The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-29

10 the new.
Early and late did the youth ham
mer' away, his now doubled custom
making such labor necessary. The
FIRST payment was met without acct
dent; also the second. This so elated
him that he relaxed his purse strings
just a little, and the third one WAS
met with barely enough of surplus
to pay his board and lodging for the
next few days. But his sudden fit OF
economy had 50 wrought upon his
landlady that she babe him rest easy
so far as his obligations to her were
concerned, which streak of good for
tune was followed by an offer of the
long withheld credit by the hard
ware merchants of the adjacent VII
lage.
The last-named opportunity was too
tempting for the astute Hiram Patton
TO resist Accordingly, he stocked up
his SHOP with up-to-date appliances,
Bart Graves looking on with no small
degree of interest
1t was at about that time that new
arrival in the neighborhood was re-
ported, certain Miss Sarah Ann Mills,
who had come to make her home with
a venerable uncle. The event caused
no little stir among the unmarried
male element, and jokes were passed
back and forth with great deal Of
freedom Hiram vowed himself proof
against the wiles of every daughter
of Eve
Again he courted a temptation which
proved beyond his power of resist
ance- He met the young lady. who
was but few years his junior, and
for the first time in his life felt a
Juggling at his heartstrings There
was no denying the fact-the worst
had come. He was in lovel And for
him to set his heart on anything was
to possess it, as had proven the case
with the shop
His attentions to the bIushing Sarah
Ann were regarded with favor. and
soon they were engaged Not long
afterward they were married. both
being satisfied to dispense with the
usual eeremOnious delay A neat cot
tage was rented near the blacksmith
shop-so near that the bride could lis
ten all day long TO the music of her
lords hammer.
After his marriage it was impossible
for Hiram to save money He and Sa-
rah Ann spent it faster than it was
earned. And when Bari Graves ap-
peared at the shop-door one day TO re
mind him that the mortgage would fall
due on the morrow, it seemed that a
thunder-bolt had been hurled at him
from the clear sky above.
What Can't pay it?" demanded
Graves. grufiy. You ought to be ready,
goodness knows. as it's the last pay
ment on good trade"
4 know. but" and hs paused.
SPECIFICS.
Can't you do it?"
Moo"
well. III have to do the next best
thing"
What's that?"
Close the mortgage"
Cant you give me another SIX
months?" implored Hiram
Nary a day. Remember. Young
man. you're dealing with old Bart
Graves, and there's no backing down
Is this all you've bought?"
NO; there's the STUFF at the
house"
~Humphl How much have You
spent there?"
About a hundred dollars"
Pretty big sum to waste on
woman" remarked The crusty old
bachelor. And is that alp"
~Ye-es." faltered Hiram.
BE careful warned Bart. THAT
mortgage takes in everything. you
know"
Well, the fact is continued Pat
ton, confusedly. Fact is. there's my
new toggery, and the wedding ex-
penses, and-and Sarah Ann"
"Wh-ew." CALCULATED Graves,
aghast. Dye mean to say III have
TO take your weddin' duds and-and
your wife, too?''
How does the mortgage read?"
That's So" admitted Bart Graves.
LCt ~ " the uOuScr Sdlu mira m.
abruptly. Wen have to tell her
there's no getting out of it"
Mrs. Patton laughed till exhausted
when told of her husbands predica-
ment, but blushed nevertheless TO
know that his queer business trans
action involved her own freedom.
She saw way out, however. and
forthwith advised her liege lord to
comply with the letter of the mort
gage.
What! And give you over to
him?"
Certainly" At which both men
began to fear that trip to the in
sane asylum would be next in order.
THAT viii free you from this oLli-
CATION. you see. and III immediately
pledge myself to pay Mr. Graves the
cash balance on the present incum-
brance. you making the money and I
saving it. Neither you nor he can
definitely estimate my value. you
know"-and she bowed with prOvok-
ing modesty-''so there is no other