The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-08
Phoebe's Oil Stock
By LOUISE RAYMOND
G. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service.

the trim, box-bordered path. out
through the sagging gate, and along
the elm-shaded dirt road that led to
the railroad station.
SO intent was he on catching the
afternoon train to the city that he
failed to notice the slim girl coming
up just behind him. She sighed be-
cause it was, in all probability, the
last she would ever see Of John Cham
bers.
Nor did she need the For Sale"
sign which John had just tackled up
to know what for days had been town
gossip-namely, that the last of the
Chambers had rejected the manner OF
living of his fathers and was going
to the city to seek his fortune.
There had never been love affair
between them. Oh, no. An inter-
change of locks of hair in very early
school days, numerous church socia-
bles and picnics shared together
trivial enough bonds, to be sure. And
yet-well, there was an ache in
Phoebe Holmes heart which no casual
farewell handshake could heal.
AS the days passed, the sight of the
suffered old Chambers house, fast
showing signs of unoccupany, grew to
trouble Phoebe.
The farm, unsold and untenanted,
was running down. This fact, coupled
with reports which drifted back from
the city that John Chambers fortune
was proving elusive and that he was
shifting from one job to another, tor
mented her with a sense of the waste
of good material and of her own i'm
potency in the matter.
On a sunny day In late March
Phoebe cast bombshell at the feet
of the aunt with whom she lived.
Aunt Sara" she gave out casually
over her cup of tea, I'm going to.
spend next weekend in the city,"
"Phoebe!" her aunt's voice was
startled. "Of all things, Phoebe!"
Eyes. that's just what I'm going to
do" returned Phoebe unperturbed.
"And furthermore-do you remember
those oil stock certificates that Cousin
Jenny left me? Well, I'm going to
take them along. Who knows, per-
haps they're not as worthless as I've
thought them. Just suppose" and
her blue eyes grew dreamy. perhaps
they will bring me my fortunew
Now 1t happened that several days
after this conversation there walked
into the outer office of Candy & Cam
by, brokers, shabby looking youth
with tired lines about his eyes and
mouth. sound of voices from the
inner office assured him that his en-
ployer was occupied, and sitting down
at dingy desk he rested his head
on his hand while his thoughts trav-
eled backward over the discouraging
months. Where was he headed? This
all but questionable firm in whose
employ he was at present held out no
future for him. Little by little, taught
by bitter experiences, he was learning
how untitled he was to compete with
men trained for their jobs.
Into his meditations crept memories
of home, of green fields titled by his
father and his grandfather and his
grandfather's father, of substantial
barns, of the CHEEKY, homely dwelling.
And with those visions arose persist
emily the picture of certain slim,
blue-eyed person, the playmate of his
boyhood, whom, in his feverish pur-
suit of fortune, he had all but for
gotten.
John Chambers sat suddenly up
right
Who in thunder was in the inner
office talking with old Candy?
yes had hoped" went on a
plaintive voice that awoke in him a
sudden, tremendous response, "to
realize something on this stock. You
see, 1 have chance to make splen-
did investment. / can buy the old
Chambers place back home. 1t is a
farm, farmed for generations by men
who knew how to husband the re-
sources of the soil. But If these GER
tiicates are worthless. as you say"
A moment later the door opened and
John, risen to his feet, met the level,
blue-eyed gaze of Phoebe Holmes.
"I-why, why, Phoebe!" was all he
managed. Then: "Wait-let me walk
a way with you"
For several blocks, through the
streaming late afternoon traffic of
which neither was aware, they walked
silently. Phoebe was the first to
.aoot- aTobo che eo;d oontI. sGtbo
the bluets are up in the swamp piece.
And Dutchmans breeches Remem-
Der how we used to go after them?"
do II" exclaimed John fervently
Then he turned impulsively. phoebe !"
he cried, "Pm-Pm sick of 1t aIl-the
hurry, the noise, the crowds. Tm-oh
Phoebe. I'm going back home"
But not until their very wedding day
did John learn the real secret of
Phoebe's trip to the city. 81 can't
bear to think" he had CHANGED to say
as they stood for moment side by
side on the clematis-draped porch of
the old homestead after simple cere-
mony at Phoebe's home, "Of you, my
darling, travelling about the city try
ing to get rid of worthless oil stock.
You need husband to keep you from
such things"
But Phoebe threw back her pretty
head with a merry laugh. "Why,
John Chambers - she cried gayly, "of
course l knew they were no good.
Only-well, those certificates furnished
me with the proper excuse for going
to the place | had heard you were en-
ployed. You see. If once I saw you, /
thought hoped"
You did, !" said her husband and
kissed her tenderly.