The Meeker herald., 1923-01-27
NOT A CHANCE
sy FRANK II. WILLIAMS
70 ~ Mcclure Newspaper syndicatsJ

ENVt CuhuCci
At any rate that's what Walter II.
Byron, humble clerk in the office Of
the monster Acme Manufacturing
company, thought when he dreamed
Of one day marrying beautiful Ruth
Smythe, daughter Of the multlmilllon-
airs owner OF the company. To all
appearances Ruth was about as far
above Walt as the Washington monu-
u,ent 10 above an ant hill.
But--you never can tell.
And Walt was q plunger.
Because Walt was 4 plunger he one
day boldly broke all the office prece-
dents and stalked into Smythe's office.
Ruth, looking more adorable than
ever, was sitting on her fathers desk.
Waits heart leaped at sight OF her.
what the. What are you do
ing here?" demanded Old Man Smythe.
with furious display Of the vicious
temper for which he was noted.
II just came In to say I'm quitting"
said Walt cooliy. For two years I've
worked here and you've paid about AK
much attention to me as the dust IN
der your feet. Now"
"Get ont of here-quIck yelled old
smythe volcanically. Il" 80
Smythe half rose from his seat ms
though about to use physical violence.
Walt went. He was not cowed nor
awed nor frightened, but discretion
was the better part of valor and he'd
done what he wanted to do-bcarded
the old man In his den and made an
impression on Ruth.
A. Walt left the office, . handsome
coupe at the curb caught his glance.
He knew 1t to be Ruth's.
An idea came to him. He tore on
the back Of m envelope. penclled the
following note and then attached the
bote to the seat Of the coupe:
II had no chance with you when
was simply one Of your dads many
employees. Now that I'm as good as
any man. Is there q chance?
"The Man Who Quit His Job In
Your Fathers ONCE"
But here fate smiled cynicaIly.
1t wasn't Ruth who got and read
the note but her dad. who accom-.
panied her to the car and entered the
car first.
Gosh I" exclaimed Walt. inelegan'.
", from the vantage point where he
had been watching for Ruth to enter
the car. II better get out Of town"
Walt did get out Of town. via stolen
rides on freight cars.
The town to which he finally came
was q raw. new town where Old Man
smythe was putting up an immense
I.nsw factory and where things were
humming.
'"There ought to be good chance
here" said Walt to himself.
Investigation showed him that In
the town there was but one restaurant
to feed hundreds and even thousands
Of men. So being live wire young
man in spite Of his two yenrs OF com
parative inactivity In Smythe's office.
Walt started up another eating house.
His business grew immensely. Soon
he put up q rude frame hotel. Then
he started drug store. In a short
time he was booming along on the
high road Of prosperity.
1t was shortly after Walt had been
astonished by the size OF his bank
roll that Ruth came to visit the fam
ily Of the plants superintendent.
Through the superintendent Walt met
her.
And because Walt was very much
In love with her and was energetic
and resourceful in his love making. 1t
I,ln k~ ACanftInIIv
succeeded In winning Ruth's love.
"You must tell dad about us" an.
Aounced Ruth to Walt one evening.
sHe's coming here-tomorrow."
Waits heart sank. This was the
end Of his dreanE. Old Man Smythe
would never stand for him as a son.
in.law.
But to Waits tremendous surprise.
Old Man Smythe greeted him cordial
IT.. 1"Glad 70 see you" said Old Man
EAythe. II hoped my daughter would
pick you when ! sent her out here"
"Whst?" gasped Walt.
ayes. that day back in my office,
when you quilt your job you struck
me us being an up-and-coming young
man. That note you meant my daugh-
ter to get. confirmed this opinion. ]
had you traced. When I found you
were making good out here. as ex-
peated you to. sent Ruth here. And
now-weli. I'm mighty glad"
"You wnnt me to marry your daugi'-
Her7" gasped Walt. "WhyT'-
SWELL" smiled Old Man Smythe.
"your career appeals to me-immense-
~. You see, 1t was under almost
Identical circumstances. when ] was
broke and with no prospects. that ]
fell In love with Ruth's mother and
then made good and married her many
years ago!" ....