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Show I A Rollins I Stone i I I By FRANK FILSON 1 (Copyright, 1916, by W. G. Chapman.) "Henceforward, I'll be a rolling stone no more," said Frank Latham, as he stepped out of the train at Eppiug-hani. Eppiug-hani. "I'm going to get a job and stick to it. I'm twenty-six, and it's time I settled down somewhere. Ep-pingham's Ep-pingham's good enough for me. I'll become a local magnate and own half the town, and be an influence in the county, and maybe I'll go into politics and perhaps wind up as governor, or even " "Hey, young feller 1 Get out of that!" . It was a sad awakening from his dream. Frank had inadvertently stepped off the road and into the flower flow-er beds of a real local magnate, 'to judge from the splendor of the house and the extensive grounds. And when one is in old clothes one must dream carefully. With a low apology, Frank turned to make off. But the elderly gentleman who had shouted to him came running up, wild with excitement. "What do you mean by walking over my geranium beds?" he demanded furiously. fu-riously. "I beg your pardon," said Frank. "I didn't think where I was going." "You don't have to explain that," said the man wrathfully. "Get out of here, and don't let me see your face again, or I'll have you run out of town. I'll know you next time we meet," he added. Frank made off ; there was nothing else to do, in fact. A little way down the street he stopped to ask a native, who owned the big place. "That's Mr. Stone," said the man, grinning. "I guess you've heard of him, haven't you?" "The man who's building the big dam?" "That's him, sure." "Confound it," thought Frank. For he had come to Eppingham, investing his last ten dollars on the train fare, because he heard that there was to be unlimited work on Mr. Stone's dam. He had been gently born, but he had not made the most of his opportunities. oppor-tunities. The call of the road was imperative im-perative to him. Again and again he had settled down, only to fling up his She Was Holding on for Dear life. position and try elsewhere. But now, after a run of hard, luck which had reduced him to a position which he had never contemplated before, Frank was glad enough of the chance of a position po-sition at day laborer's wages. And he had ruiued everything by his dreaming! dream-ing! "I'll give up. Fate's against me!" said I'rank angrily. He turned out of Eppingham into the woods. Eppingham was the last .station on the line, beyond it stretched a great expanse of state forest. It whs early June, and summer was calling. call-ing. Frank could have spent the whole summer in a camp without a qualm. He resolved to strike the trail on the chance of picking up summer work at a club or bungalow. He had gone about a mile when he was startled to hear screams from the bend of the trail. A moment later there appeared a young woman, mounted mount-ed on a bay horse, which was evidenly running away with her. She was holding hold-ing on for dear life, and the horse had a frightened look ; also his ears lay fiat back against his head. Frank djd not hesitated an instant. He leaped forward and planted him-sel him-sel in the middle of the roadway. As the horse reared he caught at the bridle. It dragged him several yards ,' and stopped puffing and snorting. Still holding the bride, Frank extended his ' hand to the frightened girl, who col-i col-i lapsed in a heap upon the ground be- fore him. "It was a bear frightened my horse," ; she gasped. "He has never run away ' with me before." It was some minutes before she was able to stand on her feet, and then she was trembling all over. Frank thought he had never seen such a pretty girl before. "I don't know how to thank you enough," she said. "Father hates to have me go riding by myself, but I always al-ways laughed at him. I shall know better in the future." "You must let me see you home," said Frank gallantly. "I can't ride Polyphemus again" "If you like, I'll lead him home for you," said Frank. The suggestion proved agreeable and, as the girl was at length recovering recov-ering from her fright, they set off along the road together, Frank holding hold-ing the bridle and the girl at his side. As they chatted gaily, all his past life rose up to confront him. What a fool he had been, a regular rolling stone, when he could have settled in this town long before and known girls like this. He told her as much, and Indicated so strongly his meaning that the girl looked like a peony when they reached the outskirts of Eppingham. Yet he could see that she was not displeased with him. "Why don't you settle here and try?" she asked. "Would you allow me to see you again?" "The future will tell," she answered enigmatically. "But, honestly, If you are looking for employment, my father would be only too pleased to offer you something, I know. He is always looking look-ing for suitable men, men who will stay with him. You see, he Is the largest employer of labor In the county." At this moment Frank perceived the old gentleman of the flower-beds coming com-ing toward them at a brisk walk. Seeing See-ing the girl with Frank, and the latter leading the horse, he stopped In pardonable par-donable astonishment. "Father!" exclaimed the girl. "This gentleman was good enough to rescue me when Polyphemus ran away. He was frightened by a bear, father and you were right, and I shall never disobey dis-obey your wishes again. Let me Introduce In-troduce you to my father, Mr. " she added. "Latham," said Frank. "I think we've met before," he added to the father, a little sheepishly. "Young man," said Stone, "I reckon that I see a new face every minute. If we have met, you must pardon me for not recognizing you. I cannot thank you enough for saving my daughter. Is there nothing I can do to show my appreciation?" "Mr. Latham spoke of staying here, father," said the girl, looking at Frank, meaningly. "You like our little town?" asked Mr. Stone. . "I love it," answered Frank. "Yes, if I can find any office work in town " "Are you a sticker?" asked the other. oth-er. "Or just a rolling stone? I only have stickers about me?" "I can stick like a leach," answered Frank grimly. "Are you a stenographer?" "Yes, I have done that work." "Because I happen to want a secretary sec-retary at fifteen hundred dollars," replied re-plied Mr. Stone. "And it is difficult to get a really competent man to stay in Eppingham." "If you would try me " Frank began. be-gan. And it did not need the look from his daughter to induce Mr. Stone to close with the offer. So well did Frank stick, indeed, that it was less than a year before wedding bells indicated that the attachment had become a family one. |