Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
Pavonia. He said 1t would take several

Pavonia. He said 1t would take several
weeks for the probate court to move, and
be brought forms for 'Lisbeth and Mrs.
Higgins to sign, petitioning for the ap-
pointment Of himself as executor. he
thought there would be no trouble, how
ever, and be advised that Mr.. Higgins
books and papers be thoroughly OK.
amined at once, and after that the bust
ness be carried on as seemed best, with
out waiting for legal formalities. What
ever was done could be legalized after
ward
'Lisbeth agreed that an immediate
examination Of the condition Of affairs
was the first great thing, for she want.
ed to know just how much or little
monev there was. II there was little.
che didn't want to waste any Of it by
spending it at first as II 1t were much,
and if there was more than they expect
cd it would be a relief to her mind at
least to know it.
The next morning George Marston
came over early, and Alec shut the front
door, pinning up q half sheet Of note pA-
per, with the words written: "Closed
for examination. Open 10 to l." The
opening Of an hour was for the mail.
'Lisbeth decided to serve the family
with cold meals and give her whole at
tention to this business. All the books
Of the store were spread out on the
counter, and 'Lisbeth brought the little
tin trunk that held Mr.. Higgins' most
private papers. The old deal desk he
wrote on. which was built upon the end
Of the counter next the postoffice boxes,
was emptied Of its contents, a most mis-
cellaneous mass Of papers, and then the
work Of sorting, calculating and reckon
ing up went on busily. They found a
deed Of some land in Dakota that might
or might not be valuable, but it proved
to be mortgaged for nearly as much as
it cost. There was a deed Of the lot in
the cemetery where the owner now lay
buried, and that was all the real estate
he seemed to possess. There was rec
ord Of 800 deposited in savings bank
in the name Of 'Lisbeth, which he had
evidently provided for the emergency Of
bis death. Then there was the store
business Mr.. Higgins had kept a small
bank account, and there seemed to be q
little over 800 now on deposit, but
nearly the whole Of IT was owing to the
wholesale dealers from whom he bought
bis stock There was q mass Of bad
debts owing from the country people for
groceries sold on account, but George
Marston knew very few collections could
be made. The quarters rent Of $40 was
overdue, and the only provision for III
payment seemed to be the deposit in the
savings bank. Evidently all that was
left to the family WAS the depleted
stock Of the store and the good will Of
the business, which might together be
reckoned at $500 perhaps. But half
that sum ought to be spent at once to
put the business in good shape. The &C.
counts showed that n had paid 500 to
81 1000 a year net profit
They did not finish the examination
till late that night, but for some hours
the approximate outcome was apparent
About 9 O'Clock George Marton. after
whispering to Alec that he was willing
to advance 500 II 'Lisbeth would &C.
cept It, went home on foot with scarce
ly any other goodby. Alec was disap-
pointed, for he fancied he saw all his
dreams fading. Certainly his plans
would have to be readjustsd. 'Lisbeth
was simply stolid. and said 1t was about
what she expected. After George was
gone she left the store, and Alec shut
up the blinds and locked the outer door.
When he came into the dining room, she
took up a small oil lamp and said she
was going to bed. 'Lisbeth bad told
Mrs. Higgins the result and she he'd al
ready gone, muttering to herself that
Joe never was a good manager.
The nsxt morning after breakfast Alec
decided that the Arst thing that ought to
be done was to circulate q petition i'd
dressed TO the postmaster general, ask
ing for the appointment Of 'Lisbeth as
postmisress. He told 'Lisbeth what he
was going 10 do and asked her to look
after the store while he took it around
to various influential persons
The first man he went 70 was Jonathan
Finchley, who grumbled at being asked
to sign petition against his own politi-
cal party.
"But 'Lisbsth 10 strictly nonpartisan,
said Alec.
II suppose we'll have to say 90, he
answered. IL my conscience repukes
me for the aot, I'll say that.
OF course all the members Of Mr..
Higgins political party signed readily
enough, and . number Of the opposite
party signed because Mr.. Fnchley had.
When all the names were secured, he
would send II with letter to the sena.
tor who knew Mr.. Higgins personally
and GOT bis appointment before, and
'Lsbeth's appointment would be esr-
tainty. though there would dosbtlss be
months DELAY.
ITo BE ooSrNum'