HOME aND FARM MAGAZINE HEHTION
Trumps in the Game of Love'
By A. W. Peach.
KOLAN, keen-eyed and lean-faced,
took the chair that Garson of
fered him. They were sitting
In the private office of Garson's
suite, but Nolan looked around cau
tiously and peered through the door,
then rose and closed it.
"I've just run on to a tip that
may Interest you. Grant, and 1
thought I would pass It along. Scott,
that dyed-in-the-wool rival of yours.
Is just about to blow up. He's got
Into some bad stock and it's carry
ing him down; he's tried everywhere
for credit, but he can't raise a loan
of a dime." Nolan finished smil
ingly. Garson looked at him in surprise.
"Is that so?" he said thoughtfully.
"Sure, it is so. There's a chance
that he may get out even, but it's
so poor it's not worth considering.
I thought I'd step in and let you
know. I imagine it's going to be his
finish, and if it is, I guess you
won't be bothered by him much
longer."
"It looks that way, all right,"
said Garson. "Thanks for the word,
Will," he added, as Nolan, picking
up his grip, went out.
When the door closed behind him,
Garson leaned back in his desk
chair, and his face grew set with
thought.
Opportunity had put a scheme into
his hands, a scheme by which he
might be able to put an end, as
Nolan suggested, to Scott's rivalry.
Both men loved Alice Aldridge,
and the love and the rivalry had
been of long duration. She was a
girl worthy of the love of a strong
and upright man; her ideals were
as high as her life was gentle and
pure. She had seeme to favor
Scott during the last months, in
Garson's view; at least, if Scott were
out of the way, there was no other
dangerous rival.
"I'll play the game close, and see
what can be done. If Scott "
Then the plan cleared. Scott was
Impulsive, boyish in thought and ac
tion. It occurred to Garson that if
money were placed in the other's
hands at this time of crisis, he
would be bo tempted to use it that
he could not stay himself. And If
Scott did use money entrusted to
him for Investment he was liable to
drastic laws whose infringement
meant Imprisonment.
Grimly Garson thought the matter
over and grimly he decided. He
would put the plan through the
plan that meant wreckage and ruin
for Scott if he was tempted.
For the first move, Garson sent
for Scott.
When the slightly younger man
appeared, his face, in spite of its
outward control, gave Bign of worry
and anxiety; It was a boyish face,
a friendly face, without sign of great
will, yet not weak.
Garson explained briefly his pur
pose In sending for him. "I want
to pat a few thonsands into Dalton
stock, and I thought you might be
willing to place it for me. The
stock, I suppose, is readily convert
ible Into cash, but I shall want to
hold It for investment. Ton may
take as long as you like In buying
it. Do you care to undertake the
commission?"
Scott's face sad whitened and red
dened, and It was almost pitiful to
see the eagerness with, which he
agreed to carry oat Garson's re
quest.
When he bad gone, Garson smiled
to himself. "Hell be using that
money before night to try to save
himself. Walked right Into the
trap!"
The next day Nolan was put on
Scott's trail, and he reported In the
afternoon.
"He's gone and done It, Garson,
and the rumor's out that he used
your money. He's been under too
close watch to get by, and he was
about wild. X guess the tramps are
all In your hands. Flay 'em!"
"I will that! Nolan, see Stafford
and have him start proceedings; tell
Scott I would like the stock, having
changed my mind, and so forth. You
faox fcow; put it through, I'll run
up this eve, and try to clinch the
game. All's fair in love and war,"
Garson finished grimly, nodding
farewell to his friend.
About 8 o'clock he motored to the
mansion that had been the home of
the Aldridges since the early days
of the city.
When she came to meet him with
both hands extended, her gray, sha
dowy eyes bright with an unusual
welcome, he was thrilled as he had
seldom been before. Her cheeks
were rosy with some excitement, and
her manner was warm and friendly.
When they were se.ated together in
one of the quiet rooms of the great
house, his impression deepened that
something had happened to change
her attitude toward him. She was
now as he had dreamed she might
be some time, and his usually cool
beating heart quickened.
After they had chatted of many
things, "the nothings that make up
so much of life," she leaned toward
him and rested one small hand on
the back of the wide lounge.
He jumped at her first words,
stiffened at others, and his throat
was beyond utterance when she fin
ished. "Grant, Scott was here late this
afternoon. I had heard rumors
through a friend in Beecher's office
that not only was he on the verge
of business failure, but, also, that
he had used money that you had
given him to Invest. He was In
such terrible stress of mind that it
wasn't all clear what he said, but
he did say that he used your money,
but that it was a loan from "
"A loan from pardon me, go
on."
"Yes and. Grant, I knew you
would be modest about it; but real
ly, it was a noble tiing to do, and
I could almost love you for It!"
He turned to her, his mind tang
ling its thought, as he looked into
her gray, tender eyes. He mastered
his feeling.
She went on. "It would not take
very much more for me to give my
self wait, pleaBe, please! I am not
ready just yet, but it was a deed
which showed a kindly heart; and
I've always thought you did not
have it."
A maid came with a card, but be
fore the tray was offered, Scott,
haggard of face, dusty, and quiver
ing, came toward them. He stopped
short and swayed.
He was breathing hard, but his
widely strung, breatless words car
ried meaaing. He turned to her.
"Alice. I I have came to say I'm
I'm ta be arrested I "
She went to him with that curi
ous little sound that can be de
scribed only by saying it is a
mother-seuid, aid her arms went
around his neck. "Hush, Ted, wait
sit down here with me."
He sank down. His curly head
was drawn against the white bosom,
and he broke into the wrenching
sobs that are torn from a man's har
rowed soul.
Garson, who had risen, looked on
in wonder, then with understand
ing. Some one had warned Scott,
and he had gone to the only one he
could come to tie girl he loved,
and the girl who, beyead all ques
tion, loved him. The boyish spirit
was broken; and Garson knew why.
Fortune and the love of one true
heart are the stakes for which, since
time Immemorial, men have sinned
and suffered. The boy before him
could not be blamed.
He stepped over. "Pardon me,
may I ask what is wrengT"
Scott lifted wild eyes. "Ton
yon here? Garson, I I a warrant
Is out for me for embeszling funds
you "
Garson laughed. "Well, that Is a
devil of a note pardon me, Miss
Aldridge there must be some mis
take. I loaned yon that money. The
strain has been too much for you,
Scott, this week; yon aren't as
tough as the rest of us. Why, I
certainly advanced that money as a
loan, and I've got more If you want
it."
Scott rose unsteadily to his feet
and gripped Garson's jiands la both.,
his own. Garson looked Into the
pain-filled eyes of the younger man,
and he saw there understanding of
what Garson had said, and gratitude
gratitude that made Garson's heart
throb.
Then Garson turned to her. "I
will go now. You had better keep
Scott with you. He has been under
great strain; everything has worked
out well; and I'm sure he'll never
get into such a box again."
In the shadow of the great door
at the side, she touched his arm.
"Grant, I do love Ted, as you have
seen now; but I honor you from the
bottom of my heart for aiding him;
and I give you my friendship as a
reward."
Her lips, warm and fragrant,
touched his, and she was gone.
He stood In the dusk, silent, for
many moments, then entered his car.
A half-hour later a much puzzled,
Nolan was receiving instructions that
brought from him an astonished
question, "Why?" and his astonish
ment was not much lessened when
Garson answered:
"I've loved and lost, lied and re
formed, tonight, and all I have is a
memory; and that's why I want
everything straightened out for Scott.
Waste no time. Good-by."
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OSWALD WEST
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Bp OSWALD WEST
Governor of Oregon
IWtlllEQON should go dry be
UJ cause there does not exist
a single reason on earth why it
should stay wet
The war news from Europe
strikes us with. horror; yet this
great war, with all its carnage,
past, present and future, will
not prove a drop in the bucket
compared with the ravages
which are being made through
out the land by booze.
We boast we are the greatest
nation upon earth, and in our
efforts to preserve this position
we boast we must strive con
stantly to raise, or at least main
tain, the standard of our citizen
ship, and to accomplish this end
we must unceasingly fight or
ganised greed and graft, stamp
out poverty, vice and crime,
protect the home and make life
more pleasant for those who
have been less fortunate than
others. It is idle, however, to
talk of progress along those
lines so long as King Alcohol
occupies the throne.
Who grabs the pay check from the honest work
man on Saturday night and makes his wife and
little ones go hungry?
Mr. Booze.
Who sows the seeds of poverty and distress
everywhere?
Mr. Booze,
Who loads upon us most of our tax burdens?
Mr. Boose.
The Wets protest against our voting the state
dry because it will close Paul Wessinger'i brewery
and be equivalent to the confiscation of his prop
erty, but they do not tell you how the brewery
was built through the ruination of homes and the
confiscation of pay checks. They do not tell yon
that every brick in the building represents a
broken, heart and the color of the building is em
blematical of the blood which has dripped there
from. Whenever I think of the devil I think of boose,
and whenever I think of booze I think of the
devil, for the devil is booze and booze is hell.
Old. Booze is an outlaw who has been long pur
sued but never subdued. At no time and under
no circumstances should he be given quarter, and
it is the duty of every good citizen to stand ready
to sand-bag him whenever he sticks his head in
sight All Oregon will have a chance to sand-bag
him on November 8, and for the Lord's sake let
us make a good job of it
IF YOU BELIEVE WITH GOVERNOR WEST, VOTE
OREGON DRY, 332 X YES
Pili advarthMiMt by Hu OommtttM of On Hundred,
748 Utffas BnUdlnc Portland, Orafon.
DOC