All For Charity

FICTION

by Tecla (38-M-2) FPE

There was little doubt in minds of any who knew Harry Westbrook that he was a "helluva guy." He operated the family lumber business with a zest that reminded many of the way his father had acquired his furtune; and yet with all his shrewdness, he was a kind and well-loved citizen throughout the small town of Milford. At 34, he was also quite the rage among the unmarried ladies of the town and although he favored many with his company, none had been successful in leading him down the aisle. As I said, Harry was a very cunning fellow.

It stands to reason that when the Milford Country Club Charity Committee met to plan our annual pre- sentation, our logical choice for chairman was Harry. The dances we staged in years past were always well attended, but we felt there was little enthusiasm and we needed a shot in the arm because this year we had undertaken a rather extensive project build- ing a new women's wing to the town hospital. We needed a better-than-average turn-out to get the work started.

Harry was rather reluctant to accept at first, but with my promise to be his right hand man, he accepted. It was this promise that got me more deep- ly involved in Harry's life than I ever expected.

At the second meeting, we decided that a dance was not enough to attract the townsfolk and with a pledge of absolute cooperation from the membership. Harry and I agreed to write a show. Since I had been a professional writer for a time, we decided that he would be the idea man and I would turn out a working script.

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