Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-11-21

will your"
why, Jacky!" said Martha.
The boys beautiful, flushed fac,
was upturned to hers full of eager en-.
treaty.
Promise, you won't, GRANNY"
mo, no, Jacky." she said, pattine
his head; you never shall leave Gran.
ny unwillingly."
Morning. Martha" said large
rather observation-disclosures man, ap,
pearing in the doorway.
He was Stephen Butts, relative oil
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, Il shouldn't feel a
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 in town again for Thanksgiv-
ing
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"
he said, giving her chair. 81 wanted
to see you"
mo good newsv' 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 So 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 it seemed impossible to prove
that he and Sergeant Clay were the
same man.
His widow mortgaged the home to
Lawyer Ford. TIE pension attorney,
who seeing no chance of winning the
case demanded payment of the mort
sage. Crell told of Ford's demands.
Martha started. She grew very
white. She had a poor head for bust
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 if she did not get her
pension. In the latter event the ten
years arrears due her would easily
have paid up the mortgage.
Il hope We may be abe to save the
place some way" said MIR. Crell, OBJ
serving her distress. How about sell
ing that land on the river?"
"Oh, sir, cannot sell that; it"
Martha, half extending the deed from
under her shawl, drew it 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 it
would be wise to sell the land. Pm
sure your husband would approve" he
said.
Martha rose from her chair abruptly.
Yes, l believe James would want
me to sell it, she declared; he'd want
anything rather than Jaeky and I'd be
without a 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 deed. LIS possession con-
fused her actions.
Unable to stand the strain any long
er she started to Crells 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
fetch you. Take my shoulder; Tn
pretty big now"
Martha's determination wilted weak
ly away. She went home with her boy.
II was not until they were seated at
supper that her sense of right put in a
claim again.
I've taken the second wrong STEP
and I've got to stop herer She pulled
herself up.
She knew that If the worst came to
the worst she might go to the poor
house. and tried to pursuade him to go
to Butts.
Jaeky's face clouded; he flung him
self back in his chair
Now, Granny" he cried, with tears,
you're talking as though you wanted
me to go and you said you didn't;
you promised that l might always stay
with you"
Martha's face fell from the wheed-
ling expression it had assumed. She
gave up the effort to persuade the
child TO wish to leave her as beyond
her strength. She rose abruptly after
a few minutes and walked to the stove.
She lifted lid and snatched the deed
from her pocket.
Why what are you doing now?"
Jacky asked, surprised at the nervous
intensity of her actions
Martha stopped herself shortly at
his question.
81 was going to burn this paper, but
maybe I'd better not" she muttered.
She sat down again, quite spent