Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-18

/ / had been formulating a plan OF
which / had thought when Mcdonald
was leaving, so said: mir Ordway,
let me tell you what we'll do. I'm
coming down to your house early
Wednesday morning. Do You and
Aunt Ruth be ready, and go with me
over to Macs. Well 60 to dinner.
You can put up with his GOODNESS for
one day. at least. Bring your accounts
along, and your own and your wife's
memories, and we shall see how we
shall prosper in the character of peace
makers"
'.Tll do it, said he, slapping his
knee. He can't prosecute till you
get ready, and may be so," and his
eyes twinkled. ''may be SO we can
arbitrator"
1t was growing late. and he took his
leave without coming down to the
house, much to Nellie's regret, when
told her of his visit On Monday !
sent note to Mcdonald. telling him
to ask Ordway to come over on
Wednesday, and between us I fancied
we could bring him to terms; at any
rate, that would give us good hold on
him, whether he came or not
On Wednesday morning went down
on the early train. and walked on to
the home of the McDonalds. 1 had
never met any of the family but the
father, and l was not surprised to find
the mother fully up to the description
given me by Ordway. refined, hand
| some, though faded woman. I couldn't
but think as contrasted the couple,
as they were making me welcome in
their old-country fashion. that she had
carried the heaviest part of their
| mutual life burdens, and was fainting
by the way, while he way yet fresh and
vigorous.
He informed me that he had sent
Ned over to the Ordways, requesting
his presence. and then introduced Ned,
a fine, scholarly-looking fellow of
twenty or Whereabouts. with father
physique and mothers features, and
our acquaintance was scarcely formed
before he excused himself courteously,
and went out to welcome the neigh
bors; a welcome indeed from himself
and mother; but there was not much
welcome in Aud Sandie's curt saluta-
ton, though the old fellow did I'M
bend little when he greeted mis-
tress Ordway."
With no pretense of sociability, I
proceeded to business in very law
yer-like manner. 1 displayed no
friendship to the Ordways, but played
the disinterested legal adviser to the
best of my ability.
Mcdonald suggested that we men go
to the front room; but as part of my
plan depended on the women, pro-
tested against leaving them, and had
my way.
Mr.. Mcdonald placed his chair at
one end of the table, and drew out a
drawer. from which he took big ac-
count book. I seated myself about
midway of the side of the table, and
Mr.. Ordway brought his account book
to the lower end.
Ordway began by saying: ''By
your request, neighbor, I've brought
my book, though can't say it has
been very correctly kept If Mr..
Bailey says how much owe you I'll
pay it. but no more"
wished he had said nothing, for
Aud Sandy put on his most beligerent
air, and said. dogmatically: 81 shall
trust friend Bailey to determine how
much you owe"
set about with a pretence of sys-
tenn. but in reality very informally. to
get to the bottom of their differences.
took paper and patiently set down
debit and credit, as they each came
to it.
After we had gone through the ac-
counts of two or three years we came
to credit on McDonald's book of a
weeks work by a Swedish man in
corn gathering, of which Ordway's
book showed no record.
The two men looked puzzled bit,
and finally Mr.. Ordway turned to his
wife and said. Ruth, did we ever
have a Swedish man hired?" why,
of course, James; don't you mind you
sent him-Olaf we called him--to
work week in MIR. Macs corn, and
he made us all laugh so when he came
home saying he hadn't 'spik one word
all week. because they couldn't under
stand him? You remember it, Mrs.
Mcdonald, don't your"
Certainly" said Mrs. Mcdonald.
Il remember you were down with
rheumatism. though, Alec, and knew
nothing about it. Ned made that en-
try in the book; is it not his writingP''
Its not mine," said Mcdonald.
shortly, his Scotch sense of justice as;
sorting itself, though as yet without
voice.
"Oh, yes, 1 do remember about
Olaf" said Ordway, ''but / never put
| that down; 1 never yet made a charge
| against neighbor who was fat on his
back and helpless"
''Oh, but right is right" said Nc
Donald. put it down. Bailey"
| mo, you won't. Bailey" said Ord
| way. Il never meant to make charge.
and won't now"
well, not to be too long with my
| story. we went on through the books.
We found charges on one book for seed
corn that had been considered by the