Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1901-12-19

lie was stephen Butts, a relative or
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 a
bit relieved to be rid of Jacky."
And l 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
Martha's decision as final, He would
be in town again for T~hanksgiv-
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 a chair. II wanted
to see you"
mo good news!" he said. i've
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 81 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, 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 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 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, 1 cannot sell that; it"
Martha, half extending the deed from
under her shawl, drew it sharply back
into hiding.
A fierce food of terror set every
nerve in her old body trembling.
What did you say, slr?" she asked,
weakly. Mr.. Crell explained that 1t
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 H." she declared; he'd want
anything rather than Jacky and I'd be
without a home!" She went away
quickly.
Martha did not work we. that after
noon. Here mind was distracted. She
kept slipping her hand into her pocket
to feel the deed. It's possession con-
fused her actions.
Unable to stand the strain any long
er she started to Crelrs 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 well l came to
fetch you. Take my shoulder; I'm
pretty big now"
Martha's determination wilted weak
ly away. She went home with her boy,
1t was not until they were seated at
supper that her sense of right put in a
claim again.
1--WE 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 60
to Butts.
Jacky'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 might always stay
with you"
Martha's face fell from the wheed-
ling expression 1t 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 a lid and snatched the deed
|, from her pocket.
why, what are YOU doing p0wG'
Jacky asked, surprised at the nervous
intensity Of her actions.