Show BOYDS SPLENDID IDEA by MARGARET MIDDLETON MIDDLE TON copyright 1914 by W G chapman I 1 wouldn t dream of accepting your halt price offer said mrs marvin with all the liberal ingenuousness ot a new and happy bride 1 I need work so sorely explained roslyn boyd that I 1 am willing to take anything I 1 can get he was a gentleman she saw that his face showed cultured intelligence you seem to be very anxious she suggested in sympathetic womanly way and more than anxious was the reply we are hard pressed my sick wife and two little children about all I 1 know Is photography until recently I 1 had quite a lucrative position photographing to scenery tor a railroad company my work for them was completed some time ago and I 1 have had to pick up what business I 1 can in this way very well you can take a photograph of the house yes and another of the garden and print up halt a dozen of each two days later when boyd delivered his order he departed from his generous almoner well paid and with the promise ot more work within the week mrs marvin sent him to half a dozen wealthy friends then she called at the humble home of the photographer in her limousine brought dainties tor his invalid wife provided for the children and scat sunshine generally in the boyd household of course boyd was deeply grateful whenever he met mrs marvin she had a pleasant encouraging word 1 I suppose that you wish to sell me these photographs for him her friends helped her to send work to boyd he found himself hopeful prosperous happy one morning as he chanced to pass the elegant home ot the earvins marvins Mar vins he viewed a scene that at once troubled him mr marvin was lust leaving the house he came down the steps with an angry face evidently greatly disturbed he was a handsome man but his features seemed to show traces of dissipation pretty mrs marvin stood within the vestibule one hand extended as it appealing to him to return then as her husband swung away she crouched back cov ering her face with her hands as it in dire distress trouble 1 oh I 1 hope not though it seems so reflected boyd sorely dis on account of his goad kind friend then his thoughts were abruptly disturbed as a friendly hand touched his shoulder hello boyd what you doing in this aristocratic quarter hailed his challenger whom he recognized as an old time friend 1 I am having a good deal of work in the neighborhood explained boyd know the oh yes mrs marvin has taken a special interest in influencing commis alons for me in her society circle A sweet little lady that commented his friend that her husband who just walked away A fine fellow but spoiled money social standing a charming wife but fast on the downward path I 1 tear 1 I had not heard of that mur aured boyd very greatly troubled she don t know the worst and he dont realize it went on the other so far his weakness Is conf getting with a lively crowd of old college chums and drinking champagne you can infer what that will leaa to in time he has a bout say once a week Is brought home jolly but boisterous Is all savage and disgruntled the next morning its breaking that poor little comans womans heart all this was a revelation to loyal roslyn boyd and be was deeply grieved mrs marvin called him in a day or two later to see about en barging some family pictures he fancied he could trace a repressed sorrow in her manner the lines of care about her finely lips however he dared not broach the subject resting weightily mind nor proffer the earnest helpful sympathy that stirred bla honest soul poor woman if I 1 could only as slat her was the constant burden of his thoughts he saw the friend who had advised him of the situation aad told him of his gratitude towards mrs mariln bis anxiety to be 0 service to her you can t break into a family row i you know he was advised get no thanks if you did its juel this way if mariln could be made to know and see the ridiculous algur he makes when he gets full of cham he would probably be shocked into behaving himself vs v s ive got an ideal mused boyd slowly and hopefully and he proceed ed to carry it out he was an expert 1 photographer as has been said there came to him an inspiration to use his art to produce a salutary am c pres slon upon the reckless mariln after that tor nearly two week a marvin had a shadow without suspecting it secretly but diligently boyd followed him through two of his f reckless bouts with the boys it was the morning after the last of these escapades that boyd appeared in bis private office mr mariln he said as they were alone I 1 have called to show you some photographs mariln had met him several times and was civil enough but evidently bored the effects of his previous s nights debauch had unnerved him he was unhinged probably ashamed possibly repentant the pictures comprise a series went on boyd they cover the do ings of a man I 1 deeply esteem but who has fallen upon evil ways I 1 hope you will be patient while I 1 ex hibit them and then tell you how and why they were taken mariln regarded his visitor with slight suspicion he gave a violent start and hushed deeply as he glanced at the first of the pictures boyd hand ed him then he forgot rancor and resent s ment at this overt invasion of his strictly personal affairs he was the center of all the to graphs shown in the first he was depicted standing at a bar drinking with men some of whom he would not even have recognized in his sober f senses the second showed him leaning from an automobile a senselessly sit ly expression on his face throwing coins to a hideout hide oue jeering mob tol lowing the machine in a third be was being held up by two others while he made a speech to a grinning crowd at street cor ner another showed him clinging to a lamppost helpless so down the line a truthful delineation ot a tip alers progress 1 I suppose he observed looking up finally in a chagrined shamefaced way that you wish to sell me these photographs to get them out of the way plainly intimating a suspicion of blackmail for reply boyd elded the package tore the cards to fragments and threw them into a waste basket no mr mariln he said I 1 only wished to bring home to you what the dear loyal wife who loves you so truly might feel it she ever saw you as you have been oh sir you need not go on cried mariln poignantly springing to his feet he had seized the hand of his visitor fer e vently his eyes were filled with tears never he said first shame remorse then confession 1 am going home to tell my wife that 2 she need sit up no more fearing the unsteady step that has terrified her in the past heaven bless yon for a true honest friend it was a happy faced mrs mariln who called at the boyd home the next da a hopeful hearted fervently grateful woman tearfully she told mrs boyd of what her husband bad done then facing the noble embarrassed barr assed fellow she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him aa might a dear dear sister |