The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-12-31
SHE COT HER
TROUSSEAU

tine strike on the Benton claim, on the
side of upper hill. He felt sure that
no one except the owners of the clainl
knew Of the find, and they were too
busy laying plans for it's development
to concern themselves about any adj
joining property. Arbuckle knew that
the veins in upper hill ran east and
west To the west lay large farm
that had been already bought by CAPT
talists. On the east lay ten acres owned
by Amanda Gregory, an orphan of
some twenty summers. Arbuclxle had
met the girl number of times and
once at a ball in a barn had danced
with her so often as to excite the ire
of Tom Flynn, redheaded, freckled
son of the soil, who had been long
used to consider Amanda as his partic-
ular property Arbuckle had been
rather ruff1ed than pleased with the
episode; Amanda had seemed delighted.
The find on Topper hill put an en-
tirely new phase on the matter. The
vein showed $500 in gold to the ton,
gave evidence of widening as deve1-
oped and must run through the proper
ty of Amanda Gregory, all Of which
meant that her ten acres might be
worth anywhere from a few hundred
thousand to a million dollars. 1t was
for Arbuckle to decide, and decide al
once, whether he would jump in and
carry off the girl before it was known
that she was rich. He would not have
considered such course for moment
had he not absolute evidence that the
property adjoining Amanda's was a b0-
nanza. He decided to strike for Miss
Gregory and a fortune.
He invited the girl to drive with him
and while bowling along told her that
he had been captivated by her rustic
beauty; that he had discovered an TN
cut gem; that he found it necessary to
his happiness to foregO match with
an heiress in the east provided Amanda
would bestow herself upon him in her
poverty.
Amanda listened with averted head
She thought of redheaded Tom Flynn
whom she liked, and compared him
with the elegant Mr.. Arbuckle, whom
she did not love, but considered a prize
far above an uneducated daughter of
pioneers.
II hain't got nothin' for trusso,' she
said by way Of reply.
''Never mind that" replied the WOO
er. eve will get one in Paris. After
we are married it will be proper for ne
to pay for what you wear"
A man was coming down the road on
foot. When he reached a point where
he could be plainly seen he showed the
freckled face of Tom Flynn. Amanda
colored. Arbuckle looked i'll at ease.
Flynn scowled and passed on.
1t was long after dark when Arbuc-
kle brought Miss Gregory to decision
and turned toward her home
do you know, Amanda he said,
''that 1t will be necessary for us to be
married at once or wait for several
years? My interests in the east demand
my presence there immediately
when must you goY'
Tomorrow evening at latest"
chats pretty suddent.'
Arbuckle, who had little confidence
that the secret of the wonderful strike
would be kept forty-eight hours, bent
all his persuasive force to accomplish q
marriage at noon the next day and at
last obtained the girls consent. Then
he drove her up to her cabin, where she
lived with an aunt, and after a kiss In
which there was little warmth on Ell
Their side left her. He had no sooner
driven away than Tom Flynn entered
the gate. Amanda was standing on the
threshold looking after her newly made
betrothed. Tom began a protest against
her intimacy with Arbuckle, but she
stopped him and told him all that had
occurred. Tom smothered his anguish
and went off to begin his watch on the
claim in the next field, where the strike
had been made, strike Of which he
was ignorant
What's the matter, Flynn" asked
Benton, owner Of the mine.
Tom confessed that he was being
robbed of his girl, who was to be mar
ried to Arbuckle the next day at noon.
then went on watch.
Amanda was preparing to get into
bed when there was a knock at her
door, and ten minutes later Benton was
admitted.
Hearing that you are about to be
married." he said, "and are naturally
in need of funds, I've called to help you
OUT
II do want a trusso."
"I'll buy your farm"
"You willy'
"Yes. What do you want for it?'
"Five hundred dollars an acre." said
the girl, dreading that she had asked
too much.
Its bargainy'
Within an hour deed was executed
to Benton and assigned by him to Tom
Flynn. Then the parties concerned
went to bed.
When Arbuckle approached his be-
trothed the next day he was greeted
with radiance he had never seen in
her face before.
eve got my trussor' she exclaimed.