The Coolidge examiner., 1931-06-05
Marcia Made One
Big Mistake
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

Bob Cross read the ad through
once more to make sure he had got
1t correct, then jotted down the ad-
dress of the advertiser.
He had no use for the ring. How
could he have any use for a $500
diamond ring when the only girl
he could ever have married had re-
fused him last night? But if the
ring were worth One-half what the
owner claimed, he could sell it for
at least One-half of that and still be
ahead of the game-prOvided the
roadster was any good at all.
TO be of any good to Bob, it must
be in running order so that he
could put as many miles between
him and Marcia Fox as possible.
Bob investigated the ad the very
next day. The ring looked like a
valuable one, although Bob was no
connoisseur, and the roadster, al
though rather in need of paint,
seemed mechanically in good condi-
ton. Bob was given a ride all around
town, passing Marcia en- route, al
though, busy with the car, he did
not see her.
But Marcia saw him. Yes, in
deed, and forgot her dignity enough
to turn around and stare after
him. Bob, out riding with a strange
young womanl For the owner of
the roadster was a girl, not mucn
older than Marcia herself. What
Marcia did not know was that. onlv
a rev minutes after she saw him,
BOD drove away from the young
woman forever, with a ring in his
pocket, a roadster beneath him, and
his check book bearing a stub for
5000
NOW 1t is quite possible for an
automobile to show up nicely for
demonstration purposes and then
the minute the salesman's back is
turned to cut up quite meanly
BOD careened gayly along the
towns Main street and for about
elght miles out into the country
linen something happened that was
heralded by an uncanny noise in the
rear and followed by a thud.
scrape and a ceasing of all motion
Back in his home town whittier
ne was towed. he left the car for
repairs and went around to Mac
Intyre's. the jewelers.. He saw
that he would have to sell the ring
TO pay for the upkeep OH the car
and the sooner he got about II the
better. He was already behind the
game with towing charge. five gal.
ions of gas, and an order for a
new rear end and whatever else
might be unearthed in the process
of installing it.
Now, Marcia Fox, on her way to
the post office. thought she saw Bob
Cross going into MacIntyre's and
because 1t was an odd place for
him to be going could not resist the
temptation of passing MacIntyre's
right away.
What she saw did not quiet her
curiosity. Over the counter leaned
Bob, closely engaged in conversa.
tion with old MacIntyre himself
Between them lay a tray of some
thing or other. The day was warm
and the door of the shop was open.
Marcia lettering, caught fragment
OF remarks from one of them
That's certainly a very fine stone.
Diamonds like that"
Marcia's suspicious of the morn
ing were confirmed. Bob was in
terested in another girl to the ex-
tent that he was buying her a ring.
And. as it was hardly possible that
all this could have happened in
the brief time since she had turned
him down, the affair must have
been going on while Marcia sup
posed he loved her and her only!
She was desperately curious, but
desperately unhappy as well. And
the two emotions. yelling within
her, had the curious effect of slow
ing down her gait, so that, when
Bob came out, who should he see a
few feet away but his bOyhood ac-
quaintance and youthful sweet
heart, Miss Marcia Fox?
Bob touched his hat, hesitated.
was about to pass on, when he felt
a gentle touch on his arm.
Bob want to be the first
to wish you every happiness 7"
Marcia's voice was certainly any,
thing but happy itself, but you
could see she was making every ef-
fort to appear bright
"Me-happy?" asked Bob whats
the big idea?"
Aren't yOu-engaged?" asked
Marcia.
mo longer" said Bob firmly.
THE only girl ever loved wouldn't
have me, so I am leaving town in
my new car tomorrow"
Il thought-you see-well-
somebody thought you were buy
ing diamond rings"
Buying diamond rings? On the
contrary, was selling one"
A great light dawned upon Mar
cia. A somewhat false light, but
she did not know that "Oh, Bob"
she cried. you were selling the
ring that you bought for me and
turned you down before I knew you
had bought it. Oh. Bob. how can
I ever make you forgive mel"
To some it might have sounded
as though Marcia wanted Bob back
for the sake of the ring. but Bob.
who knew how easy it is for facts
to appear other than they are, was
not deceived. "Oh, Marcia" he
said, "let's forget all that's hap
Dened and take q fresh start Two