Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-10-19
HOW KITTY PAID OFF THE
MORTGAGE.
IN FRANK H. sTAUFFER.

Kitty Brice was seated at the door of
the farmhouse, her sewing lying neg
lected in her lap, a thoughtful look
upon her face.
She was q bright, comely. compact
little thing, quick and energetic, and
noted for her good sense.
The farm was not large one nor was
the soil very productive, but the build
ings were lin good repair and an Dir of
thrift and cleanliness was everywhere
visible.
1t was q bright day in summer; the
cows we've lolling under the trees; the
click of mower was heard in the
clover field beyond.
Mother, father is worried about the
mortgage, isn't hep" Kitty asked.
YES" replied Mrs. Brice. cit will
be due in the fall"
WHAT'S the amount or it, mother"
Gone thousand dollars"
It YVES q little while before Kitty
spoke again. She was not very familiar
with the law in connection with such
transactions.
"Then the farm will have tobe sold?"
she asked.
yes, child. 1t is hardly aikely that
father can get the money elsewhere.
All that the place brings over and above
the mortgage will go to him, but that
will not be much, am afraid, for farm
ing land lis selling exceedingly low
around here
Il wish that ], could raise the thousand
dollars" Kitty said, rehectively. DO
YOU know, mother, that I've notion
that camp"
How, I,should like to know" said,
Mrs. Brice. "Itds simply one of your
queer, impossible notions"
Il don't know, MOTHER" Kitty said
slowly. Il have an impression of the
kind and I can't dismiss it. See-there
is a lady coming in at the gate. hope
she is looking for boarding"
They had advertised for summer
boarders, but up to that time there had
been no applicants either by mail OF in
person.
Sure enough, the visitor was III search
Of boarding; she was satisfied with the
room and the price.
She was Large woman, though not
feshy. and about twenty-five years old.
She was plainly dressed, had small
White hands, ana piercing black eyes.
She said that she was widow, and
that her name was Mrs Dallas. Her
hair was cut shortlike mans, for which
she accounted by saying that she had
recently recovered from grave attack
Of fever.
She was quiet, orderly woman, reti-
cent in speech, and almost constantly
kept her room. She would sit on the
porch in the twilight, however, OF
would, as the evening deepened, walk
out the green lane to the belt OF woods
beyond.
Kitty's curiosity was aroused over the
movements of their boarder. They
suggested restlessness and q wariness
not in keeping with the enjoyment found
IN seclusion.
On one occasion, in making the
WIDOWS bed, she came across q revolver
chat had been carelessly left under the
pillow. On another occasion she found,
beneath the window, piece of news
paper covered with lather. Her father
DID not shave, and so the paper bad not
eeei thrown there by him.
Il believe our lady boarder is man,
NIFTY said to herself one morning.
That once fixed in her mind she could
not shake it of.
In the afternoon she went on an Ell
rand to the country store. Here she
saw hand-bill which described noted
'ofger who had escaped from prison
and offered thousand dollars for his
arrest:
With the exception of the mustache
and the attire the description accorded
with that of their boarder. Kitty fixed
M her memory the name and address
" the officer to whom information was
to be sent.
She hurried home, and she found some
a'alculty in depressing her excitement