The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-02
A CASE OF PRIOR PRE-. EMPTION

of which | used considerable quantity
of granite. | bought some of the stone
Of Il Down East woman, whom | knew
my assistant, Benjamin Baker, into my
room and said: Look here, Baker,
you've got to go down to Widow
Haley's. She's sent word that there is
some stone ready for us, and | want it
looked over before it is shipped, espe
ciallv those pillars for the entrance"
Very well, sir, )" replied Baker. I'm
take the first train tomorrow and be
back tomorrow night
No." said ! /" don't do anything of
the sort. Sit down and write the old
lady that you'll be down to the place
Saturday and then she'll meet You at
the train. Besides that, she'll kill a
acknowledged chicken for your dim
ner.'
1t was about 1890 clock when Baker
reached Agamenticus, and when the
train had gone he was like the world
renowned Robinson Crusoe-"monarch
of all he surveyed'-and he felt. to a
slight extent, as Mr.. Crusoe felt when
he found himself all alone, and "a long
way removed from anywhere" But
he was not great while left to his med
itations. 1t was not more than five
minutes before his attention was at
tracted to cloud Of dust rising through
the trees in the direction in which the
highway leading to the station seemed
to run. The cloud Of dust came nearer
very rapidly, and suddenly a powerful
BAY horse, hitched to Concord wagon,
bounded into view, and when Baker
saw that woman held the lines he con-
lectured that the woman was Widow
Haley, and she was.
The horse approached the station at a
smart pace, and was brought to a stand
still with q suddenness that must have
given shock to his nervous system.
Good morning. madam said Bar
ker, lifting his hat and at the same time
| moving toward the wagon. He had
been standing III such position that the
woman had not obtained a fair look at
| him, and as he moved ont into full view
she seemed to see something in him
| which had at first escaped her attention.
Barker noticed that she gave start and
then she had TO pause little before she
spoke. But when she did speak it was
with directness and without embarrasS-
| ment.
Pm Widder Haley" she said "Be
you the man from architect Billiard S
that was to meet me? %
Yes, I'm your man." Barker ans
wered. "Shall | climb in p
Mrs. Haley gave her assent, and when
Barker was seated by her side she hit
the horse a vigorous slap with the ends
of the lines, and he was soon pulling
his load brisklv over the road which he
had recently travelled in an opposite
| direction. 1t was about four miles to
the quarries, and though Barker made
several attempts to engage the widow in
conversation be got very little out of
her more then yeses and noes until the
ride was almost completed. But he was
conscious that the widow was greatly in
terested in him. for he could see that
she was all the while, as openly as she
dared, engaged in looking him over.
| They were well along in the last mile
of the road when Barker, turning
| sharply around, caught the widows eye
while she was gazing earnestly upon his
| face.
"Wel," he said good naturally,
what is II ~
The woman blushed and turned her
head away.
Il s'pose | was rude" she said, when
couldn't help it. You look SO much like
him"
"Who's 'him'?" demanded Barker.
"My husband.
The late Mr.. Haley"
ayes. He's been dead an gone these
twenty years, but when | see him last
he was as much like you as peas is like
peas"
At the quarries Barker heard corrob-
orative evidence as to his resem blance
to the defunct Mr.. Haley. Two old men
stopped hammerlng stone and looked at
him, and ne heard one of them say to
his mate: did you ever see man look
SO much like another as that tellerlooks
like Ruie Haley?"
1t was understood when Barker and
Mrs. Haley left the quarrles that the
! former should not return to Boston I'M
til Monday. for there was certain stone
quarrying which would not be ready for
examination earlier than Monday NOR
ming II guess you'll get along all right
! over Sunday" the widow said. "GOu
kin climb the mounting an 60 gunnin'
and p'r'aps Effie will take you out rid
in in the AFTERNOON"
"'Etfie'; that's a girls name, is it
| not ."
Yes; Fife is my daughter, an if do
say il, nobody amt got no better girl
than she isl
"Of course not"
"She was Jest a year Old when her
father died, an I've had to bring her
up all by myself, but | amt ashamed
| of her. | think she's a pretty likely
girl: don't know what you'll think of
her
ooh. I'm sure that | shall like her."
said Barker, laughing.
Upon the wall of the room into which
Baker was shown on arrival at the
! widows house was a large photograph
of the late lamented Haley. Baker no
sooner set eyes on the picture than be
was ready to share with the widow and
! the two quarrymen their establishment
al his resemblance to the man who had
| been twenty years dead. When dinner
was served Baker found the vellow-leg-
ged chicken that had been promised
/ him and sundrv other things good TO
/ eat He enjoyed his dinner very well
| until the servant spilled quart bowl of
/ hot pudding sauce down his neck and
| back. When that happened he felt I'M
! comfortable for minute, which, Of
course, was perfectly natural.
YOU'D better take the coat off an
/ have it cleaned before the stuff dries
! in" said the widow.
But" objected Baker, Il can't 60
around in my shirt sleeves"
.Would you be within" asked the
/ widow, ito wear one of Rufus coats ?''
! Certainly, madam said Baker.
| The widow hustled of upstairs and
was soon back again, holding out long
| tailed, shiny black coat. Baker took
| the coat and, after regarding it for lit
tie as il hung suspended from his
thumb and forefnger by the back of its
neck, put il on and finished his dinner.
| He was still wearing the coat an hour
| later when the widows daughter, Ellie,
arrived home from North Berwick.
Now II happened that this coat was
the very one which the late lamented