Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-02
THE DEXTERS' BARGAIN.
BY F. G.. GRANT.

won't do fellow any good with his
ribs smashed to flinders.
eve mustn't look too delighted, %
cautioned Aleck. "Old man Dick may
repent when we tell him father will
come to see him about DOLL"
'No, he won't. He isn't that kind.
He's straight as string, if he is poor.
! You know pa's said more than once
that he wouldn't have been SO poor if
he hadn't been so straight. He's n
good old man, and it's pity he and
old Mrs. Dick we got to come down
to the poorhouse. Don ficked bit
of hay out of Dolls tail. "And even
$75 won't go far to keep them out very
long"
'That's so,'' replied Aleck; "but
I'm glad we've got the chance to get
the horse as long as he had to sell
her, though I'm sorry for them -
Mr.. Dick was looking for the return
of the horse and met them at the gate.
The boys said nothing, according to
Alexis suggestion. But the old man
betrayed his anxiety.
"Did you speak to your pa about
Doll?"
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Dick. Father III be
across to see you.
"I wouldn't be in any hurry, only
it's all / can depend on for winter"
said the old man. "Id like to get in
coal before the price rises, and there's
Doctor Smiths bill-he don't like to
wait long, and Mrs. Dicks apt to have
him any time with her rheumatism
and some fannels for her and then the
living"
''Father'll let you know before the
times up" answered Aleck.
"Poor old man has got the price
whitfield down pretty close" observed
Don, as he swung the hitching strap
against the gate-post in turning into
the street. 1t was Don's habit to hit
things when he was thinking hard.
He'd cut it still more, / suppose"
Aleck rather curtly replied, "but he
needs an overcoat.
Nothing more was said. They hur-
ried in to the dinner table, where the
family were already gathered. Eben
Dexter was reviewing the horses fine
points, and the squire was IN very
jubilant mood. Mrs. Dexter, who had
smiled indulgently when Don and
Aleck had announced the news to her,
now sat silently listening.
After dinner she followed the squire
into the hail. care you going to buy
the horse?" she asked, timidly, as she
helped him into his ulster.
81 think SO"
''But can you afford it?" she ven-
tured, with still more diffidence, for
Mrs. Dexter did not often inquire into
any of her husbands business.
"Why, you heard Eben," Squire
Dexter replied, with look of sur
prise. 81 can make good sum. He'll
guarantee me buyer
"But thought perhaps you couldn't
afford it, she repeated, with gentle
insistance, brushing off bit of mud
from the garment and avoiding his
eyes.
III -m," said the squire. He pulled
on his gloves and joined his brother
without reply.
The boys, standing in the door,
looked puzzled. They followed their
father and uncle down the road to
Mr.. Dicks, while Uncle Eben kept up
one-sided conversation, not seeming
to notice that the others were unusual
ly quiet They found the old man in
the stable.
"Stays about Doll all the time now,"
observed Aleck, as he and Don stopped
at the door while their father went in.
Eben Dexter walked up and down out
side, smoking his cigar.
The squire chatted few moments
on various topics, noting involuntarily
as he did so how rapidly the old man
was aging. He felt impelled to say,
kindly: "We're all getting on in
years, Mr.. Dick"
eyes, sir; yes, sir" said the old
man, with assumed cheerfulness and
an attempt at smile. cts all I am
getting on in, squire" Then, quickly,
as if fearing his visitor was avoiding
the important subject, ''The boys
told you I wanted to sell Doll?"
eyes, they said so. The squire's
tone was perfectly noncommittal.
II do hope you'll take her, squire.
Mr.. Dick stopped before the manger
with scant forkful of hay. ''The
boys want her, and do need the
money powerfully just now, squire.
The squire saw the withered hands
tremble, and he felt that it was not
from the weight they were holding.
'1t'd go hard to go to the poorhouse
this winter" sighed the old man.
''Perhaps my wife and won't be here
to worry about another winter. Don't
say you can't afford itp'
"H-m."
The squire wrinkled his brows,
turned on his heel and walked to the
door. The boys stepped back and
| watched him He looked toward tho