The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-01-19
ALL JOKING ASIDE
sy MSS ErHEL !. srErsoN

Dear Ben.
Here is piece Of corklng luck for
you. On Wednesday a rare and fair
little cousin Of mine is travelling to
the big city. There's long wait due
her at Belcherton Circumstances pre-
vent my trotting along at her side.
II you'll make the stop-over one-half
as enjoyable for her as she will make
II for you. I won't have to thank you
for the courtesy. The gratitude will
be all on your side.
A. SANDY.
Benjamin Frale read this letter. con-
sidered and despatched brief replyi
Have cousin wear rose. VIII be
properly entertained. Don't worry.
(Signed) "B. f."
On Wednesday morning at the Camp
ford depot, Allan Sandy assisted
dainty, white-haired little woman with
her bag and wraps.
Now, don't be fiustered, Cousin
Anne. Just get on at Belcherton. wave
your rose and the best locker In the
city win rush to your side. That's
Ben Frale."
AS the train pulled out, leaving San
by on the platform. he reflected:
That's good one on Ben, besides
saving me from a darn tedious trip.
l don't know-this fetching and car
rying for an old woman is getting my
goat. II It wasn't for Marjorie be-
lieve I'd quit, money or no money.
Marjorie She's some blossomins fow-
erl II had Cousin Anne's money ia
marry her right OF the reel. I'm not
80 keen on having the old dame croak,
but It's blasted shame she can't
loosen up and give a fellow a start,
I'll say.
"Geei Ben win be sore, spending
half day with old Cousin Anne and
losing couple Of clients, probably.
Just as well. though; he's too keen
on work anyway"
Extract from letter written to Allan
Sandy by his Cousin Anne, June IL,
10-:
II found your Benjamin Frale most
enjoyable. did feel nervous, not
having Travelled alone for so long.
But Immediately got off at Belcher-
ton, Mr.. Frale took me In hand. He
Is really delightful. I shall not return
as soon as planned, because Mr.. r.
is coming on to New York for few
days and he has kindly offered to take
me about some"
by gosh Ben's sure put one over
on me. His little motto used to be
The harder you dig, the brighter you'll
find the gold That chaps buckled
up against hard luck and he thinks he
sees some gold bright enough to suit
him without too hard digging. Well.
he can go me one better. can't mar
ry my Cousin Anne, but he can. I'll
cook him some way"
Extracts from letter written to Miss
Marjorie Walden by Allan SANDY, June
13, 10:
There's young chap. lawyer.
Benjamin Frale by name, lives over
In Belcherton. He's trying to do me
out Of the old lady's fortune. He's
some smart guy, too. Marjorie, as an
old friend of mine, won't you 60 over
ana persuade him, as only you can,
to do the right thing by meT
Marjorie Walden was an intelligent
young woman. Consequently she un-
derstOOd human nature as expressed
in the person of Allan Sandy, Also
she had deep sense of humor and
love for adventure.
I'm trusting everything to your
was the sentence with which Allan
had closed his letter TO Marjorie. Up
on the day following its receipt Mar
jorie went to Belcherton, and ON the
day following that Allan SANDY re-
ceived this telegram:
Married Meet Mr. Frale and me
at the 5:15 train. (Signed) Cousin
Anne"
SANDY acted much like fsherman's
catch, gasping and Hopping. At the
depot he had himself enough In hand
to be surprised at the appearance of
a distinguished elderly gentleman, who
took entire charge of Cousin Anne.
MY nusDduu. DtlicNC lie udb
nephew who was college chum Of
yours"
Later 1t was made even clearer to
Allan SANDY that his place as fletcher
and carrier had been quite usurped,
and in contradiction to his attitude
Of few days previously, the knowl-
edge made him feel ILL.,
"Ben's played me a lOw-down trick,
sending his uncle to meet Cousin Anne
Got to overlook everything Though
he's the only fellow l know who'll
let me have cool thousand or two.
Marjorie's old man isn't too badly on.
I'll blow over to her burg. The sweet
flower. She always fell for me-"
Late that evening Allan SANDY des-
patched this telegram to Benjamin
Frale:
IAN joking aside, meet me at s:80
tomorrow sure"
At midnight he received this tele-
graphic reply:
impossible. Marjorie and / start
honavmoan fomorrow all tokina aside