The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-12-23
APRISeNER OF,WAR.
mo RENT againthis-month? This
,aLa xb;rI &Ima IL has hammered

MI RENT again~this-month? This
IN is the third time it has happened
within the half year.. I'll go there my
self and get the money, or I'll know the
reason why"
Matthew Deane was in particularly
bad humor this raw December morning.
Everything had gone. wrong. Stocks
had fallen when they ought to have ris-
en-his clerk had tipped over an ink
stand on his special and peculiar heap
of paper-the fire o~bstinately refused
10 burn in the grate-in short, nothing
went right. and Mr.. Deane was conse-
.quently and correspondingly cross.
.'Jenkins!"
Yes, sir"
go to Widow Clarkson's and tell her
| shall be there in half an hour, and eN-
pect confidently-mind, Jenkins-con-
fdently to receive that rent money. Or
else l shall feel myself obliged to re-
sort to extreme measures. You under
stand. Jenkins?"
Certainly, sir"
Then don't stand there Starin like
an IDIOT snarled Mr.. Deane. in a sud-
den burst of irritation, and Jenkins dis
appeared like a shot.
Just half an hour afterward Mat
thew Deane brushed the brown hair just
sprinkled with gray from his square yet
not unkindly brow. Putting on his fur
lined overcoat he walked north into the
chilly winter air fully determined. fig
.-..xol- 80. o,,fhtIo-n tho HafarIltInU
Widow Garrison.
1t was a dwarfish little red brick
house which appeared originally to
have aspired to two-storyhood lot. but
cramped by circumstances had settled
down into a story and IA half, but the
windows shone like Brazilian pebbles.
and the doorsteps were worn by much
securing. Neither of these circum-
stances. however. did Mr.. Deane remark
as he pulled the glittering brass door
knob and strobe into Mrs. Ciarkson's
neat parlor.
There was a small fire-very small, as
if every lump of anthracite was boarded
in the stove. and at a table with writing
implements before her sat young lady
whom Mr.. Deane at once recognized as
Mrs. Clarkson's niece. Miss Olive Mellen.
She was not disagreeable to look upon.
though you would never have thought
ofclassing her among the beauties, with
shining. black hair, blue, long-lashed
eyes. and a very pretty mouth. hiding
teeth like rice kernels, so white were
they.
Miss MeIlen rose with a polite nod.
which was grimly ~reciprocated by Mr..
Deane.
81 have called to see your aunt. Miss
Mellen."
81 know it. sir. but as | am aware of
her timid temperament, i sent her
away. l prefer to deal with you my
self"
Mr.. Deane started-the cool audacity
of this damsel in gray. with scarlet rib
bons in her hair, rather astonished him.
81 suppose the money is ready"
NO. sir. it is not"
''Then. Miss Olive. pardon me. | must
speak plainly. / shall send an officer here
this afternoon to put a valuation on the
furniture. and
You will do nothing of the kind. sir"
Olives cheek had Redeemed and her
eyes flashed portentiously. Mr.. Deane
turned toward the door, but ere he
knew what she was doing Olive had
walked quietly across the room locked
the door and taken out the key-then
she resumed her seat.
what does this mean?!" calculated
the astonished prisoner of war"
1T means, sir that you will now be
Obliged 10 reconsider the question" sale
Olive.
"Obliged?"
"Yes-you will hardly jump out of the
window. and there is no other method
of egress unless you choose to go up
the chimney. Now, then. Mr.. Deane. va,
YOU tell me if you-a Christian man =:
the nineteenth century-intend to sell
a poor widows furniture because she is
not able to pay your rent? Listen, sir!"
Mr.. Deane had opened his mouth to
demonstrate. but Olive enforced her
words with a very emphatic little stamp
of the foot, and he was, as it were,
stricken dumb.
"You are what the world calls a rich
man, Mr.. Deane. You w rows of
houses, piles of bank stock, railroad
shares, bonds and mortgages-who
knows what? My aunt has nothing-I