Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-17

Yes. yes-I could throw over the old
cat and marry Alice. But stay! how
do l know but that Melissa, If she be-
comes the heir. may take it into her
head to throw me over? Old maids.
when they come into possession OF
property, generally prefer to keep it
to themselves, and Melissa Judd is as
cunning and as avaricious as a mag
pie. It will be necessary to get q
sure grip on her. A secret marriage?
No, no! That would be giving her grip
on me. Breach-of-promise suit? Aha!
There must be letters-letters to pro-
duce in evidence. Ha! ha! I'll have her
there"
Here Mr.. Peck smiled exultantly,
and briskly rubbed his hands together.
But the next moment the smile van
ished.
Here, again! She will have my let
tiers as well, and could bring a suit as
easily as /. I've heard her say that
she never destroys letter, as she gets
SO few. How shall find way out OF
this?"
He resumed his musing, uncOncern-
eddy watching fly which was gyrating
about the SPIDERS web. Presently the
spider made spring, and at the same
moment Mr.. Peck brought down his
hand smartly upon the desk before
him, with an exultant chuckle.
Capital! He!hs! That will settle
the whole matter and make all smooth.
By George, I'll do it at once. There's
no time to be lost, since the old woman
may 60 off at any moment He! he!
what a pleasant little surprise it will
be for Melissa Juddr'
Thereupon Mr.. Peck reached his hat,
and, crossing the street to a druggist,
presently returned with several tiny
parcels of powders which he proceeded
to carefully pour into small ink bottle.
As if for the purpose of an easier identi-
fication, or, perhaps, to screen the con-
tents. he pasted over this bottle a pa
per wrapper of a peculiar notified null
berry hue. Then. seating himself at
the open window for the sake of the
failing light. he dipped a pen into the
bottle and commenced making expert
mental flourishes and inscriptions on a
sheet of paper in large and bold hand:
Miss Melissa Judd. Present. Dear
est Melissa. Your deroted lorer. Mrs.
Melissa Peck"
Having arrived at this latter finale,
Mr.. Peck held the paper off at arms
length and surveyed it with look of
great disgust. His back was at the
window, and he did not perceive that
a thin and wiry female had paused on
the sidewalk without, and with pair
Of keen black eyes was taking in
every thing at glance-Mr. Peck,
mulberry bottle and writing included.
She started at sight of this last, and
uttered an involuntary gasp, which she
converted into a tremulous
''ahem" Mr.. Peck started, and hasti-
y thrust the paper and bottle into an
obscure little pigeon-hole above his
lesk.
"Abem!" said Miss Judd, pickering
her lips into constrained smile,
while an unwonted color suffused her
'allow face. I'm the Office so long
after business hours, Mr.. Peck?
should think you would be glad to get
away as soon IA nossihle -
Mr.. Peck sighed. and believed he
was getting fond of solitude-or, rath-
Or, getting tired of it. He began to
ind his room at the clearinghouse
rather lonesome, and without any of
he comforts and pleasures of home;
and he was never anxious to return
10 il.
"Ahem! 1 was on my way there
mean to Miss Spicer's to leave you a
from Mrs. Jollifer. She wish
IS to see you at once"
"Ah?"
Ambrose knew from long experience
what such message portended. For
some time he had been out of his aunt's
good graces, and now she had had
falling out" with Melissa, and in con-
was about to reinstate him in
ner favor and make new will.
As the two walked together down a
retired side street toward the Jollifer
House, Mr.. Peck took occasion to in
form his fair companion that he ex-
pected to leave in few days on brief
business trip. There was something
which he had long wished to say to her,
and before he went he would leave
etter. which he hoped she would an
swer at once, directing to the address
he would give. And all that evening
Miss Judd found herself SO agitated
and bewildered by this new and totally
experience in her life, that
she actually forgot to air Mrs. JOLT
|er's sheets before the fire, and to
warm over the cold chicken-pie for
Fido's supper. No wonder that the ILL
used old lady accused her of Intentional
neglect and of wishing to see herself
and Fido in their graves in order that
'he might enjoy her expected legacy.