The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-03

I can't keep nothin'. They buy 1t all out,
an l have to 90 to work an order more"
Old Jones looked much aggrieved, and l
felt asif l ought to sympathize with him,
because trade WAS SO good.
"Have you ordered the chocolates" asked
Maude.
mo; l been waitin' for an agent. He was
round last spring and l expect he'll be here
again afore fall"
This evidence of enterprise amused Maude
and she turned away to conceal q smile.
Young Weeks detected her and coughed in
self with = sudden realization that she WAS
not proceeding in the right way to concili-
ate old Jones and that I would laugh at her
if she failed. In this emergency she fell
back upon the acsndal.
You know we're living next to Mr.. Lem
uel Drew" said she.
"Be ye?" said Jones.
Eyes; we have taken the house his brother
formerly occupied, and. by the way, l heard
an awful story about Mr.. Drew, the other
day. I don't believe it's true.'
ho Ssaei 1G01 but 'n youns weeks Maude eo sm1,ed
louder than over, and made a motion to
attract my attention. moved nearer to
him.
1T was about = poor, old white horse he
used to own" hauds continued. "They
Here Weeks whispered in my ear: MAKE
your wife quit, or she'll get into hot water.
Old Jones is a relative of Uncle Lem. His
wlfe,s sister married a second cousin OF
LENS first.
Meanwhile Maude was going on with her
narrative and warming to her subject, as
Jones showed more and moro interest. I
broke in upon her hurriedly and tried to
turn the conversation into harmless chan
nels, but it was too late. / could see by a
sullen gleam in the old mans eyes that the
mischief was done. expected that some
thing disagreeable would happen right on
tho spot, but it didn't. Old Jones relapsed
into his customary cold blooded calm, and
We got away with our small purchases in a
peaceful manner.
Unhappily, however. that was not the end
of the episode. Maude's failure with Old
Jones was destined to bring far moro seri-
ing from 4 gentleman whose acquaintance
| early endeayored to cultivate. He is called
Squire Elweli. because of his legal attain
ments and the fnct that he is the local mag
%istratc. One afternoon. not long after
Maude's unfortunate experiment. with the
conciliating power of gossip, the squire
dropned into our yard and took a seat I'M
der u tree where | was watching Nina and
Sydney playing tennis.
Pm afraid you're going to hGve trouble
lows going to sue you for defamation of
character on account of that yarn about
this old white horse.'
Put, my dear SIR said l, 'that old story
has been floating around the town for sew
enteen years, and has been told by every
living being in it,"
"lhat don make any difference" said
the squire. Lem wouldn't dare sue one of
the townspeople on that ground, because
there was 80 much feeling about the occur
renee at the time. He couldn't get any
Witnesses for love or money!"
II idn't know witnesses were supposed
to be got in that way" said l.
Lem don't get many for love-" replied
the squire, but as for the rest of it, all l
can say is, look out for him. It's different
with YOU than it would be with a Grimes
william. All of Lsm's regular witnesses will
testify"
His regular witnesses!' I exclaimed.
docs he keep them as salaried emp.oyes?"
Not exactly, but he uses them pretty
regularly. l don't mind telling you that
Lem has made the biggest part of his living.
the last twenty years, out of damage suits.
When the ss an assault and battery or
something of that kind in 'em, they come
before me, II l usually manage to got the