Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-03-31
Two Kinds of
Specialists
BY r. RAY BAKER.

"" AV@A' ny McSiute Newspaper syndicate
Melvin Hamilton was specialist in
love.
Seth Johnson was also specialist,
but In different art.
Melvin whs Rockford's Lothario He
was the idle son of rich merchant,
with a 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 girls 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 maidens, and when he had
wooed them successfully he cast them
aside.
TITS an age of specialists" he told
friend. Look at the doctors who
succeed, and the lawyers, and the
business men. They all specialize In
some particular line. rye specialized
In love affairs, and that's how con-
quer the young women. Lover No, l
don't love any of them but I 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 II he did, his mind was not per-
mitted to dwell on 1t. He had admired
girls, but from distance. He lacked
Initiative where they were concerned,
and. besides he was too. busy special
izing In something else, and, In addi-
ton, he was homely, with big freckles,
and his clothes seldom looked neat.
He had to hustle for 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 a specialist, except in
being herself. The game Of love was
not one Of her accomplishments. She
had never cared seriously about man,
but If she did she would not, play tho
game" because she was too frank.
No coquette was Susan Mcdonald.
On the bureau in Melvin Hamllton's
room was row Of girls photographs
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 the collection.
Pulling social wires he 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 1t made him
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
restrlal 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 n big flower garden be created
on the premises, and Mr. Mcdonald
acquiesced, as was natural where his
daughters wishes we're 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 mistaken not educating him
self to care for flowers. He should
have used bouquets instead Of choco-
lates to storm Susan's fortress, and
he should have catered to her desires
In that regard. She never forgave
him for heedlessly stepping on violet
while they we're strolllng In the woods
one day. With all his specializing,
Melvin had not learned that one way
to a woman's heart is to specialize
In her hobbies
Seth Thomas, gardener, had been
engaged to plot out the beds In the
Mcdonald garden.
No, there was no magnet in Seth's
appearance, but he 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-
tons with Susan, he started putting
In the plants, with her assistance.
The task took weeks and during
that time Susan became well ac-
1uainted with her gardener. II would
have been difficult really to know
him under the circumstances, but
flowers were 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 fOndness for them made him
almost a hero In the eyes Of the girl
who tried to be his assistant.
One day while they were planting
flowers, Melvin Hamilton drew up In
his car.
Come on for ride" he called to
Susan; but she demurred
"Come on" he insisted II have
something very important to say to
you. won't keep you so very long"
"Oh, very WE'LL" she called. II am
very busy here with Mr. Johnson, but
guess he can spare me for d short
time"
"Mr. Johnsonl" he said, sarcastical-
~. as she was helped into the ma
chine, "Do you mean that tramp whS's