North Park union., 1901-11-29

was upturned to hers full of eager en-
treaty.
Promise, you won't. GRANNY"
No. no, Jacky." she said. patting
his head; you never shall leave Gran
ny unwillingly."
Morning. Martha" said a large.
rather deterr;ined-looking man. ap-
pearing in the doorway.
He was Stephen Butts. a relative OF
the man who had married Martha's
only daughter, who, with her husband,
now was dead.
He presently stated the object Of his
visit He had come to town from his
ranch. wishing to take Jacky back with
him. He and his wife would be glad
to adopt the boy, he said.
mo, Butts" Martha replied, with a
touch of asperity. 81 shouldn't feel q
bit relieved to be rid OF Jacky."
And ! must stay to take care OF
| Granny" chimed in the child, slipping
his firm. pink hand into the wrinkled
brown one.
Butts argued the matter awhile. He
wanted the boy. Finally he went
away, saying that he would not accept
Marthas decision as final. He would
be III town again for Thanksgiv-
inv
That afternoon Martha went to the
office of her lawyer. Mr.. Crell.
Mr.. Crell greeted her cordially. I'm
glad you called in today. Mrs. Brent. y
he said. giving her chair. Il wanted
| to see you"
NO good news!" he said. 1--WE
heard from Mr.. Ford, but I'm sorry to
| be obliged to tell you that he writes he
does not see much use of continuing
your pension case. He cannot discover
any one who knew Sergeant William
Clay - James Brent"
James Brent had retaken his true
name when he got his discharge from
the army three years before his death
and came to live in this western town
and now 1t seemed impossible to prove
| that he and Sergeant Clay were the
same man.
His widow mortgaged the home tc
Lawyer Ford. the pension attorney
who seeing no chance OF winning the
case demanded payment of the mort
gage. Crell told OF Ford's demands.
Martha started She grew very
white. She had poor head for busi-
ness matters, and she had not fully
realized. when she mortgaged her
| property to meet the expenses OF EN-
ploying the Washington lawyer. that
she must lose It II she did not get her
| pension. In the latter event the ter
wears arrears due her would easily
have paid up the mortgage.
'I hope we may be alb to save the
place some way" said Mr.. Crell. OBJ
serving her distress. How about sell
ing that land on the river?'
"Oh, sir, cannot sell that; tt
Martha, half extending the deed from
| under her shawl, drew 1t sharply back
into hiding.
A fierce flood OF terror set every
nerve In her old body trembling
What did you say, sir?" she asked
weakly. Mr.. Crell explained that II
would be wise to sell the land. I'm
sure your husband would approve he
said
Martha rose from her chair abruptly
| Yes. I believe James would want
ME to sell it," she declared; he'd want
| ANYTHING rather than Jacky and I'd be
without home!" She went away
quickly.
| Martha did not work well that after
noon. Here mind was distracted. She
| kept slipping her hand into her pocket
| to feel the d. ed. It's possession con
| fused her actions.
Unable to stand the strain any long
er she started to Crell's office to tell
the story. But on the way she met
Jacky returning from school.
Come, you're tired. Let's hurry
home" said Jacky. why, that's not
the way home, Granny. You're start
ing uptown. See, It's we'll came to
fe,cn YOU. Take my shoulder; I'm
pretty big now
N.rtba's determination wilted weak
Iy away. She went home with her boy
IT was not until they were seated al
sumner that her sense of right put In a
claim again.
"Tve taken the second wrong step,
and I've got to stop here" She pulled
herself up.
she knew that II the worst came to
The worst she might go to the poor
house. and tried to pursuade him to go
to Butts. .
Jacky's face clouded; he huns him
self back in his chair.
NOW. Granny" he cried. with tears
"vou're talking as though you wanted
MO TO go and you said you didn't;
Inv .'n,, nromised that 1 might always stay
with you"
Mortha's face fell from the wheed-
,,,g EXPRESSION 1t had assumed She
aave ND the effort to persuade the
mia to wish to leave her as beyond
hor strength She rose abruptly after
- Tow minutes and walked to the stove.
Sh. l,,ted a lid and snatched the deed
from her pocket
.Iyhy what are you doing nowF'
,.ckv asked. surprised at the nervous
Intensity of her actions.
Martha stopped herself shortly at
his question. ...
"1 was going to burn this paper. but
,,,ybe I'd better not" she muttereo.
She sat down again. quite spen.
tam the days perplexities- shs dio