. His knowledge Of them
and his tondness for them made him
almost hero In the ewes ~ the girl
who tried 10 be his assistant
One day while they were planting
flowers, Melvin Hamilton drew up In
his car
nr,p,. IN, for N rtSa no ,ntfaa ..