The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-07-05

bad an offer OF III 20O-$200 down and
Che rest In two years-but told him it
was 81, 500 or nothing. They've found
indications Of natural gas" However,
Lizzie's pleadings were so strong that
he sought the buyer, no less person
age than the president of the Arcadia
railway, and offered to sell.
'Humph." said Mr.. Gault-Gault
was sthe great man 3 sname-"I've bought
elsewhere. You're the day after the
fair, my Christian friend. But maybe
we can fix trade. Tell you what, I'll
give you 81, 900 in Arcadia, selling for
1875 ON the street now, but call it par,
and my noto for $400 for six months.
How's that?"
Thus il happened that Gus went
home with an announcement of the sale
of 1908 for 81, $50. He was buoyantly
delighted, talking of the new parlor
furniture and even q watch for Lizzie.
1t was provoking to have Lizzie look SO
serious when he explained that there
want any ready money exactly. She
couldn't seem 10 understand that the
stock was just as good. He really had a
mind to sell little. to give her les
son in finance
Chuckling over the vision Of Lizzie
when he should bring, say, 5000 or so
and fling the notes in her workbasket,
Gus tried TO sell his stock. But some-
how no found no buyers. At last Gus
came home one evening. long, long aft
or supper, and flung his head upon the
fahtn aud upCnna1 10 Aafs SkuN
Lizzie was in her chamber, but she was
there, in tho shadow, waiting, and she
came forward and lifted his head from
the table to hold it against her heart.
LET us bear it together, dear, " said
Gus wife.
Then the man tried to straighten his
shoulders and hold up his head, with a
miserable assumption of jauntiness.
"Oh, it's nothing; Just yawning. I'm
dead beat, chasing round town after the
scoundreL Lizzie, Gault's gone -
sloped."
Run away?"
Exactly. Canada, guess, leaving
pretty mess behind him. The Area.
dia's busted. Stock isn't worth o cent
no more than his swindling note. He
hasn't paid a dollar for 1908. All /
could do was to get it back. He would
have nailed me to make the payments
and sold it, but was in time, though
Lord knows how I'll raise money for
the next payment, next month"
A little pause, during which Lizzie
only stroked his hair before she said,
timidly: Dear, they say the boom is
burst. Don't you think we better-we
better let 1903 go and not try--it will
be SO hard to raise that money and more
in another six months, and it takes so
long for a boom to come back, and there
are the taxes and the interest
A savage laugh stopped her, and Gus
leaped up and began pacing the room.
II tell you l cayn't do it, Lizzie. 1
cayn't bear it. Maybe I'm jist tlinging
good money after bad, but after the
way I've worked and hoped and plan
ned cayn't stand it to see that lot slip
out of my fingers The property's bound
to come up, you know. "
But it was one thing to resolve to
make the payments, quite another to
raise the money. How bitterly did Gus
revile his extravaganza during the sea-
son of 1303's fictitious prosperity. His
smart new clothes, his new hat, his era
vat, were odious to him. "YoV brutei''
be accused himself, "while your poor
wife did not spend useless pennyp'
He worked over hours to get money
He stinted himself every possible way.
The peaceful evening pipe was sacri-
feed. He ate dry roll for his lunch
con, One morning he brought a bundle
10 the emporium. Not only his new
clothes and hat, but his watch and Liza
Zie's cherished table cover were spread
ON the counter for Mrs. Groves lack
luster eyes. Can you give me $50 for
the lot?" Gus asked, trying to keep the
tremble out of his voice.
-a,,t! Your wife know bout that there
Gus was too wretched for retort He
nodded. The secondhand woman"
eyed him, not keenly, but in her usual
expressionless fashion.
''She knQws,' said Gas. clearing bis
dry throat. "She-she gave me $40. It's
our second payment ON the lot l303. 4"
Guess you wish you'd a-follered my
advice"
Gus, mopping his brow and his eyes
glittering with anxiety, foEoed q sickIy
kind Of smile hHuess you bout hit IL
that time, " said he.
"Well, why don't you foller il nowi
Let them sharks take their darned old
weed patch back"
A culver ran over the young mans
pale face, while he began 20 gather up
the loose articles
"Quit that. s'pose you'd go some
where else II You can't git what you
want, WE'LL, she opened the till and
took out five $40 bills, saying, there,
I'm fool, too, an that's pair Of us. -
Gus thanked her warmly. but she
gave him no answer beyond staring az
him through his falteriRg speech.
tWell, amt a foolr" he heard her
remark to herself, as he hurried away.
Though he had the money, he was q
wretched man. 1t humiliated him TO
take Lizzie's hard earnings Worse than
all, there was the insurance money. For
years Gus had kept his life insured.
The thought that if anything happened
10 him Lizzie would have little sum
to help her face the wolf had comforted
him in many a hard experience. Nov
it would be impossible for him to raise
enough by tomorrow to make the pay
ment. ''Oh, well, nothing is going TO
happen to me-" said Gus, land Ina
30 1&.a k1