The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-01

conf1dant in his affairs, and HOW talk
ed as though it especially concerned
her. He even looked as if he expected
her TO make a reply
He's erbleeged to sell--the fellow
war talkin to IN the sto' when you
was thar yistiddy," he con tinued,
presently. II kin git it fer So 900
cash It's wuth easy a time and half
that; easy
Mrs. Sterritt continued her knitting
IN silence, never once looking mp
The indications. she knew, were
Ominous.
..Ive got. say. sl4, 600 of that Ny
credit i good, but not good enough.
Martha
Wesley looked closely at her face
She fumbled bit at her knitting
T can't be burned out again 1
must try something else. 1 must fail
I must put that lot in yo' name"
He explained the scheme in detail
She listened without comment until
he had finished. Then she folded up
the knitting and said quietly:
That's stealth. ] won't"
Wesley's face crimsoned. He was
equally amazed and angry. She as
tonished him further before he could
find words for his wrath by asking
sternly.
rs what they say about them fires
o your'n fact. Wesley?"
He answered with an oath His
face was pale now and his fists were
clenched He controlled himself with
an effort, and then said slowly:
If you won't, she will; I'll put the
lot in Dory Turner's name, an you.
Glad enough she'd be Now, MISS
Righteous. Will the lot be IN yo
name or her'n2"
He saw her flush at the mention of
Dora Turner's name Her head and
shoulders dropped for an instant as
though she had been dazed by a blow.
He had thought it useless to say as
much as he had intended to say, so
confident was he that she would sub
nit He asked triumphantly:
.sYo' name or Dory Turner's?'
mine" she answered.
She obeyed implicitly after that,
signing papers as he directed The
fraud was contaminated. Outraged
creditors attacked the title, but un-
successfully. The deed was good.
Wesley Sterritt owned property IN his
wife's name, worth more than $50,
600 He calculated that all things
considered, he had done well in bust
ness He had only to sell the lot
bly, in Nashville or Louisville, with a
cash capital which it would have
taken years to acquire in legitimate
business. Meanwhile the house was
filled with boarders, the property
was paying good interest He could
afford to wait, to look about leisurely
for a purchaser and for an oppor-
tunitv to locate elsew where. He went
home with his wife from the court
house on the day Of the final decision
rs it all over?'' she asked
All over" he said THE property
is mine It's paid for, too"
He laughed at his own wit, and
laughed at her puzzled, curious ex-
preston
sAn over" she repeated thought
fully
May 1 ask?" he grinned. as the
new idea occurred to him, what you
propose to do with yo' property2"
Yes she said quietly. Il perpOse
to keep it. Wesley
you're comm out" he said. in
mock encouragement, noting the apt
ness with which she matched his
grim humor An what, may 1 ask,
do you propose to do with me?"
You must git out, Wesley"
s.When?''
To-day. Yes. I'll keep the place.
III pay back what you stole an keep
the place"
Then the suspicion, and instantly
the certainty, got into Wesley Ster-
ritt's head that the woman was in
earnest-that she was crazy and
would do exactly what she said. Cold
perspiration came out in beads upon
his face He pleaded as he never
pleaded before Mrs. Sterritt was in
exorab BILE, and answered simply:
You must go, Wesley"
'.Ain't my credit good for board,
Martha?"
..Me bbe-with Dory Turner
There was no answer for that. He
looked to see that the window cur
tains shut off the view from the out
side. and then got upon his knees.
Martha" he whined, Martha"
Wesley she said decisively, you
must go now-go right away"
That was ten or twelve years ago.
Mrs Sterritt still keeps the boarding
house. She has paid off what Wesley
stole, every cent of it, with interest
At long intervals there reappears in
Atlanta a homeless sot, the meekest
Of men, who goes there and asks for
Mrs Sterritt. She gives him meal
in the kitchen, and says when he has
finished it:
You must go now, Wesley"