The Colorado statesman., 1924-05-10
Were
Marrying
Money
BY BERTHA R. MCDONALD


"Thank the Lord Tn rid of them for
one day!" thought Phil Culver, as he
pushed his boat into the water. "Its
enough TO drive man loco, old man,
to have them all buzzing around like
bees in a hlvew he said aloud adj
dressing his dog. I'm not yearning to
start harem just yeti"
Early in the spring young Culver
had conceived the idea of spending
one summer in his own way, far re-
moved from the-all-too-friendly shelter
of the parental summer roof, and had
his plans all laid to travel incOgnito-
that is, to go some place where he was
not known and would not be contin-
ually sought because of his fathers
bank roll.
1t had been the world-old story of
''the best laid plans" An enterpris-
ing aunt, proud to fault of her
eligible nephew, had discovered mis-
objective and landed there ahead of
him, and in five minutes after regis.
terlng at the best hotel on the lake
he was literally surrounded.
He was stunned into speechlessness
over the outcome of his pet plan, and
would have left Idlewild Immediately,
but he was a gentleman first, last and
always, and not in the habit of doing
anything boorlsh; so 1t was that he
resolved to abide by the way Fate had
cut the cards and stay long enough
not to have the appearance of running
away.
On this particular morning, Phil was
very busy planning a temporary geta-
way, because he had blundered-blun-
dered miserably. Not being the proud
possessor of a date book, he had made
reservation for the time of some fair
one in the hotel that afternoon, and
for the life of him he could not re-
member who 1t was. Flight That
was the only thing left-with an ex-
PLANTATION later of being lost on the
lake or of having landed and fallen
asleep-not waking until too late-oh,
lot of things could happen to detain
fellow in n case like this.
In company with his dog, a neatly
packed hamper of lunch and plenty
of bait, he was setting out for a fishing
excursion which he was determined
should keep him away until nightfall,
possibly longer.
1t was a wonderful day. Phil was
brimming over with health and spirit
AS he rowed, he whistled or sang, and
finally fell TO thinking. He was in love
with life, In love with love, and yet,
for the last two years, he had been sus-
piciOus of every girl he met.
That was the curse of being a rich
mans son. For the moment he longed
to be dependent entirely upon the
fruits of his own labor; TO find some
girl who he could honestly believe
loved him for himself alone.
Noting an especially inviting cove
directly across the lake from Idlewild,
he rowed In to shore and pulled his
boat up on the sand He was gatlYer-
ing branches Of dry twigs. Looking
up. he saw coming toward him through
the underbrush young boy, boy
clad in neat sports hose, suit of
knickers to match and rough cap
"Hellow he called cut cheerily.
Hungry? I'll dIvvy my coffee and
bacon with you If you'll help set up
the fire.
A youthful giggle turned his head
once more in the boys direction, just
In time to see blush sweep over the
fair face of his companion, and in a
twinkiing he knew-this knicker-clad
younGster was a girl!
"Well, I'll be darned ~ came
the rather Involuntary exclamation.
"Where do you hail from !"
"Oh, I'm over at Ormsby's place.
Ever been thereT
"No, but I've heard of it. They
say Ma Ormsby's the best cook ever
how about it?'
True, every word. The accommo-
dations are plain-that's why the fash
ionables prefer the hotels. But the
house is always scrupulously clean and
the food Is wonderful"
."By crackyl" returned Culver, do
ing some rapid calculating. "If there's
anyone there who can take this boat
back and keep his mouth closed long
enough to pay my hotel bill and collect
a few duds, blessed If l don't move
over to Ormshy's, If there's room.
Know anything about it?"
"I'll find out-won't be gone but
half hour. If they can take you in,
I'll bring Roy, the chore boy, back
with me to take the boat in
She was lost in view in the un-
derbrush in an instant. Left alone
Phil stopped work on the fire and sat
down on log to figure things out
Here was the best chance in the world
10 escape from the saccharine worship
of Idlewild's gentler sex. Ormsby's
was six miles by wagon road from the
hotel. an questionable, homely re-
treat where no one knew that he was
old Asa Culvers' son, heir to cool
million.
The girl returned five minutes short
of the promised half hour accom-