Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-03-12

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She was not an old woman, but worn
by hard work. Her bare arms showed
thin and knotted as she vigorously rub
bed some coarse shirts in the little
sheet iron tub. She had been pretty
once. Her face, though pinched and
drawn, still showed that, but now Its
only expression was that Of kind Of
pathetic weakness, an expression
heightened by the meager light hair,
strained away from the thin face into
a tiny knot behind.
A little dog that had been sleeping
near by rose and, stretching his legs,
which were several sizes too short for
the body they had to support, yawned
noisily, then cooked his ears and trot-
ted into the middle of the road, down
which he gaZed intently.
as that him, Peter?" asked the wo-
man, looking up from her work. Hes
been dreadful long" Peter gave two
wags of his curly tail and uttered a
long, low growl, with a grunt at it's
end. Then, moving forward a few
steps. he began to bark deliberately at
regular intervals and with such en-
phasis that at each bark his body was
thrown half way around by the recoil.
"It amt him." said the woman, ac-
cepting Peters conduct as q reply to
her question. at does seems if he'd
never come. I'm dreadful worried"
She wiped her hands on her checked
apron and stood looking down the
sandy trail Bordered on both sides by
high weeds, it was only visible as far
as its first turn. Around this turn a
horseman loped into view.
Good evening, ma'am," he called as
he came within speaking distance.
"Sure, 'tis a dangerous dog you have
here. You ought to put up warning,
like the old Romans did-Cave canem,
which means look out that the dog
doesn't bite you. Eth, puppy? Down,
them He dismounted as he was
speaking and stopped to respond to the
ecstatic welcome Of the little animal.
Wont you set down an rest awhile?'
asked the woman. you've had long
ride an hot"
Thank you. Don't draw the slip rails
for me. I'll just hang the mare on the
fence here. So. How have you been?
Is it well you're doing with the place?
You've got things in fine shape al
ready?" He was talking fast and nerv-
ously, only occasionally glancing at
the woman, then dropping his gaze on
Peter, whom he had taken on his knee.
He waited for no reply to his questions
and received none, for the woman only
asked anXiously:
Have you seen Jem? Where is he?
Why don't he come home" The volu-
bility of her visitor had gone now.
Your husband, is it?" he replied slow
ly. Hes down below at Cactus City
or was"
Its pay day today" she explained,
ian was afraid that somethin had
happened to him for the sake of the
money he was to draw; he's so late. He
hasn't been"-she hesitated for word
-"investin it or-or speculatin or any
thing. has he? But he couldn't have.
He knows how near out Of victuals we
are"
"Speculating, is It? Well, ma'am. Pm
afraid he has little" replied the other
uneasily. HE thought to realize sud-
denlike, but l doubt IL his investments
have turned out well"
Her face grew more troubled. "Three
months pay gone an no more trust
down to the store" she said. 81 dunno
what we'll do. I'dunno. But the Lord'll
provide. He'll have to now. expect"
The man rose and began walking up
and down the garden path. and. finally
going as far as the door Of the shack.
he stopped there. looking in. He was a
dark man and q powerful one. His