The National tribune., 1903-06-18

ucu y eye I1c uTeW eleCt.
my violin is not for sule!"
He took up his basket, and would have
left the store but for a OBTAINING gesture
from its owner. 1t was evident MIR. Will
liams was out of humor.
"Wait a minute! Do as you please
about the fiddle-I merely made the offer.
But tell your mother l must have that ac-
count settled. l can't carry her on my
books any longer. Times are hard-1 need
the money. It's been running on long
time, now"
Glen swallowed hard time or two.
"All right" he said. after the effort. III
tell her. Well do the best we can. If you
want to shut down on us, l reckon there
are Others"
"And that pays the bill, exactly! There
are Others-like you. That's why l need
money so badly But / guess l can get the
4O-yOur ma has property"
Glenn went out inwardly raging. Prom
erty! Yes, his MA" had property! He
laughed rs vision of their royal posses
sions rose before him. A century-old cab
in of logs, on the crest of n barren hill,
surrounded by few barren acres! Just
one thing of value he owned. his dead
fathers violin. And Williams-the covet-
Gus skinflint, had cast his eye upon 1t!
Failing to clutch the prize, he would q $.
grace them. How could they raise $40
on short notice? 1t was question to
raise 40 cents
''I'll 90 by the post Office he mused.
Maybe my music has come. Then straight
home, for l want to practice. My fingers
tingle when l think of that dream-waltz.
l wish | could take course under Prof.
Word; he's simply fine. Oh. consarn pow
erty. any how! Why can't 1 be rich?'
Old Daddy Burns lounged in the post
Office, following his ayOcatiOn-Of critic.
He drew a pension, and was care-free.
''Why, hello, Hadden!" he cried, screwing
his face into hundred good-natured
wrinkles. How comm on wi yor- fid-
dim? Heard You was goin' to get rid of
your fiddle to Wiliams?"
"WhO told YOU l was going to sell my
violn?' Glenn turned SO savagely Old Dad
dy lodged.
"Why-er-well, I had it pretty
straight! Old Williams's gals tuck no
ton she's a singer. Ben to Louisville,
and to the Operie) l guess old Williams
'lows-how l hear it-he can get your
fiddle for her. A pity, now, amt it, when
you've put in all your time on her, and
you Ma lows you are the on'y natural
born muSicianer -cOmin!'
Clem felt the blood rush to his face.
His impulse WAS to hit something, but he
put his fist into his pocket. Daddy was
too little to hit
Il guess I'll keep my fiddle while
and / guess Miss Louise didn't hear bet
ter one while up the river. Father wouldn't
have sold it for farm"
"WelI, l guess notr' Daddy's voice
rose in shrill laughter, and the wart on his
chin bObbed comiraily. He was just all
right. tell you! Bat say, Hsdden, heard
about old WiEiams's loss! Bet he's
grummer den bull pup WI his tail crop-
ped! Lawd. I'd like to find his old pOck-
etbook-a thin wap-sided bag full o bills.
Bills screwed ont % you, an me, an Billy
D,ttn fa,.4 ,,ol- -nc
chickens sick! Wish l was lucky. If I'd
found that old purse I'd stuck it hyar,
and l should ha' backy to last q year WI
out waitin on yer Uncle Sam, my boy"'
$50 Williams has lost some money?'
"Yes-the old sneak! Im glad ON it,
too"
The music had not come--this. too, vex-
ed Glenn. He turned hoineward, nursing
his grievances. "Telling it round he'll get
my instrument for debt, is he? We don't
honestly owe half the sum he claims. He's
n cheat-everybody knows it, Lost mon
ey, has he? Glad of it! He ought to be
in the poorhOuse, with his victims! 1t
wouldn't be lucky for him were / to
| find"-
His heart leaped suddenly, then re-
sumed its function with heavy, painful
strokes. He had found the lost purse.
Right at his feet it lay, pressed into
rut by passing wheels. partially hidden
in the clay which had fallen upon it. How
had it so long escaped observation? Why
| had he seen it!
| With curious sensation of nausea he
picked it up and opened it. Its contents
were uninjured-bills to the amount of
$50, some silver, n pencil memorandum
and lottery ticket. The name, &C. u.
Williams" was stamped on the book.
After the shock. sullen joy possessed
young Hadden. Williams was going to
sue his mother, was he? He must have
the money at once! Well, he should. With
n grim laugh he transferred the money to
his pocket. and tossed the purse far out
into the thicket. Why should he be more
scrupulous than Daddy Burns? "Fll pay
your bill" he grinned. "At least part
of it! Matched for once, old skinflint!"
When he reached home his mother look
ed up, anxiety in her smile. you've got
the headache" she said $50 where it's
cool. I'll fetch you n cup of tea.'
But instead he dropped down Mt the
table, resting his arms upon it. Heres
your coffee and sugar." he said. "O,d Viii
liams says we've got to square accounts or
he'll quit us, and bring action"
Mrs. Hadden stopped i'll the act of slic
ing bread. She was spare little woman
with the look of one who combats fate.
A shadow clOuded her brow.
"Well," she said slowly, at ought to
have been paid a long time ago. But did
he really say thatT
Clem nodded. "Unless I give him my
fiddle"
She showed back the plate as though
done with everything
"YOur fiddle? Well! Your father said
that fiddle was worth hundred dollarsr'
st is worth a thousand to me- he an
swered dreamiy. ''Some day we'll stand
behind the lights, my fiddle and /, and
care for no one-save only you, little
mother! Give me my tea; my head does;
achew
"There are those calves" Mrs. Hadden
observed, after a thoughtful pause, in
which his wants We're supplied "McDan-
iels offered me twenty for them. l thought
to pasture them till they were worth more.
Do you reckon we'd better let them 90 ?
If we pay half he'll wait-dont you
think?"
! Glenn did not meet her look 81 suppose
it is the only thing We can do" he said
presently. "I'l see about it."
"Oh, rest and practice a while first
Love again was uppermost. "You mustn't
tire yourself out. / hate to sell the calves:
they'll be worth double the sum in little
while But debts debt. I've always
tried to be honest"
Glenn did not practice; he was not in the
mood. He climbed the dividing fence and
sold the calves to his neighb0rs, receiving
I cash. Then he went back TO the village.