Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

THE DARK ROMANCE OF A TOBACCO CAN 137 of; and, as he cocked his sharp eyes on him, George was prepared for the worst, even to the spoiling of his holiday. Mr. Dickson, with becoming formality, pulled a packet of papers from the breast pocket of his coat, and, selecting one, leveled it at the harmless young man. "Calm yourself," said the complacent attorney, "and read exactly every word as it is written. ' ' George glanced at the formidable manuscript, and the type danced before his bewildered eyes. He could make nothing of the jargon, and was tempted to read it from right to left, as he had heard that Hebrew was written. What was happening, anyway? Was he in the clutches of the law? The words lay still for a moment as a fragment found its slow way into his brain. "Cherishing a wTish," it read, "that my nephew, George Martin Jackson, shall lead an upright, honorable life, I hereby bequeath to him my entire estate, upon the one condition that he take unto himself a wife not later than one week from date of my death. In case of his death or non-compliance with my wish, the estate shall revert back to " The dizzy pirouetting of the type began again, and George laid the fluttering paper on his table. "Mr. Dickson," he began feebly, "what am I to say about this? If my uncle chooses to seek me out with such a silly hypothesis, I would be only right by passing it up without a reply." "Why, man," said the astonished attorney, "haven't you heard? Your esteemed uncle ' ' — and here he made a flitting, tho quite respectful gesture — "recently passed away. As for the slight condition ' ' He summarized it with a smart snap of his fingers. George looked at the cloud-dispeller with lusterless eyes. "In the first place," he began, "I must confess I am a confirmed shunner of women ; and, secondly, I dont know any of them at all; and, thirdly, to make the matter sure, I could never be led to believe that one could be captivated on such summary notice." Mr. Dickson fixed the contingent legatee with a look of deepest commiseration. "George Jackson," he said, touching his head, "do you lack anything above ? ' ' "Yes," said George, smartly; "I'm wanting my pipe badly." And with that he reached out for the unopened can and proceeded to pry off its lid. He had poised his pipe to run it thru the fragrant tobacco, when a slip of stained paper nestling in the contents held his fleeting attention. George drew it out and, holding it up to the light, read the dim penciling: "Miss Grace Williams, 1214 South Ninth Street, Louisville, Ky. Object matrimony. ' ' Mr. Dickson told me afterwards he had never seen more varied expressions than those that flitted across the countenance of George. Incredulity, wonderment, doubt, hope, resolve, came and went quick as flashes on a picture screen. Without a word to the attorney, the inspired bachelor sat him down, and the words fairly skipped from his flourishing pen. ' ' There, I 've done it ! " he gasped in a high voice. "Post it, please; she'll wire a reply. ' ' Then, as if his emotions of the day had quite exhausted him, he flung his letter and the fateful slip of paper at the flabbergasted Mr. Dickson, and sank back feebly into the depths of his chair. There is a calciferous deposit in tho soil of Kentucky to which not only all nature bountifully responds, but which is excellent for the washing of clothes. In the six years that have sped since we glimpsed the fair Grace, surprising changes have taken place. Not only has that sentimentalist retired from the promiscuity of the tobacco factory, but she has flourished deservedly. Her latter days are given over to the laying on of flesh, which comes with the climate, and to the plying,