The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08

SmlinS, tnere are my 1flen0S. N0OQ-Oy,
Mr.. Cray! You will come and call, won't
you, Mr.. Wallin?"
Sure that gentleman assented eagerly
'I'll be round tomorrow afternoon
The young lady departed. Mr.. Cray
looked after her regretfully.
That's pity, Edn' he said. "a real stun
ner, too, if ever l spoke to one"
Mr.. Wallin groaned.
And | love her, joe" he confided. "Six
times I've asked her to marry me, and I've
come over here because | couldn't bear to
think of her in London and these foreign
places and me back in Seattle. Sometimes
| think I'll have to take the pledge"
Mr. Cray coughed. He found advice diff
ficult
Its a serious step, Ed. At our time of
life men ought to be careful how they trifle
with their constitutions.
Mr.. Walln helped himself
"Yoare right, joe he agreed, "but
do sure love that girl"
'.How do you stand with her." his friend
inquired.
"All right, l guess, except for this idea
of hers" was the doleful reply. 81 cant
see that it's her fault. Her father and
mother are the same. She's been brought
up in the atmosphere"
''She seems nice girl, too, Mr.. Cray
sighed.
eff she'd only leave off trying to con-
vert me-" Mr.. Wallin murmured.
Mr. Cray finished his whisky and soda,
and displayed an interest in the walters
suggestion as to liquors. The matter hav-
ing been satisfactorily dealt with, he pro-
ceeded to the reconsideration of his friends
dilemma.
Ed" he said, "have you ever tried to
convert the young Lady,"
Twill you tell me how to- start about
it?' Mr.. Walln asked drearily sThe poor
girl doesn't know the taste of wine or
liquor. Nothing of the sort has ever been
allowed in the house since she was born.
I'd as soon think of offering her cock
tail as of handing her poisoned chocolates,
and | guess she'd feel the same about it,
what sort of a. crowd is she with over
here?" Mr.. Cray inquired.
why there's her father and mother, a
reverend gentleman, two elderly men, and
Hiram Croft, the senator. | guess he's in
the same boat | am
"A rival, eh?" Mr.. Cray observed.
His friend Asented dolefully.
And looks like winner. There they
all are-over at the round table,
MI Cray studied the group thoughtfully.
Dead ones" he declared. why, Miss
Medlicott is the only live one in the bunch.
She doesn't belong, Ed
''That water drinking Mr.. Wallin
marked, 'seems to link them together,
though"
''You mean to tell me that sandy haired,
mela choly-looking dyspeptic is your rival?"
his host-went Gee, Ed, you ought to
put it over him.
"Hes the big noise when he's on the
PLATFORM
Sure, but the girl isn't going to live with
him on a platform. What are they all do
ing over here, Ed?"
They're collecting receipts of temper
ance drinks" Mr.. Wallin replied. "The
idea is when they find one that goes, to
form company to manufacture it. Some
thing that's cool and thirst quinching in
summer, land warm and vitalizing in win
ter"
"A new soft drink, eh?' Mr. Cray said
thoughtfuly.
That's the idea. They're going round
the English manufactures, and if they can't
find anything they're going on the CONT
nent."
"A soft drink, eh?" Mr.. Cray repeat
ed. There's money in that Ed
Sure" Mr. Wallin assented, "or Hiram
Croft wouldn't be in it. He cuts out the
hard stuff all right, but his nose follows
the dollars all the time. Pa and Ma Med
licott know that, too. Ny little pile isn't