The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-26

entertaining Mr.. ricketts,, the less l felt in
cllned to do 80. l could not think of any
thing to s y which would either amuse or
interest him. h note couldn't have
fallen due at a more lnopporiune moment.
ana Mr.. tickets couldn't have undertaken
to look up my property at a time when he
would be likely to find less of it. All my
apparent assets at Gainesville were SO
mixed that an attachment would slip off
them as if they were creased. On the
whole | decided that Mr.. Ricketts, had better
not see me; that if he simply wandered
around Grimesville viewing the scenery, or
sat on my doorstep two or three days wait
ing for me he would probably have a more
enjoyable time.
But i couldn't Immediately think of any
place to seek as a refuge. When a man has
gone az far as Gainesville, there doesn't
| was much perplexed, and finally fell back
upon the hope that Mr.. ricketts, had ex-
prrienced a change of heart or a railroad
accident, or some other dispensation OF
providence which would keep him out of
Gainesville.
In the afternoon of the day following the
reception of the letter from New York, I
found myself alone in the house. Maude
and Nina had Rone out for a long drive.
Sydney, my neighbor, had gone up into the
woods fishing. Gainesville under such
conditions would have seemed lonely to
Robinson Crusoe. l sat on the veranda
reading from my own works, and was lust
falling asleep when Tommy hailed me- from
the road.
Say, Mr.. Fieldin'." he cried. GIVE lust
come back from the railroad station. There
was a fsller over there askin' about you.
He was tryin' to get somebody to bring him
over here"
"What sort of man was he?"
Big, stout man, with IL red face
"Iommy,' said ! do you want to earn n
dollar?'
mot by goin' over to the station ag'in,
this hunderln' hot day" replied the youth.
A you'll have to co." said |, "is to sit
on this voranda till the man arrives and
then tell him that I've gone away and WON'T
be back for Blk weeks"
That's the kind Of n job that suits me-
said Tommy. "Nothin' to do but a little
YIN. Just wait till | run into tho house
for Il minute or two" Tommy took his
pay IN advance like n thoughtful youth,
and vanished into his unclc's house. Mao
went indoors and made some hasty prepnr-
ntlons to JOIN Young sydney III the woods.
I Fishing Is a sport which does not iuterest
me, but on the whole ! preferred il to nm
interview with Mr.. Tickets. ! put on tho
most dilapidated suit of clothes in NV
wardrobe and otherwise prepH' ed myself
for a few days IN the woods. for | hoped Ia
persuade Sydney to camp out with me until
all danger should be over. Then | penneu
a hasty explanatory note to Maude, direct
ing Ter to subject M. Ricketts, to every
narrowing discomfort she could devise,
even ii she had to cook supper for him her
self. with a doctor three miles away and no
drug store in town.
Inns having lone what / could in tho
way of hospitality, l went down to SOS if
tommy had mounted guard on the veran-
da. AS l opened the outside door some
body rang the bell violently, and the next
moment ! WAS face to face with "A large.
stout, 1iorid man, who wore an expression
I which might be- duo to heat and general