OCR Text |
Show S0VE and MARRIED LXFfl fcu, the noted author Idah MSGlone Gibson J -1 i ....... i " - mwm I JOHN GOES TO THE OIL WELLS. "J don't believe Charles knows what to do In i ho matter," 6ald John, always al-ways ready to say something nasty about 'h axles. "Hp does not say why the well dried up, or even if it is entirely en-tirely dried up. It may be possible that even the other wells are running at a paying caacity, and romething ruight be done with the old one to start it flowing again At least I want to be on the ground." "I am not so sure I hat Charlie's not going into details in a telegram is proof of his stupidity. If you will remember, re-member, in his letter he said 'letter follows ' Why not wait until you re colvo the letter'" "I should think that you have lived with me long enough, Katherlne, to know that my great success In life has been because 1 have been on the job. It does not do in this age to play a waiting game. J am not going to stand here talking about the mat-j ter. I am going to mr.ke the train. " 'Oh all right If you feel that way about it, go ahead. Before the words wre out of my mouth John had slammed the door. He had be?n busily packing while we were talking, or rather, he had opened his valise, which he had not unpacked since he arrived, and putting put-ting In his tooth brush and a few other necessaries he closed it with a hang. Tries for Comfort I tried to comfort m5f.f by think itig John was absolutely a man with v a one-trark mind, that he had- no use for me when he was thinking of anything any-thing or anyone else. I just did not exist. Possibly when he arrived in Ihe oil fields, if he found a moment when he was not thinking of business, h would remember that he had not kissed me goodby, Bui now there was nolhing for John ' Gordon in this world but an oil well down in Texas that had played the deuce with his calculations by going to dry. ' Alice came running as she heard the front door slam. "What's the matter with John? Have jou quarreled?" "No, my dear, I don t think so." "Don't you know?" "Well, you see, John has gone lo i Texas because he thinks that Charlie in some way. has managed to stop that gusher from gushing," 1 said a lit tie flippantly, but 1 felt anything but ; flipp-int. "So that was what your telegram was about?" "Yeo. dear." "Wouldn't It bo terrible if you hadn't I any money after all?" This WSJ the first time this side of (the matter had come to me, and 1 knew I turned rather pale, for Alice quickly said: 'I am sure it won't be as bad as that." Immediately I began to contrast Llohn':; ninnn- r to me when he thought I was a very' wealthy woman and his unceremonious leave as he had just left me. and I knew his quick businesslike busi-nesslike brain had understood whnt it would mean If those wells ln.Texas ran dry. I would be Just his wife, with this house that I was in. and a very small income monthly. Thankful for Small Income. ' It isn i as inougn juuh yrna j making so much money, said Alice .soothingly. "But ou, my dear, know exactly what John's money means to me. Thank heaven I have this tiny income. 1 1 will at least have enough money for jtlps to servants and other little things. which mean so much, even if 1 am 'not worth half a million." I "Oh! John will fix it up all right." 'said Alice. He has a smart head on hlm." j "Of course. Alice, I know John Is a I Smart man and considered a very good I business man, but 1 hardly think he can play the part of Providence and ! start an oil well flowing where there is no oil, do you?" Alice smiled, even while she looked troubled. ' I had a letter from mother today, i in which she told me John was not comg to take her into the nev house .While she bemoaned the fact of living alone at the old house, I am rather inclined in-clined to think she will enjoy it. She had already begun thinking about il, and was telling me, her plans to refurnish re-furnish your room and John's." (Copyright by National Newspaper Service ) Tomorrow Alice's Photograph |