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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1919)
1 Dreams That Came True By Elsie Endicott B RTI it. won't you p'ase pivr up this absurd idea of a bus ss career? You don't realize juat what you will be UP tfmluat- G Ing to business college is one 'bins, and putting what you learn 'here to practical use is another. And. (fa no child play Billy's serious brown eyes pleasrd even more elo quently than bis deep voice. "Sorry that you feel that way about It. Billy," responded Betty "But 1 am i.fraid that my mind Is already made up." "But, darling." and Billy's tones erew unmistakably de?per, "doesn't 'lie prospect of being mistress of that little bungalow out on the River Road bold any allurement at all for you?" "Let's not discuss that, now," an swered Betty, a trifle impatiently. "I am going to give my 'career' a trial, at least." And- then Id a more imper sonal tone, "would you like to have me play you a new soug 1 bought today?" And. the subject was undniabl dropped Bettj Wilton, only daughter or pa rents, endowed with a fair share of this world's goods, hail hardly a seri ous thought In her very pretty heaa Dancing motoring and ktndred div, r sions had occupied the greater par: of her time. Tiring of these, and wish ing to do something dtfferemt, she con ceived the idea of taking busin.r? training, while visiting her father " office. Her father and mother indulged her "whim" as they called it. thinking that it was a passing fancy which would soon be given up. To their surprise, however, she completed the course, and very creditably too. Her parents felt rather relieved at this state of affairs, but their relief wan short-lived- when Betty an nounced that she intended to go to work. And the storming of her fa ther, the wails of her mother, and the pleading of her nance had no effect She announced that she had hired a tiny office in the Wellington butM mc. md w uld start the following Mmiiiay m ruing as public stenogra pher When her father heard this- he smiled "Let her go ahead.' be told hu two sympathizers, Betty's mother and Billy "She ll come a cropper in very short order " Betty wearily opened, her morning mail Bill, bills, and still mire bills! And, last of all, a statement from the agents ef the .building showlM the rent to be three months in arrears, with the ominous "Overdue Please Remit," on the bottom. Certainly her months as prblic sten ographer had been anything but en couraging. Very 1 it i Ie work had com? in, not nearly enough to pay expenses. Failure stared her in the face. She would have to go back and acknowl edge defeat, t would be hard, indeed, to face that "I-told-you-so" expression in her father's eyes, and hardest of all, to face Billy. He would be more con siderate of her feelings, but he would always regard her as rather a ridicu lous failure. While she was engaged in her dis couraging reflections, the door opened and a man whom she saw frequently about the building, and whom she knew rather vaguely as "Mr Harri son" eutcred. "Miss Wilton?" he queried. ".May 1 bother you for a ft moments if vou are not too busy?" "I'm not especially busy this uorn ing." answered Betty, wryly "I shall not take more than a few minutes of your time. I understand that you did some typing for Hardiug & Co. yesterday T' Betty regarded him rather doubtful ly. "Why, yes," she answered, slow ly. "I believe I did." "And among the papers which you copied was a statement 'of the assets and liabilities of that company. wat there not?" Betty stiffened. "T m not In the habit of discussing my clients' af faire." she replied coldly. "Of course not." agreed her visitor suavly, 'but 1 happen to know that you did type this special item and I also kuow that you keep a carbon copy on file of the work you do. .Vow, to iet down to brass tacks, that state ment is worth quite a little money to me and I am here to offer you 100 for a copy of It." Betty sprang to her feet, furious. "You are insulting, Mr. Harrison!" "Now- now, ttiore is no reason for getting eicited, Mls Wilton," he countered, soothingly. "I'm only putting up a business proportion to you. You have something which I wish to buy; better think it over I'd make it two hundred at a pinch." Betty's overwrought nerves gave way and she laid her head on her desk and burst into tears. "Please go away,' she quavered. "I may b a failure, but at leas it ie an honest failure, and I don't want your two hundred, or Ave hundred, or anything else, but Just please go!" To her surprise the man at her side burst into hearty laughter. He walk ed to the door quickly and admitted another man, who apparently had been waiting outside. Betty lifted her tear-stained face to encounter the pleasant visage of Mr. Franklin Harding, president of Hard ing & Co. Both men wcrg laughing quietly at her amajtd glance. Explanation were soon mad. Hard ing & Co., having gn overflow of work of a very private nature, were looking about for a responsible- reliable par son to handle it It wte work that would last for a few months and which would not warrant their aug mentlng their present office force Mr. Harrison had mentioned Betty, but they had to be ure of her Integ rity, hence the disagreeable teat, which she passed with flying eaior. After the details had been dis cusser", the man left tier alone one more, but now the sun was shining Betty's chance to "how them" had come at last .. "Whew, but tt'e hot in here," gasped Billy. Let' sit out the next dance on the veranda, Betty." Silonce reigned for a time aftr they were comfortably eated. Then: "T hear you're making a howling suecee down town " This from Billy, rather sullenly. It rami be admitted. "Oh. I'm doing rather wall." Thle from Betty, rather modestly. "Huh. suppose you're settled down there for good now?" he went on. "Oh, I don't know," and Betty' eye parkled merrily. "I wa Just think ing that If someone persuaded me properly I might be Induced to try my luck at that other 'position' I was of fered some little time ago." And Billy marveling at the pern liar workings of the feminine mind, was quick to follow up hi advantage Ellis Porter. Lawyer By Joclla Johnson BRUCE POWELL was examining a plan of lots when his friend and legal adviser. Dave Somerville, breezed into the offiee. "Hello Bruce," greeted the lawyer. "I Just stepped in on my way to Cali fornia." "Going to run out for a few hours this evening, eh?" returned Powell, not raising his eyes. "I'm not joking, Bruce; I start this afternoon. Made up my mind sudden ry. Dropped in to say my valuable services will not be available to you lor several months." "And what shall I do if I need a lawyer while you are 'doing' Califor nia and the native sons thereof are doing you?" asked Powell, as he laid aside his work. "It won't be hard to And someone who can take care of your legal rou tine," answered Somerville. "Is there someone you care to recommend?" The lawyer s eys gleamed mali ciously. "Why, yes." he replied. "You might try Ellis Porter." ""Who's Ellis Porter?" "Ellis is a young attorney with 3D office on the same floor as my own In the Franklin building." "Competent '.'" "Oh, es. You'll find Ellis, perfect ly competent and very agreeable." "eVry well," agreed Powell. "If 1 need a lawyer iu your absence I'll look this Porter up." In a live real estate business- situa tions are constantly developing where in the services of a lawyer are re quired. Somerville bad not been away a week when such a situation arose. Powell immediately betook himself to the Franklin building to consult t'i. substitute bis friend had recommend ed. He found the place easily. "Ellis H. Porter, Attorney at Law." was the simple legend on the door. A sweet-faced young woman, staled at a desk, looked up as he entered. "I wish to see Attorney Porter " said Powell. "I am Attorney Porter." Powell could not conceal his amaze ment Mentally he (bosk his tist across the miles which separated him from Somerville. "Er pardon my exhibition of sur prise." h- managed to say at last, "but I didn't expect to find a woman. Yot.v name, as it appears on the door, looks masculine, urcl your prof-- --Ion is gen erally considered masculine, lu addi tion to that. Dave Somerville, who sent me lieie, neglected to tell me you weren't man." "You mean Mr. Sotnervllle. the at tnrnej on this floor?" she inquired. "Yes. He's my lawyer, and he's gone out West. He told me to see yo.i if I happened to need legal advice while he was away." "And now that you have seen me. do you still wjsh to entrust me with the matter you have in hand?" she ask -d with a smile. "Oh yes Somerville said you were a competent attorney." "Mr. Somerville has never gotten over his amusement at having a wom an lawyer here on the same floor with htm," said the girl. "I am surprised that he recommended m." "No doubt he had confidence in your ability," replied Powell. "The mai ler I came tp see j on about concerns the legality ol several title deeds." As Soniv-rvllle had proph.'S'td. Powell found Attorney Porter both competent and agreeable. She estab lished th legaiitj of the titles witU lawyer like dispatch, and subsequent business with which Powell entrusted her was put through in the same de cisive way. Powell soon detected be." practice was not yet well establlshed In fact, he soon began .to suspee: that, bis own business liur-d oti prominently in the little that she did He began to manufacture excuses for visiting her office It .stewed that he feared to embark upon the most trifling ventures without copiou legal advice. Four months after hi de parture for California. Dave Somer ville again breezily entered Powell's office. "The native sous overlooked a bet and allowed me lo rea.cn home with siiflicn ul u4 uey to pay toy carfare to your office." he greeted. Tro pleased to ccei I the, kind Invitation te i"no!i which you are abuut to extend to me. "I'll be ready In a few minutes, Dave " replied Powell, as he warmly shook his friend's hand. "Were you compelled to seek legal advice while 1 mus away?" asked Som crvlie carelessly. "Yes. confound ou. Why didn't you tell mi- Ellis Porter was a woman ?" "I feared you might be prejudiced if I did. She was a yniinc lawyer jusl breaking In. and w la greater ned of your business than anyone I knew Besides, I was sure It would he well taken care of in her hand." "It has been well taken care ol," declared Powell, "so well taken care of In fact, that ! think I shall con tinue to entrust my affair with her." Instead of bemoaning the prospect of losing Powell as a client, Somerville gave vent to a chuckle. "So it has gone that far. has It?" be asked "I'll soon get back your busi ness, old man, and at the same time get rid of a competitor In my profes sion ; and you'll get a life sentence to--" "And you'll get thrown out of hr, if you don't stop that kind of talk." broke in Powell wrathfully. "Ho, ho!" Jeered Dave. "I must be hitting pretty near the truth." "Oh, come on out to lunch." growl ed Powell. Somerville had indeed beep hitting sear the truth- Powell was If Ion. Ha entered the office ef Attorney Porter next day with a feeling of con straint "Mr. Somerville ha returned." she volunteered, after a brief exchange of commonplaces. "Yea. I know." "I Itippo you wftl BM4 Ms mtV at It ute no longer," she ventured. "Op the contrary, I have 'be great est need for the substitute ' "Vou mean you prefer m to a lawyer of Mr. Somerrtlle' standing?" "Immeasurably." "Are you saying this out of pity. Mr. Powell r "Not out of pity, E1II. but ont of whal pity i akin to love. I need yon for mora than legal advlaer, dear." Attorney Porter scrutinized the floor board with great diligence. "I want to be more than a legal ad riser to you, Bruce, dear," b aeld finally The Love Rookie By Abner Anthony MARTIN MATTHEWS never would have married sue Biythe could be have helped It He had not Intended to do so. Al though from the first h had realized that she was to him the mast attractive of the dozen or more girls he rode with, danced with, and boated with, he bad steeled himself against her rose Jeaf, beaming beauty. Some wise old man had warned him that these pink and white, smiling women do not make good wles. He chose her at last, just aa the woman shopper chooses the perisha ble pink parasol, because she can not resfst It and during their brief en gagement be almost forgot his misgiv ings. Sue was bis exact complement in every respect, and he yielded him self recklessly to the unfailing charm of ber mere presence. When they were really married, how ever, and began the work of home building all his fear rolled back. Silm. sunny Sue looked utterly incapable of managing a house. Moreover, she de veloped mysterious ilences which seemed preliminary to sulks. As they diseussed way and means every now and then she would tall into one of these brooding fits. At length came the day when they weFe prepared for active house bunt ing. Both were In high spirits and the house agent who took them around in his big car was equally smiling. But aa they viewed the bungalows he thought suitable for their station in life Sue and Martin ceased smiling and gazed soberly in opposite directions. The house were all in select neigh borhoods and made a good appearance, but they were plainly built to rent. Smothered with ornamentation, shin ing as if newly varnished, perched in the exact center of a small, shade-less, sodless lot. they seemed to have "newly-wed" written ail over thera. The rent, however, wa all one could ask At least, Martin thought so and won dered in vexation of spirit if Sue thought he was made ef money. Well look at something a little bettor," he said dejectedly "There's another at the same price ip Elmwood that you might like bet ter." the real estate man suggested. "Nol quite so much neighborhood and more bouse I'll take you over there." He drove through a lane and across an open, grassy stretch and was head ing for another boulevard when Sue cried. "Stop, please!" The car came to a sudden standstill in front of a rambling old house set in the midst of overhanging trees on an emerald lawn. "Pshaw, you don't want that. Mrs Matthews," protested the man. "It's badly run down, poor neighborhood-" "I want to go over it. please," Sue interrupted in a firm voice. Martia was ill pleased. The house was shabby and dismai from top to bottom, inside and out. Trees and shrubbery were horribly unkempt; bit of pasture at the back v as surrounded by a broken-down fence. The whole effect of the place in the light of a gray March day was very depre.sing. "We can't live in a bole HUt ibis." growled Martin. "Martin Matthews, we are " to live right here," said Sue premp torily. "I wouldn't live in one of those horrid little Noah's ark houses if you gsve It to me." The astounded Martin grinned feebly at the weakly grinning agent, and both succumbed without another wprd "Is the place for sale?' asked Sue. "For a song, I reckon," replied the agent with a glance of respectful ad miration. " Twas a fine property oace. and no reason why it shouidu'i be again, but the owner is a wealthy non res'dent and doesn't want to bother with it. Tisn't listed with us, but I've heard they were offering It for a thousand." "I'll give 1800." said Sue crisply. She got It for that, to Martin s Jis may "You see, dear grandfather left me a tittle money, and father always said I should keep it for a home." she explained later. "1 didn't mention it for fear you would want us to spend it foolishly. I've noticed ft-juu t U first that your Ideas Here rather high, and it has worried me a good deal What business have we in a swell house and a fine neighborhood. Mar tin? We're poor folks!" "Seems to me we could have done better than that old rookery." Mar tin protested met Wi She took hitn bj the shoulder and shook him. "Martin Matthews, call ing our home a rookery!" she waited tearfully "I love, every inch of it al readv" Thpn she smiled sweetly "Never miud! I forget sometime that you are a mere mau and blind as a bat!" Martin's firm sent him on a business Irip early the ge$t week, fie proposed tailing it as a welding trip, but Sue re fused. "It would be considerable ex pense, and i have lots to do here, she said. When he returned Sue met him at the Hta'iua with a horse and phaeton "Ours. ' f.lu explained complacently. "Tin Maple on the hill farm back ol us have moved away, and I bought i heir ho'-se alid phaeton and chicken and cow at sueh a bargain!" "l ow!" ga-ped Martia "Certainly. There is plenty of pa lure The maid milks Yes, there Is a maid. Why. Martin, half Jhr rent of one of llioijp hsraiu centQte.r butt gglow pays her! Her qaune is Rosa and the con's is Rose. Charming 00 incidence! f shall always insist on having a maid named Rosa who can milk. When there Is no maid Can you milk, .Martin?" With great presence of mind Mar tin lied brazenly. "I can not. " he said in a stern voice. He Scarcely recognized the place as tbey approached It. Trees and shrub ber bad been neatly trimmed, the dandelions had disappeared from tb velvety gra. The pasture, wherein a e.herry-ied cow grazed Indnsirlously. boasted an ornamental fence. The erstwhile dingy house had hloomed In (Velicate tints The greatest trans formation, however was Inside. The once cheerle.-s hall glowed like a ru by; the buff walls of the ilving room radiated light It was another gray day. but the light that Altered through the amber curtains like distilled sunshine nd' Hi. once dismal little Uen bound it wan like the heart of a Pink rose. Martin gazed down at his small wife with a repentant air How he had misjudged her A woman who could do so limed with to Utile wa a born home builder. Teuderly he kisifd her rose-leaf cheek. He mused a moment and then his face set with high re soHe "Sue. I cn milk." It con fe(j heroically "u) I I will- wbn necessary " Two "Babes' and a Wedding Present Dv Phil Moor -ONTOUN"D this road, anyway!" M muttered Ralph Clinton irri- iabl , as his ctr bumped over a htH doen check holes in succession. What did Jcnr.ings mra by saying the place was only twelve or fourteen miles the other side of Pine R:dge when we have traveled twenty -five now if we have a rod ?" "Here n a house," exclaimed Mr C-inton suddenly, "and there is another. Maybe he live in one of them." Clinton slowed down his machine and soon stopped in front of a homesteader', shack, by the side of which was a small patch oi potatoes, which a man wa prmkling industi iottsty with pari s grc n He turned at Clinton hail and walked ,.-. iow ud the aula "Cap you tell mc if there is a man named White kving nsr here?" asked Clinton with a trace ot his recent irri tability in his tone "I am White," rc urnffd the man, com posedly. "I heard you had rr.e horses for ale.' resumed Clinton sharply, rather nettled by the indifferent air turned by White. "Have yor sold them?" "No," was the reply. 'Can I see then. '" asked .Clinton. "Mr. Jennings told me about thtm. "Certainly," -pi;od W'hkc "They are close by, ir: the pasture," As he poke hi? eyes mr t Clinton half def'antly, hut sof'er.ed they rested n Mr Clinton' fC She had not said a word. bu. hi.tt Mer.t the time studM.:g the owner of tile l;ores; hard luck, stubborn resistance, and heartbreaking failure were written plainly on the man s countenance , They were all finr. looking animals, but the handsomest of the three vas very lame. Mri. Clinton's attention was at tracted instantly by the limping brute. "Oh, the poor hing!" she cried, com passionately "Wht makes it lame?" "Wire cut," replied White laconically. C!nton barely glanced at the lame horse except ts say, contemptuously, as they proceeded toward the others, "I wouldn't vLnt her, anyway " Mrs Clinton saw the young man's lips scr hard in a straight lin:. Then de spite her preejiff , he. took out of his pocket a p.pe, v. !;ie he filled with fin gers that trembled si ght'.y b'tore be ginning to moke furiouslv. "What i ber name?" asked f rs-Clin- t"i., putting out her hand and stroking the finely shaped ho;-.d arj sjfcjossy black shoulders of the r.oble looking animal "'Babe," replied White. "She got tht wire cut before sh; was a year old I thonght I would loo.-e her at first. She is a kind of a pet. She is enly thr:e years oV now" "Ralph," said Mrs. Clinton, I "v. ant the bhek horse You can buy her for me." Clinton hughed as .ie sid : "What on earth do you v.r2nt her for? You can't ride her, and a Per-heron is carc-dy meant for a lady's pet." A year later Mrs. Clinton lud two call ers, a men and a woman. "Do you re member mc ?" asked the man as they ontered her sitting room "Yes," was th prompt repiy "And this " she continued, turning to the pret ty little woman by hi side, is Mrs Wh'te, I presume And you have cme. I imagine to inquire about Babe." "To buy her b..ck." interposed the young woman quickly. "We will gladl; pay v hat you gave for her, and the in terest on the money, and her k:ep, too. if you will only sell her bark to us " Mrs Clinton smiled at Mrs. White s eagerness. "I am -ffra'd you would never make a successful lior" trader,' she ssaid," you waul the animal Have you come into a fertune. that you are so indifferent to the price -.ou pay?" she asked with a gla: Man, who had been scnKinix ue hrr face white his wife vas spepke The wotpan opened her mojth. t speak, but wa silenced by a gestur from her husband, who said, slowly and deliberately S "Babe was a wedding present to my wife from her father, who died a few months after our maniage I am ure you understand that 4ffl nee ssity compelled (p to part with Bab.-, but I promised Mrs White that if I evei had any money again the first hors that 1 bought -hould be Babe, at any price. Yot see," he continued, "for two years Wt had had an awtul run of hard luck then my wife took sick, and the doctor iid she must go away to be operated on After she went I got a job as fore man on a ranch, which ! have kept ever sin.:e In three months she came home, dirrd. and foun 1 rk it the sftmc piact ind wa have ed all we could to buy b.-e:- Babe Wit-Wi.1 double what sou pid be enough ?" ' Mrs Clinton rang & bell and w.!ked to tht door to give an order to a sen apt A hn opened it "J jut told the man to bring her tw the door." she said, on returning "Com and ce her," she added, preceding her guets through the wide hall and out upon tin piaza. There in the driveway, stood B be looking handsomer th.in hi softly, "but i same prief tha hav old ever, with ' is old frtr ugl M r Clinton. E::be at the :er to me " d I Wfl Mrs