The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-15
There Came a
Happy Day
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

give those people to understand
that they must vacate!"
These were the words that ex-
pressed the forcible mandate OF
John Brooks, mine owner, and Yer
non Whyte did not like them one
! bit.
The Brooks company operated a
big mine at Coketon. Some squat
ters had built their poor shacks on
little plat of ground near the
mine. They were to be evicted.
II they went willingly Whyte was
authorized to pay for the removal
of the household traps. If not,
their rude huts were to be pulled
down.
A refined business-like young
man, the confidential secretary of
the millionaire coal operator, as
good as engaged to his naughty,
but beautiful daughter, Portia.
might heedlessly and seltishly ig-
more what he saw at Coketon.. His
was free, sterling nature, how
ever. He delivered his message
to the unfortunate squatters In q
kindly, Borrowing way. One case
particularly appealed to him.
In an old cottage that had once
been the home habitation of little
farm, Whyte came across Neva
Doris and her brother Gabriel.
The first moment his eyes rested
upon the clear. earnest face Of the
girl something stirred within him.
She was cOmpOSed, modest, bust
ness-like
Mr.. Brooks might have spared
u.s." she said. 1T was my dead
father who first discovered the coal
here. He died suddenly, but before
his death l knew he had some i'm
portant business negotiations with
the company. He once owned this
ground. l was amazed when he
died to find that he had left US
nothing"
"Shall I present these facts to
Mr.. BrooksY' suggested Whyte
gently.
II have written to him twice in
regard to the matter" responded
the girl. "He has never deigned to
notice my communications"
"Somehow Vernon Whyte all the
way home could not get the beau
tiful, self-reliant Neva out Of his
mind. Then, two days later, in
looking over some papers in Mr..
Whyte's box in the vault. he made
discovery that made him quail
and brought to his mind with re-
newed intensity the sister and
~ h1 in
terested him.
II have something of Importance
to say to you, SIR" he announced
to Mr.. Brooks. entering his pri-
vate Office. "Quite by accident in
searching for an important receipt
I came across document among
your private papers. 1t shows that
the property at COketon supposed
ly yours, is really owned by heirs
of Martin Doris"
"Where-where Is the paper?"
quavered the millionaire. springing
to his feet, pale as ashes.
1T proves more" proceeded
Whyte incisively. There has been
forgery, Misrepresentation, rob-
berry in the fictitious transfer of
that property to the company"
! John Brooks broke down. His
cringing nature was manifested as
he admitted fraud. as he excused
! it on the ground of business policy
Don't be fool, Whyte," he said.
"Your salary will be five thousand
at the next directors meeting. To
retract our-well. our mistake,
would mean a criminal admission
We can't do that, you know. Do
you propose to make as trouble?"
NO" replied Whyte quietly. 81
simply resign my position, return
you the discriminating document and
leave it to your conscience as to
future action In the premises"
That was the end of the bust.
ness dream of Vernon Whyte. He
had thought it all over and had
made noble resolve. Within Q
week he was employed as an office
clerk at q town two miles from
Coketon, his first step taken to
wards coming into the life Of the
defrauded Doris family In a prac
teal way.
| WlluIIl duOtNCI WCCh uC uuN
managed 1t so that he was board
er at the new small but neat home
Of which Neva Doris was the mis-
tress. 1t came about so NATURAL,
that there seemed no purpose in 1t
And one fair summer eve he tolt
Neva that she was all the worlt
! to him. She cried on his shoulder
as she realized how much thai
meant to her. And the man who
had determined to. make up to he
all the comfort and luxury thu
stolen land might have brought her
felt repaid for his efforts.
How they planned for the fu
ture! How happy was Neva II
contemplating an humble but happ.
home! And then great news cam
from the mine one day. Brook
had visited 1t and got caugh
amidst the fire damp. He wa
dreadfuAy burned. his eyesigh
g3ne forever. but his life wa
saved.
Poor crippled Gabriel had born
the senseless victim on his shoulde
through a mile of tunnels, bringin
, him at last to the surface.
my brave brother-and poo
Mr.. Brooks!' T. said Neva In he
gentle, sympathetic way.
She never knew what his crue
heartedness had cost her. Sh
never understood that almost
royal fortune awarded her brOthe
by the conscience-stricken million
aire, really represented restitution
All she knew; was that she ha
won a man for her husband who's