Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-04-06
nY w1nn1am T. NICHOLS.

..Sopyrlgnt 1896 oy y D. LlPpineoU SomPany.s
This is plain talk, palmer than should
like to address directly to your aunt;
but it is due to you, for in many ways
you can help to put it into practice"
and | will help only too gladly"
said the girl, earnestly. please be as
sured of that"
Is it bargain, then?"
Indeed it is"
May it be successful one" said I.
and now, Miss Gray, you may be
pleased to know that from this turn in
the road can be had the only view Of
BASKERVILLE which warrants claim Of
beauty for the place."
We drove into the town and turned
:nto its principal street, hating in
front of the shop of its solitary drug
gist. While I stood before the counter,
waiting for the prescription to be made
up, Sam Carpenter sauntered in.
II kinder wanted to see ye," he re-
marked, after the weather, the state Of
trade and town politics had been dis
cussed. "Tnin't much, but maybe yer'd
like to know about it,"
Whats the trouble ?" saidI.
"Wall, u couple o days ago a chap
come ter my stable an hung round till
we got ter tallin'. He didn't seem ter
have no special bizness Ggitatin' him,
but he did seem alfred curious. Pref
ty soon he got round ter that old brewer
from Charleston, South Car'liny, you're
doctorin'. Seemed mighty interested
in him-too mighty interested, reck-
oned. When neighbours boy asks me
how my apples is gettin' on put it
down ter friendliness, but when catch
him up the tree call him too blamed
affectionate. So as this chap was tryin'
ter pump me, tried ter pump him, but
guess neither of us got any more salts
faction than the schoolmaster did when
he tackled the parsons Hebrew book,
thinl1in' it was Greek. Struck me you
mightas we'll know about him, though"
What was his name2" 1 asked.
HE didn't say"
"Can you describe him?"
"Hefty fer his inches; old clothes,
trousers tucked in his boots; kinder
springy in his walk; moro dirt than
tan on his face. kept an eye on him,
an saw him, after hangin' round q spell,
steer fer the Rodneytown road"
Thanks for the informat ion," said l.
Probably he is some tramp who has
heard yarns about my patient, and, hay
ing nothing better to do, asks questions
to keep talk going. Nevertheless
I'm much obliged for the tip"
That's oil right" Carpenter re-
sponded, with the air of man who feels
that he has done his duty. Say, how's
the boss suitin' yer?"
"Excellently. It's pity, though
there's SO little style about him."
III he had style, ye'd never got hin
fer the price We paid He amt the kline
of boss pretty girl likes ter he,
hitched in front Of her house on Sun
day, afternoon-that's q fact--but fe.
plain weekday use he's o. e."
He's hard-mouthed. That's draw
back. Quiet as he is, you wouldn't cal
him lady's horse, would you?"
mo, wouldn't" said Sam, oracular
ly. "a lady's hoss-that's any good
is as sceerce as IN angel boss; anG
ahBei ilosses us Sci.fGc aS aHBel lneu.
The ride back to Rodneytown wa.
hardly aspleasant as the first half of thu
trip had been, for both of us were in
clined to taciturnity. Miss Gray doubt
less was busy with thoughtsof heraunt
while for me the afternoon was spoiled
by Carpenters tidings. 1t had been ;
luxury to forget the house on the knoll
If only for an hour or two, and here wa.
this news, very probably of no moment
yet enough to remind me of my thrnll
dom, to drag me back to alealization Of
the fact that Lamar had the first claim