Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
This Story Has
First Publication
in HeMaga2iue Of
The Sunday Star.
1t Is a Nee0 Story
by the Highest
Paid Writer Of
Short Stories in the
WorId.
'HE paradox Of Ed Cookies position was
one that had amused the town folk
over long period of time
III At thirty-five, Ed Cooke was un-

over long period of time.
al At thirty-five, Ed Cooke was un-
doubtedly the community's outStand-
ing figure. At IS, this boy, whom they had
seen grow from a tow-headed youngster to a
bizarre, poetic-looking fellow, was anything but
what ne appeared to be- In spite of his
shock of blond-gray hair, his tendency to
loose clothing and flowing ties, his rather
rolling gait and easy air, of nonchalance he
was self-made millionaire. And the paradox
was that this up-and-coming fellow whose
widowed mother had kept notion store, and
whose success was entirely q matter of his
own aggressiveness was at IS as much under
the thumb Of his parent as he had been at IS.
The town looked on and rollicked with
laughter. Ed Cooke and his mother now oc-
cupied fine six-room suite in the small city's
best hotel. AS matter of fact, Ed Cooke
was silent partner in the ownership of this
hotel As matter of further fact, Ed Cooke
was the sometime silent and the sometime
articulate partner in pretty nearly every enter
prise in that up-and-coming oil community.
LIE had his finger in practically every fnan-
cial pie in the district, was president Of
two banks on the board Of directors of every
local corporation worthy of the name, owned
real estate that had grown in value from-a
cost price Of thousands to a selling price Of
hundreds of thousands, was the largest share
holder in the city's newest skyscraper and
owned outright the two largest motion pic
ture theaters in the State. -
He was a local figure. He was more than
that. New York capital reckoned with the
operations Of Ed Cooke. And he was more
than that. The largest institute for the blind
in the Middle West was the result of his
direct endowment. At IS he was an important
philanthropist. Some said that his mother di-
rected entirely this aspect of his activities.
That was true. But so did she direct pretty
nearly every other aspect.
When Ed Cooke came home to his mother,
after day Of high finance or big business,
he was just any small boy, and MRS. Cooke,
who at so looked like large lean, calculating
eagle reigned with free, bold hand
It was, ED, I won't be kept waiting for
dinner" ed you're to take me to the movies
tonight" "But. mother, I have a directors
meeting" "The directors meeting will keep.
We are going to the movies
And to the movies they did 60.
There certainly was no exaggeration to the
local Interpretation Of Ed and his mother.
He was hen-pecked son.
Mother, may 60 out to the Country Club
this Sunday with some Of the boys for golf?"
mo. I promised the old ladies at my deaf
institution to bring you out there"
Mother, how would you like to take o
trip to Hawaii witch me? I need rest"
I'D hate it.. Wen 60 to Cedar Springs for
your rest"
And to Cedar Springs they would go. .
PEoPLE said that Ed Cooke had never dared
contemplate marriage. They were forced
70 admit further, however that so far as
any one knew. the hem Of romance had never
brushed by Eds way. That is, until he was
once seen out with telephone girl in one
d his banks. A little, demure, brown-eyed
Grl named Betty Simmons
At that, gossip ran high chambermaid
Ia his hotel reported to another chambermaid
that Ed kept journal under lock and key,
and that in this journal there was pasted q
picture OF Betty Simmons. That too spread
like wildfire through the town and then died
Gown again. Nothing happened i f.r. -
20 had little system which I,a np,,fnlhwAA Z