Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-04-05

Nhat he had to say. Tim was a man
of nerve and practical common sense
and as such always Knocked the bot
tom out of EAy silly. sentimental fan.
cies. 60
AS returned along the road saw
his we'll known trap standing: before
our gate, the big bay stamping impa-
tiently and tossing the flies from his
ears. High up on the drivers cushion
sat Saunders, the boy, a diminutive
rascal with wien face. He greeted
me with formal salute and an extern
sfve grin and favored me with the su-
pertluous bit Of information that the
guv'nor was up at the 'ouse. Then,
after asking him sundry questions con-
corning his rats, his dogs and the chase
generally, turned to open the. gate.
when was attracted by something
which saw on one Of the posts.
At first thought that the village ur-
chins had, in accordance with their
usual custom, been endeavorlng to de-.
face our paint, and mentally express
Ing the pious wish that l had only
caught them at the game stepped up
closer to inspect their handiwork. The
gate and the posts were grained so as
to represent light oak. and as the
work had only been completed some
three months previously l was ex.
ceedingly proud of it's smart appear
ance. TO my surprise, however, l found
that the destroyers had confined them.
selves to one particular design. This
was an elliptical or egg shaped ring
drawn with red pencil. The design
was very accurate, the steadiness of
the lines proclaiming the adept. That
it was meant for an egg there could be
no doubt A little filling in would have
made the drawing perfect
Afraid to attempt a cleansing of the
post for fear of making a smudge, !
turned toward the house, meaning lat.
er on to'obliterate the mark with a wet
cloth; but as entered the hall heard
the voice Of my Uncle Jim in the ad-
Jacent sitting room, and l forthwith
forgot all about the sign.
At the time of which l write my un-
Gle was a man just verging on to 40, q
well set up, powerful creature, with a
good natured face. rather inclined to
ruddiness. He was a man who seemed
to enjoy every hour Of his life, and I
don't believe ever saw him when his
blue eyes had not a merry twinkle in
them. Therefore the serious look with
which he now greeted me was just
little disconcertirg. My mothers trou-
bled face also added a chilliness to the
reception.
swell. Davie, lad" said he, what is
all this that has been troubling your
motber?'
l told him all knew, repeating word
for word that which had passed be-
tween me and the stranger.
81 have heard as much" said be-
when l had finished, land upon my
word l can't see any cause for this un-
easiness. Your mother has got fright,
my boy. and nothing can say will con-
vince her Of her folly"
"You may call it folly If you like"
she replied, land wish l could think
so. but l feel sure my husband would
not have written in this strain without
good cause"
Jim shook his head. Out of respect
to her feelings he did not say what
was on the tip of his tongue. He had
not his sisters admiration for nv ia
Their.
"A man who can leave his wife and
child for seven years is capable of
anything" he growled.
"Ah, but you don't understand" she
replied. "You don't know the dangers
and vicissitudes of seafaring life. If
he has not come, you may be sure it
was for very good reasons"
"Humph!' grunted Jim, but perhaps
even he loved her all the better for her
loyalty. No doubt it was foolish, but
1t Is that foolishness which endears
women to us. l thought she looked
her best and her prettiest just then,
and If Jim hadn't been there to poke
fun at me would have given her q
good kiss.
STILL" said he as he slowly began to
iii his pipe. Il consider vague, terrify-
Ing scrawls no excuse for such an alb
sence. and if We're you l should try
to think that they were written after
l mean under-much mental depres-
sion. the result of systematic squar-
ing of the elbow"
She shook her head.
Il believe it to be nothing of the
kind. Do you imagine that the coming
OF this stranger right on the top Of
Bob's letter was all a matter of chance?
No; he knew my husband was leaving
Australia, and he meant to see him.
For what reason? All, let me know
that and shall know everything. But
tell me, does it not strike you as being
very curious that should receive
Bob's letter on the very day that the
stranger arrives here?"
"Well, no. The man could easily
have come in the same ship as the let
ter. Probably he was to meet Bob in
London and, disappointed in not find
ing him there, came ON here.''
But don't you see if Bob came in
the ship with that letter be would not
be here yet (unless he came overland
from Brindisi for another eight or nine
days. do not hesitate to say that
the last thing he wn11l1 th;nl. Of would