The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-03-06

n thing to, and that was to tel
the truth, shame the devil and lie
the chips fall where they might.
well, I'll tell you all abou
her" he began, but Nellie raised
a menacing finger.
Don't, Elmer! 1t isn't neces
sary. You do not have to. I know
you just happened to be riding
along, you met her, she was walk
ing, she recognized you and yor
Just had to be decent and give hel
a lift"
swell, have 1t your own way
he replied gloomily but bravely
"Only that wasn't the way. You
see. I'd met her before. She's @
newspaper correspondent and she
came up here to get a story from
me on how it feels to be a poor
man one day and a millionaire the
next. She's a very charming girl
and her name is Doris Gatewood,
She's a correspondent for the Amer
lean Weekly of New York. | hap
pened to tell her I was going to
Los Angeles to buy this car and she
suggested that If | would telephone
her she'd let me read her story be-
fore she mailed it east. | sup
pose she didn't want to write any
thing to which I might object"
"Oh!" said Nellie. did she write
a nice, interesting story about you,
Elmer?'
"I1I be hanged II | know" he
confessed. 1--WE forgot to look at It,"
".Just as we'll you forgot, Elmer.
She couldn't write a snappy, inter-
esting story anyhow. She's as spuri-
GUS as a lead dollar"
NOW, how can you say such a
thing about a girl you have never
metz" Elmer challenged.
"Saw you walking down to the
depot with her the night she was
In Pilarcitos. Heard a fragment Of
her conversation. Heard her laugh.
Noted her general makeup. That's
all, but that's enough for little Mel
lie Cathcart."
"Well, I'll admit she isn't in your
class, Nellie, but nevertheless l
think she's charming. She's bully
company-so much so that I double.
crossed you and gave her the first
ride-after I'd promised you"
Nellie's gay, gurgling little laugh
set him at ease. Now that I've
made you suffer, dear, you may
pick yourself up and dust yourself
off. I'm not miffed at you. but |
could kill a number Of people In
this town today"
$50 could /. wish hadn't
jumped into that campaign for high
school trustee. You're all that
keeps me from leaving this town
and never coming back. I hope |
get whipped to a fragile in that
trustee fght-honestly. I do"
Nellie's hand came over and rest
ed on his. You go In and win"
she commanded. 'The day | catch
you dragging your tail In this com.
munity is the day you and ! are
going to have u first real dis
agreement. Leave Pilarcitos as
often as you like and have a good
time while you are away, outcome
back to PiIarcitos! When I begin
to demand a detailed report on your
doing it will be time for you to
commence worrying"
81 don't think I could stand that"
he confessed soberly.
Nellie laughed. "No man of spirit
would. Where are you taking me
for luncheonT"
"Out to Joe Angellotti's."
"Well, Elmer" Nellie announced
when they found themselves seated,
"Tve sold your house and lot on
the terms you named. If you drop
in at the bank after luncheon and
sign the deed, I'll attest 1t and the
deal will be closed in twenty-four
hours"
"Three cheers" said Elmer. Mel
lie. you're a smart girl. When does
the new owner desire to take pos.
session OF my houseT"
"Immediately.S
20. K. I'll take a suite at the
"Atta boy!" said Nellie. Nov
let's talk about your campaign for
high school trustee and organize
tEat. I've been checking off votes.
trying to estimate your strength,
AMI It seems to me you have Il fight
on your hands,"
watch my smoke" said Elmer
Clarke.
Because he was so easy to handle
Nellie favored him with q loving
look and with difficulty %repressed
an impulse to lean across the table
and kiss him. Dear, blind, straight
forward, straight-thinking Elmer!
All she had to do to hold him in
line was to show him a fight and
then send him into it. He had been
fighting and winning since his
twelfth birthday-and 1t had never
been an easy fight. His path had
always been beset with obstacles,
which he had successfully hurdled,
but far down that path Nellie could
discern one obstacle that must send
him crashing to the ground.
Yes, nothing but death before he
should reach that obstacle could
Elmer Clarke from having his
rubbed in the dirt and Nellie
had q vast curiosity to see how
this man, who had tasted victory.
would assimilate defeat, chagrin,
sneers, gibes and the varied cruel
ties Of & world which tramples joy
Dusly over the fellow who goes
down In the fight. Standing alone,
Ia a stricken field, would Elmer. de-
acknowledge defeat?
"Why. Nellie, what are you crying
abOut?" he demanded suddenly.
Nellie's sweet mouth trembled
p~itifully. I'll can't tell you,