The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-06-28
HIS OPPORTUNITY
20. ls2a. western Newspaper Union.)
BY JANE GORDON

90. 1929. Western Newspaper Union.)
0VOU must stay over to ATTEND our
= fete, Cynthia" Mrs. Talbot said.
"Ohl do" Janet coaxed, land be our
mystic lady In the fortune-telling
BOOTH"
Mrs. Talbot Immediately saw this
advantage and urged her invitation.
Cynthia hesitated. Il ought to be at
home to greet father, after his trip
abroad" she said; ''the house is such
an empty place without welcoming
presence"
So 1t was arranged that the honored
guest should remain for the antici-
pated fete and enact the part of mys-
tic seer in the fortune-telling booth.
'Now," Mrs. Talbot went on, '1et us
check of those invited, Janet"
The girl glanced up at her mother.
wallace Bruce must come, Of course"
she said.
Mrs Talbot flushed uncomfortably.
my DEAR" she expostulated, ito in
clude Wallace in our Invitation now
would be not only to embarrass our
guests. but to cause himself painful
perplexity. A man who has been
obliged to suffer the family disgrace
that Wallace has recently known
would prefer to be left in seclusion.
you have heard, CYNTHIA Mrs.
Talbot referred to her guest, "of the
unfortunate bank difficulty in your
city? This Wallace Bruce Of whom
Janet speaks is son Of the defaulting
cashier"
"Wallace has been wonderful" Janet
hotly defended. "AAd the true ques-
tion of defaulting was not decided.
Mr.. Bruce went away to die Of shock
and exposure-the papers, as mother
says, were full Of the story-and Wal
lace resigned his own position In the
same bank to go with his father and
care for him to the last. Now that he
comes back, not back home for his
home has been sold, to settle up ac-
counts, but now that Wallace, our old
friend, is here, lonely and disapproved
among us, we, who used to-" Janet
gulped-"to run after him, refuse him
an invitation to our house. It's un-
fais"
Cynthia King spoke quietly. at does
seem unkind," she said, and an opin-
ion of the Store Kings daughter was
not to be ignored.
Wallace Bruce, in his hurt and lone
liness received an invitation to the
society fete. And because he wished
to show his gratitude for recognizance,
Wallace Bruce attended.
This way to the tent of the Mystic
Seer" cried Janet at the path In the
garden where lanterns glowed
,"And you really must visit Madame
Cynthia, Wallace" she merrily greeted.
Madame Cynthia will be quite un-
known to you. She is mysterious
stranger among u.s."
Wallace agreeably handed to the fair
barker" his half-dollar and passed
into the oriental booth. Madame Gym
thia was appropriately yelled, from
bright dark eyes to the tip of her dim
pied chin. She crossed her golden slip
pers and very thoughtfully regarded
her subject. That dark-eyed gaze was
penetrating. Wallace Bruce thought
the low, modulated voice pleasant, too.
to hear.
"Your hand. if you please?" request
ed the mystic. Her touch was comfort
ing. Wallace smiled; he had almost
forgotten how; the effort was wistful.
IT await" he said, "your verdict
without fear. My clouds, 7 am begin
ming to think, have no silver lining
Therefore, am resigned
The little mystic bent toward him.
"Resigned?" she questiOned-''but that
is not we'll. Silver Innings must be
pulled about with courage. And here
I see-ah, 1t is opportunity. a golden
opportunity, to be grasped. What you
may make of it will depend largely
upon yourself. ], the my: seer, have
faith Ia you. Faith, because of your
faithful past. One day you may see
me again-in your palm our paths
cross-that little line Then you shall
prove to me-"
The jeweled fingers were twisting a
scrap of paper. Take, read thought
fully, friend" the mystic ordered. "and
follow opportunity"
Wallace Bruce was out in the night
before he realized that another appli-
cant had forced his place. Under a
swinging lantern he whimsically read
the scrap of paper. Then amazed.
he stood for moment in the path.
"On Thursday next, at three o'clock.
apply at the private office OF John
King Of the King Stores" was his mes
sage. You will be expected"
Whirling about he endeavored again
to enter the fortune tellers tent. He
found that Madame Cynthia had re-
signed her post to Janet Talbot, who
could not be persuaded to dlvrlge the
young mystic's name.
"It wouldn't be honorable, Wallace"
Janet said. II promised Cynthia to
keep silent"
The president Of the King chain of
stores greeted him with courtesy on
the following Thursday. And Wallace
felt that he was still living under a
heavy spell when that gentleman in