The Dolores star., 1923-08-24
The Widow Wins
Her Case
BY ELLA SAUNDERS
20. 1922. Western Newspaper Union)

Nineteenth century instead of the
Twentieth" protested Mrs. Lane.
Henry Oldham thumped his fist on
the table. II don't care if 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 a
tale about the engine breaking down
at sea. Maybe it's true, maybe it amt.
But that girl don't enter my house
again except as Perks wife"
Pretty 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 motor boat
accldentE she demanded.
He's compromised her. The Old
hams have always held themselves
above scandal. l don't care if the
story's true or If it 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,
able man In the town. She had had
week, during which she had tried
again and again, as others had, to
bring Oldham to reason.
Oldham, however, stuck doggedIy to
his guns. His view was simply that
II young man and u young woman
went out together one afternoon, and
caine back together the next morning,
they must come back married. An
elopement he would stand for. Scan,
uai ne 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 t,
uislnherlt his murried daughter, Mil
dred, for putting word In on be
half of Nancy. But Ann Lane and
Henry Oldham were old friends. They
had known each other for 15 years.
Mrs. Lane had been a widow for
hVe 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 a
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
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.
I'm going to take you home through
Pocono Cap" said Anna Lane. Its
the most rural thing imaginable. l
want you to see it, Henry"
| Stiiheo AiS sou ie luhllS Ile u
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
| ire "a nIlirk hnnln nnSwpraI hia
| 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 back
shaking her head.
II can't think what's the matter
with it," she said. And suddenly she
stumbled, slipped, went down with a
cry of pain.
She was white-faced when Henry
helped her into the car. 1--WE wrenched
my ankle" she said. "What are we
going to do?"
won't it gOT' demanded Henry.
I'm afraid the-the carburetor $
gone wrong. l can't fix it. What shall
We do? Nobody's coming along at this
time of night. Well just have to walt
till morning when the milk carts pass
unless-unless you want to walk II
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
1T 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 ini
tiative. He took his medicine. After
all, II was he or Nancy.
"Tll take that girl back" he said
briefly. Get a move on her."
Henry Oldham never went back or