Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-23

she had not finished sweeping when
she heard someone cry "Whoa," in
front of the house.
She went to the window. There was
Paul Dill in the buggy that had once a
top, but which had outlived it's cover.
Mr.. Dill was lean, active man, and
he was already hitching his horse to
the ring in the side of the house. Pres
entity he knocked. Ruth set her broom
IN the corner with some emphasis of
motion Then she opened the door and
her visitor Immediately stepped in.
Good morning, Mr. Dill" she said
reticently. Won't you take chair?"
Don't care /, do, a minute. | was
goin' by the head of the lane. n |
| thought I'd come down n see if you
still KEEP them Plymouth Rock hens m
could spare me dozen eggs. I've got
a fool of hen that I've shet up m
ducked n starved, but it don't make
no difference she's bound to set-late
IN the fall too. | s'pose I'd better have
wrung her neck to begin with"
i en- spare you the eggs,' was the
reply, still in the same reserved man
ner.
All right. How do you make it here
sence your father died?"
Mr.. Dills eyes wandered about the
room.
Very WE'LL"
Git any money off the FARM"
l manage to live and pay my taxes"
DO? Much over?"
"A little"
Ruths voice was growing more and
more frigid.
mat so? The Avery family always
ald know how to manage. Your
iafm q be more valuable if twas more
snug to the main road"
No answer. Ruth was studving tbe
, man race. and thinking that il bore
strange resemblance to a gimlet
My wife never was no kind of n
manager he said. discontentedly
When she died, of course, mourned
her, but she want no money loss to
me-" W
; Again no answer.
Mr. Dill gazed hard at a closet door
and appeared to wish to omen II that be
might examine its contents. But he
gave up that idea and soon rose to his
feet.
i amt ben down here sence your
fathers funeral" he remarked "T
guess | ii go over the farm, if you amt
no objections. | reckon some women
40 know how to farm it, but they're
mighty few. Make much sugar last
sappin timer"
Considerable.
DID? How many men do you usual
ly hire?"
Il have Joe Monk and Killup Little
in the busy seasons; other times I git
long alone"
Ruth now shut her mouth as if she
would not be likely to open it again.
do? Monk N Little are real good
workers. Yes, guess I'll go over the
farm, if you amt no objections"
The farm is free to folks to walk
on"
Mr. Dill left the house Ruth saw
him go down first toward the English
hay field. Having watched him thus
far, she took her broom again. She
was sweeping the kitchen for the third
time when Mr.. Dill came back. He
merely put his head in at the door.
which he held open just wide enough
to admit of the insertion OF that por-
ton of his physical frame.
Farm looks first-rate." he said 81
sh'd almost say you'd better keep more
| sheep. Think it's going to snow?"
Ruth shortly expressed her ignorance
as to the intentions Of the weather,
and Mr.. Dill drove away.
Ruth stood about aimlessly for few
minutes, then she hurried to the barn
and harnessed the gray horse to the
llght wagon. She let her old brown
spaniel sit on the seat with her, and. |
thus accompanied she drove the three
miles to the store. Having reached
this place she and her spaniel walked
in, and, as she expected, at this time
in the day, the store was deserted save
for the presence of the proprietor, who |
came forward swapping his fingers in
a conversational manner at the dog. |
who paid not the slightest attention to
him
What it is today, Miss Avery? |
Sugar and spice n everything nice for
Thanksgivin', eh?" facetiousIy.
NO" said Ruth, promptly, Il didn't
come for groceries. came to ask what
old Paul Dill m Adoniram Winsor
were bettin' about here; spose you
know, don't you, Mr. Scott?"
Mr.. SCOTS ingratiating expression
instantly left his face; his jaw dropped
He did not answer.
Il s'pose you know, don't your" in
sisted Ruth.
Yes" at last, Il guess most of us
know. But, law, you needn't mind
what a mess of men says"
Mr.. Scott began to laugh. He plain
ly made a violent effort to smother this
laugh, choking to the extent of pur-
pie face in the attempt. While he was
thus engaged there entered a small
man very much enveloped about the
neck and chin in a red comforter. Ruth
turned upon him with flashing eyes.
"Mr. Benner," she said, you see Mr..
Scott Is in kind of fit. Now I'll ask
you the same question | asked him.
What were old Paul Dill n Adoniram
WingOr bettiu' about hpre9"