The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-15
OUR STORY TELLER.
A BIT OF A RIDE.
By HARRY IRVING.

Things were IN dismal conultlOn In
deed. John Jasper walked up and down
his big store with his chin on his chest,
looked dolefully at the accounts on file,
at the Pile of books with enormous
amounts of figures on the wrong side, at
the empty barrels and boxes which
seemed little likely to be filled again;
helped stray customers to tea or calico,
charged it," or put the small change
in his till with equal indifference.
Truth to tell, there was little that
was salable left on hisshelves. The new
store at the other side of the town swal-
lowed his profits and his customers. The
place was well-nigh given over to flies
and spiders, and was soon to be wholly
given over to one Phineos Webb, in con-
sequence of the failure Of the party of
the second part to meet the conditions
of his mortgage. Even motherless
Kathie Jasper, the merriest little soul
that ever lived, seemed to have come to
a realizing sense of misfortune, for once
or twice in the twenty-four hours the
dimples would die out of her cheeks and
the laugh out of her eyes, and she would
go TO comfort her father.
81 know you're fretting again, daddy"
she said, on one of these occasions.
" What's the use? Now you mustn't,
you really mustn't. There's only you
and me, and we shan't starve. Some
thing good will be sure to happen"
" wish / knew what it was" said
John Jasper, moodily, looking down into
his daughters blue eyes.
Maybe Will. will come back with
his pockets full of money"
Kathie had meant to say it playfully,
but, in spite of her, pink hushes crept
painfully up into the roots of her yell
1owhair and down under the neck of her
ruffled blue calico.
VIII. will have no money, and if he
has he won't come here with it. / dare
say was fool for packing him off,"
said Jasper, with groan. He couldn't
have taken worse care of you than your
old father has,"
Never mind, daddy" said Kathie,
sparkling, though with an effort. You
did it all for the best, and it will come
out right"
She was off, but she came back and got
hold of her fathers hands.
Daddy"
He dropped the wisp of hay he was
mutilating, and attended.
You don't think made old Webb
angry so he'll do any thing dreadful?"
He can't do any thing but come
down on the mortgage. I Isuppose he'll
do that"
Kathie's blue eyes grew moist.
"You know, daddy, l couldn't-kiss
him. Aghp and Kathie made an in
voluntary grimace.
A good many girls would have
Liaaa1 tuantu 4hnnsonI Io11oro uo,c
her father, :" and Jumped to do it,
Then, seeing the wistful expression OF
her face: But don't know as l wan
Phineas for a son-in-law."
At this Kathie giggled and ran away
relieved.
Meanwhile, Phineas Webb sat in hi
blue shade was down, and the door int,
the inner room was open to afford al
easy means of egress for Phineas, in cas-
any one appeared, he having reasons o
his own for not wishing to be seen.
The two sat with heads together, Pete
with blue pencil in his hand and
sheet of much-marked paper before him
So the money was due three day
ago2" asked Phineas Webb.
" Yes.'
Well, it's Just as well not to be il
too great hurry. You serve motto
on John Jasper tonight. Go yoursel
to see how they take it; and be ittl
stiff, you know-a little sharp. Tel
them Pm out of town, and you have t
look after my interests for me-"
Phineas Webb took Peters pencil an
slowly marked with it half round tn
paper, but with no definite results
Presently he looked up.
Drake" said he, can't you be
little extra rough T'
"Don't know but might. You thin
they're going to give you troubleT'
N-n-no-rot exactly" drawle
Webb. ButI want the father, an
the girl, too, well frightened. Of cours
they'll want little time or something
people always do-and you give 'em I
understand that if the money isn't for ii
coming and of course it won't be-
we're going to shut right down on 'em.
Peter Drake, having recovered h
pencil, began rasping his scalp with it
1t isn't very nice work." said h
ruefully.
No matter about that. 1 pay, yo
know, and you do," said Webb, " and
you manage well, you know, Pm new
mean"
Drake looked as if he had his own priva
opinion about that. He made no furth,
remark, but instead continued some i
tricate figuring on the sheet of pap,
which lay before him.
WELL" said he, you mean to NAL
some sort of compromise
Perhaps / might-perhaps; b.
you're not to know any thing about ths
rather think I'll happen in with n
valise while you're there, or just after
Drake grinned, and Webb viewed Il
grin suspiciously.
"The fact is" said he, little shee
ishly, Pm going to make bold stro
and try to get the girl with the propert
I've been thinking of marrying for sol
time, and don't quite like the look
pushing the Jaspers 80 when they're
trouble. At the same time, they've Il