The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-29
Picked the Wrong
Man
Bv ELIZABETH COBB

Robert Earle with force and 1ndl8-
nation.
"And because resemble you"
sneered his~ spoiled and prOfligate
cousin. Ernest Earle.
A right-minded person, Robert
Earle could scarcely realize the atti-
.ude Of this constituencies relative.
Forging his name, assuming his
dentity-for they were marvellous
Y alike in form and feat,lre-Ern-
EST Earle had managed to draw from
bank the sum Of four hundred
dollars. 1t represented over one
lalf that his cousin had In the way
IT capital.
"See here. Robert" he said blunt
~. "Give me fifty dollars and I'll
90 West and relieve you Of your
constant dread that l will cut up
some caper that may disgrace the
proud name of that old curmudge0n
ancle Of ours, Jerome Earle"
Again, shame on your man.
hood!" cried Robert. "You shall
have the money you ask for, but It
IS the last you will ever receive
from me until I see you acting the
man,"
Then Robert seriously contem-
plated his immediate future. He
established himself in the thriving
county seat Of Upton. He found
comfortable quarters ut the one no.
tel the place afforded. Some prac-
tice came to him. He made some
speeches during political cam
paign, and. best of all. met and
owed Ada Mills, the favorite daugh-
ter Of wealthy Judge Mills.
No word had come from Ernest
Earle and Robert was glad he had
aot found him out.
Robert was gaining ground fast
and securely. His uncle abroad had
heard Of his establishing in the le-
gal profession and had insisted on
mis- accepting check for q thou
sand dollars, "as surplus capital
for exigencies." as the, old man
2hrased it.
1t was the great glorious hour of
mis- life when Robert babe Ada
adieu one lovely June night. He
aad told his love to find it devoted
" returned. So happy was he that
when he returned to his hotel he
could not sleep. He put on light
overcoat and strOlled to the wooded
outskirts Of the pretty town. com.
muning with nature.
A surprise, n shock, a crisis In
his life greeted him as he entered
the lobby of the hotel to find 1t
scene Of tumultuous excitement.
The police We're there surrounding
an agitated loud talking stranger,
who rs Robert entered was explain
Ing that some one had rifled his
room an hour previous.
"Why. there is the theft" he
shouted suddenly, pointing ut Rob
ert.
Investigation brought out new
circumstance. The door connecting
the room Of Robert and that occu-
pied by the man who had been
robbed was found unlocked.
Slowly distrust began to attach to
the young lawyer. The cowardly
ones ignored and stunned him.
Judge Mills forbade an engagement
with his daughter and insisted that
Robert should not visit Ada until
his name was cleared.
So, weary weeks went on and
Robert became well nigh disheart-
ened. His former popularity was
on the wane. his clients fell away
from him. Only that loyal Ada
wrote him of her undylng love and
faith he would have left the town.
He had been engaged as associate
counsel in damage suit where q
railroad passenger had received an
injury in collision In another part
Of the county. Among the witnesses
summoned was surgeon from q
neighbOring town.
When this person arrived at the
court room he sought out Robert.
1t was to regard him In Open-eyed
bewilderment.
"Why," he exclaimed, "you have
recOvered?-sO soon!"
II do not understand you." said
Robert.
"Were you not in the hospital at
Wayne two mouths since, suffering
from a terrible fall from a motor.
cycle"
There were cross questions and
many explanations and then the
light came. At Wayne this same
surgeon had been summoned to as
sist in case where the victim of an
accident lay delirious with broken
bones, crippled for life.
81 see It ALL" murmured the aston.
lshed Robert. 1T was my cousin
who robbed the man at the hotel"
The next day Robert visited
Wayne. He found his cousin Just
able to get about on crutches. Ernest
Earle. broken In health and spirits.
handed to Robert what was left of
the stolen money. The regretful
tears In his eyes showed his centri-
ton. ~~
Two days later Robert received
note from Judge Mills asking him
to call upon him. Ernest Earle had
written confession and had for
warded 1t. Robert would have
Shielded his misguided relative, but
the Judge insisted on clearing up
the case In the eyes of the public.
Robert wrote to his uncle all the
circumstances of the situation and
Ernest Earle was placed in comfort
with a distant relative.
There was wedding a year FOL-
lowing. The fair bride was Ada,
the groom Robert. He. was the
Hon. Robert Earla now. The public
had made amends for their tenn
pOrary disloyalty by electing him
congressman from the district.
90. 1924. Western NswspGpsr UnioAl