Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-09-26
Two Bachelors
Gained Nothing
but Vamp Did
BY CHARLES BRIGGS
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&c, 1924, Western Newspaper Union.)
RTROM the moment when Henry
Mills saw copy Of the "Matri-
monial Register" in the shack of his
neighbor and friend, Jim Bates, a sui
len hostility took the place of his for
mer warm regard. He glanced over
the paper and thrust 1t back into its
hiding place just as Bates entered.
After few Indifferent remarks
about the crops, he took his departure.
Mills flung himself down upon his
bed In deep disgust. He took a copy
of the Matrimonial Register" which
he had secreted under his mattress,
and looked through It. One paragraph
especially caught his eye:
81 want to be married as soon as
possible. My name Is Estelle Read,
residence Baltimore, age twenty-four.
l am brunette, tall and considered
good-looking. Am well educated, can
dance and play the piano, have a pas
sion for country life and should like
to make happy home for my hus-
band upon some ranch In the West.
Have fortune Of $4,000, but cannot
touch 1t till am twenty-five"
The paragraph was marked with the
Imprint Of Bates thumbs.
"The burned cuss !" muttered Mills.
Thought he'd steal march on me,
didn't he? But here's where he plays
second fddlel I"
From the same hiding place he ex-
tracted letter, which ran as follows;
Dear Friend From what you have
written to me fancy you are just the
gentleman who would make me good
husband Especially am fascinated
by your charming description Of coun-
try life. | inclose you my photograph,
as you request Now, friend, there il
one little particular that must be said,
though II goes to my heart to say It, l
am all alone in the world and working
for my daily bread. My guardian does
not want me to get married and he will
not advance me any Of my money. /
shall have to ask you to remit me 500
for my expenses and 500 more II you
wish me to arrive with trousseau.
yours lovingly,
''ESTELLE"
The photograph was Of n tall and
statuesque brunette, and he gazed
ardently upon II several times.
The nelghbors were not slow to per-
celve the coolness that grew between
the erstwhlle cronles, but they attrlb-
uted It TO Jealousy. For Mills was
building substantial addition to his
cabin and rushing 1t up as fast as he
could. When next he strolled over to-
ward his former friends house he was
amazed to see that the little shack was
also being transformed and Bates at
tired In II brand new suit Of clothes.
"Golng in for wife, eh. Jim" he
called j0cularly.
"Well, don't know as l might,
HANK answered the other maybe
there's n girl down East"
The rest Of Jlms words were spoken
to the air, for Henry Mills was hurry
Ing away as fast as he could CO. He
was determined TO raise that second
hundred at once and send It.
A letter was waiting for him. II
was In the same fluent handwriting.
Dear Friend It ran. Yours re-
celved, and thank you 50 much for the
Journey money. Now, Henry, let us
be frank with one another My clothes
are all worn out, and am too much
Of lady to start out to be married
in shabby things, 80 | must have an
other hundred and fifty, or else | may
have to consider proposal | have
from somebody who doesn't live a
thousand miles away from you"
Henry Mills sent $3.50 and lmplored
Estelle to come out on the next train.
After that 1t was weary waiting be-
fore the long-expected letter arrived.
This Is what he read:
Dear Friend: My heart bleeds for
me to have TO tell you what | must
tell you, but since your letter came !
have met the man Of my choice and
we are married. He Is taking me on
our honeymoon 10 Europe, and we
shall probably be back In two years
time. So no more from your former
friend, "ESTELLE."
She did not lnclose the $3.50 that
he had sent. Altogether, including the
house and the furniture, Henry Mills
was "out" in the nelghborhood Of
81 200.
He sat there in a lethargy Of despair
for n long time. But suddenly there
came n thought thnt cheered him. He
saddled his horse hastily and rode over
10 inns. He knocked at the door.
"Come in" muttered hollow voice.
Henry went in. lin Bates was lying