Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-07-04
Unc' Chucks and
=. tie Witches.
By E. E. Garnett.


IN general, Sue complained, lugubrl-
ously.
But even tired people must help
each other Mae insisted. "Let us
ask Mrs. Brelle to suggest some
thing"
The pretty widow was in a ham,
mock, with Barnes in chatting dis
lance on the piazza steps, and she
did not welcome interruption.
Twill you?" called Joe, upon her ST.
lence.
''Will / what?" pouting.
"Eelp us to help Unc' Shucks?"
"And who," only half hiding q
yawn, lis he:"
''He is old and poor and blind" ex-
planned Mae, making her climax with
a most sweet compassion.
"And black" added practical Louise,
cas- the ace of spades
The pretty widow looked bewitch-
ingly reproachful. ''No country poor
house," she murmured.
A rather chilled silence fell upon
the piazza group. Macs sensitive face
flushed. Barnes went up the steps to
her side.
eve cannot spare old Shucks to go
there" he said, and enviously watched
a fleck of moonlight bending to the
nipples of her hair. =
''Thank you"-shy, sweet eyes
raised for an instant to his-''and will
you help:"
He wanted to tell her that he would
beg, dig, burn-do any outlandish
dangerous deed she willed; but the
words halted. He only got bit red
and nodded.
':Oh, if he's pet" said Mrs. Brelle,
sulkily, wed best take up a collec-
tion-that is the shortest way out OF
such annoyances."
''He's in the turn of the road. go
ing out to the golf links" Louise put
in, rehectively; she was housekeeper
and found provisions an easier meth
of charity than cash. ''When we go
by for the big game next Tuesday we
might give him donation party"
There was murmur of applause,
to which Mrs. Brelle added a soft
hand-clapping. The act displayed
both hands and rings, and she smiled
with pleasure over them.
every WE'LL" she assented, gracious
~; ''I'll send barrel of -four"
Mae threw grateful kiss from her
finger tips, but the widow was look
ing to Barnes and missed it.
Good nights were beginning. Get
ting from her hammock, the pretty
widow gave a little start of alarm
such a shrill, weird call had rung out
of the grove: ''Who-who!"
''Screech OWL announced Joe. And
Barnes added, in appropriately sepul-
chral tones, the old saw: "When a
screech owl calls, witches answer"
81 hope he isn't calling his witches, -
said Mae, ''to Unc' Shucks' donation"
s'They're worse than witches, y
laughed Joe, "who have that business
in hand. just don't let them forget
tobacco, and Unc' Shucks' luck is Sc
cure"
che has tobacco"
$50 like Mae" said Louise, "to take
tobacco first"
'Well, pipe," Joe protested, grave
~, "puts heart into man."
''And next in value" suggested
Barnes, shall we sprinkle him with a
little silver?"
..Don't tell me any MORE" cried
Mae; I'm too happy"
The pretty widow was coming up
the steps and noted the girls face,
and how Barnes sought the light Of
it. She followed to Macs door.
''Can I come in, dear, for min
ute?''
Mae drew up cozy chair and wait
ed absently beside it. Her eyes were
still radiant, dreamy look in them,
happy and shy. The tone of Barnes
voice fingered with her and the look
that SAID good night" Hard to strike
such face frightened and white. but
the pretty widow smiled and COM
passed it.
"You must forgive me, love, for
limiting that your impulsive ways are
liable to be misinterpreted.''
81 beg pardon" growing attentive
with start. ''What did you say?"
..Mr. Barnes is man of the world, -
gently, accustomed to filtration as
to his wine at dinner. He"
s.Wait!' with unexpected dignity.
81 do not care to hear you speak of
Mr.. Barnes. But of me-you were
saying something of meg"
s.Well," rising with an angry flush,
..you are refusing a Kindness. One
would think that you naean-the way
you look
..The way look?"
'.Afy dear child" over shoulder as
she went to the door, ''you look up at
him as if you were kneeling before a
shrine"
In those next days Barnes could
not guess what the trouble was-how