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A Man Worth While
(Myites)
By LILLIAN CONLON
"T 'm going West!" declared Ann 1 Worth.
"West!" echoed her companion, gazing at Ann in astonishment.
"Yes, West. I'm tired to death of this life ! I 'm tired of folks who never say anything they mean, or mean anything they say. I'm tired of pretending and being pretended to. I'm going where folks are natural and honest, and where life is worth while."
"Many people would consider life decidedly worth while if they could have your money, Ann — your social position — your advantages. ' '
"That's just it," with a contemptuous glance around the richly furnished room, "that is all any one thinks of. I'm Ann Worth, heiress to my dead uncle's millions. The girls make love to me because they know I can give them good times ; the men make love to me because they want a chance to help spend my millions. I 'm going West, and I 'm going to find some of those honest, truehearted men we read about!"
With a determined toss of her
ANN ADVERTISES FOR A POSITION
35
head, she threw herself into a chair beside the writing table and, after a moment's thought, quickly penned these lines:
WANTED Position as companion or governess by cultured young woman. Value pleasant home more than high wages. Address Worth, Santa Paula, Cal.
Ann Worth was a young woman of quick decision and of quick action. No sooner was the missive posted than Ann made hurried preparations to take the same train West that carried her letter, and a few days later she arrived at the hotel in Santa Paula, eager to enter upon the new life that she believed her advertisement would bring her.
She did not have long to wait. Several answers came, and among them was one that impressed her by its rugged, homely simplicity.
"That's just the place!" she cried, enthusiastically, "and I'll apply for the position at once. Hot Springs — sounds good — real ranch — cowboys. Why, life will be worth living again, among these simple, honest Westerners!"
Two days later, attired in a simple black frock, Ann Worth set out for the ranch of Henry Fletcher.
Nobody dreamed, when the simple, meek looking young woman dismounted from the buggy in front of Fletcher's ranch house, that she was anything but what she appeared to be. Nobody guessed that she could have drawn her check in six figures, and that she could have bought the whole ranch outright and then have enough left to buy two or three more. But, instead of buying the ranch, she had come to work upon it. And she was determined to play her part to the best of her ability, and to await the outcome with hopeful patience.