The Dolores star., 1923-10-05
The Widow Wins
Her Case
IIIIlIlIIlIIIlIIIIIIIIllIlIIIIIillIllIIII,I,I
By ELLA SAUNDERS
g. 1927. western Nswspaper Un,on

Niheteenth century instead of the
Awehtieth,' protested Mrs. Lane.
Henry Oldham thumped his fist on
the table. Il don't care IL it's the
fifty-ninth ~ he beloved. MY daugh-
ter goes mOtor-boating with that
scoundrel, Henry Perks, and comes
nome at o'clock next morning with
tale about the engine breaking down
al sea. Maybe it's true, maybe it amt.
but that girl don't enter my house
again except as Perks wife"
fretty Mrs. Lane expOstulated. DO
you mean to say that those two young
people, who are simply friends. have
got to be tied up together miserably
through life because of a motor boat
accidentF' she demanded.
Hes compromised her. The Old.
ham's have always held themselves
above scandal. l don't care if the
storys true or If 1t amt. That girl
comes here as Mrs. Perks or she don't
come back again"
Mrs. Lane sighed. Henry Oldham,
at siXty-two, was the most unreason
anc man in the town. She had had
Nancy under her own roof for nearly
a week, during which she had trieo
again and again, as others had, to-
bring Oldham to reason.
oldham, however, stuck doggedly to
his guns. His view was simply tina,
II young man and young woman
went out together one afternoon, and
came back together the next morning,
they must come back married. An
elopelnent he would stand for. Scan
ial he would not. And that was that
Nobody but Mrs. Lane would have
dared approach Mr.. Oldham more than
once. He had driven his own sister
out of his house when she expostu
lated with him. He had threatened [,
ulsinherit his married daughter, Mil
dred, for putting word in on be-
half of Nancy. But Ann Lane and
Henry Oldham were old friends. They
mad known each other for 10 years
Mrs. Lane had been a widow for
five years now, and it was said she
was setting her cap for Henry Oldham,
but they were good friends enough to
laugh at the report. Henry Oldham
said frankly that at his age he was
not to be caught. In his best moods
he "joshed" Mrs. Lane about it.
She came round with her car next
day. I've come to take you for
little spin out to Port Maitland" she
said. you don't get out enough,
Henry"
Henry Oldham looked at her shrewd,
ly. Not one word about Nancy" he
insisted
Not word" sighed Anna Lane 81
see it's impossible to persuade you to
take reasonable point of view,
Henry"
What you choose to call reasonable
- absolutely" Henry Oldham an
swered, as he stepped into the car.
Anna Lanes car was the best make
on the market-which every one who
owns car knows. They spent jolly
afternoon at the seaside, had dinner
together. and prepared to return.
"Pm going to take you home through
Pocono Gap" said Anna Lane. "It's
the most rural thing imaginable. l
want you to see 1t, Henry"
Strikes me you're taking me
pretty good ways round" remarked
Henry Oldham, who had been getting
little apprehensive somehow as the
sun went down and they seemed far.
ther and farther from home in wild,
mountainous region.
"Oh, it's only fifteen miles to the
nearest village, Somerville and then
It's quick run home," answered his
companion. =
They went on a mile. And suddenly
the car stopped dead. Anna Lane got
out to investigate. for Henry Oldham
knew nothing about cars. She tin
kered. Finally she got down on her
back underneath. She came bacb
shaking her head.
II can't think what's the matter
with it," she said. And suddenly she
stumbled, slipped, went down with
cry Of pain.
She was white-faced when Henry
helped her into the car. 'Tve wrenched
my ankle" she said. "What are we
going to dO?"
Wont it GOT" demanded Henry
I'm afraid the-the carburetor's
gone wrong. l can't fix it. What shall
We do? Nobody's coming along at this
time of night. Well just have to wait
till morning when the milk carts pass,
unless-unless you want to walk Is
miles into the village and-and leave
me here alone"
Henry Oldham glared at her. THAT
means we're stuck here for the night"
he shouted.
"Worse than that" sobbed Anna.
ut means 1--we got to marry you,
and l can't bear it."
Henry Oldham had amassed his for
tune by quick thinking and swift lni-
uative He took his medicine. After
aN, IL was he or Nancy.
vii take that girl back" he said
briefly. "Get move on her."
L..