The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-11-28

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does not see much use Of continuing
your pension case. He cannot discover
any one who knew Sergeant William
Clay IS 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 1t 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 poor head for BUSH
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 die 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 Mr.. 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. I'm
sure your husband would approve" he
said.
Martha rose from her chair abruptly.
| Yes, / believe James would want
me to sell it," she declared; he'd want
| anything rather than Jacky and I'd be
without 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. It's 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 well came to
fetch you. Take my shoulder; I'm
pretty big now"
| Martha's determination wiIted 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.
| i've taken the second wrong step
and I've got to stop herew 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 10 &c
| 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 l 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
few minutes and walked to the stove
She lifted a lid and snatched the deed
from her pocket
| Why. what are you doing nowY'
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
from the days perplexities. She did
not coherently plan what she should
do. She let matters drift for the next
few days.
Then one morning Mr.. Crell came
to her house with notary and a deed
| all drawn up for her to sign. He gave
her the deed to sign. She trembled
and before she could write her name
the pen fell to the floor. She would
not pick 1t up. II won't sell the land
she said. Let this place go II 1t will