The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1903-06-06
BY G. W. OGDEN



of hurrying by the house and turned
without guiding rein into the road
leading near to the kitchen door. At
the we'll the horse stopped and plunged
its nose greedily into the trough of
water.
A sparey made woman climbed from
the buggy and stood the egg basket
with its load of groceries beside the
curb She looked at Nam wrapped In
the sound proof mantle of her reverie
and led the horse away.
Presently she returned, slung the
heavy basket on her arm with the In
cense of coffee and green tea rising
about her. placed her burden upon the
step beside the silent woman and said
well, Man,"
ELS Ann you homer" queried Nam,
turning her head slowly.
"What're you thinkin' about Mam?'
Els Ann asked, untying the strings OF
her broad brimmed hat and swinging
it at her side
Her mother was silent.
"You know it's a bad sign in you
when you think. Man," Els Ann said
down with the malarial or flanders.
air yOu?"
"D'you git any mail Els Ann?"
Nam asked evasiyely.
Els Ann put her hand on Mans
shoulder and looked into her face
wrinkled and brown as tobacco leaf.
mo use O. you tryin' to put me of.
Man," she said What air you think
In about this time, Manu."
Nam turned her back to her persist
ent questioner, raised her eyes to the
dim rim OF the horizon again and an
swered with CULVER Of remOrse and
regret in her voice:
Its organette this time Els Ann"
"A organettev' gasped Els Ann, with
a spa smodlc intake of breath. Then
she dropped down to the step The
shadow of the house stretched down
the gravel path and drew the gate
posts into it's refreshing embrace.
After awhile Nam sat down beside
her. Neither spoke
So it was an organette this time
The last time Nam had a @'thinkin'
spell" it had been induced by the visit
of a portrait agent to whom she gave
81 for an enlarged picture of her dead
husband. Seven dollars was Il heap
for picture, even life size and of
ones father, when one knew Dave
| Croker, the grocer at Monticello, gave
| one just like it with $40 worth of
| goods.
At length Els Ann arose. Where is
1t at. Mam?" she asked.
| "In yander on the table," answered
Nam, with the guilty feeling of pen
itent robber disclosing the hiding place
! OF his spoils.
Els Ann went in and sat down at
| the table beside the little vanished
box Nam followed and stood beside
! her. Els Ann felt the shining surface
1 with her calloused, toll tOughened
hand, traced the gold trimming around
the top and the gold lettering, Or
l GAZETTE" and asked:
How much did you give the Teller
for it, Mann"
Mans face frightened. "Only 'leven
dollars she answered, "an' the Teller
he said it plays q hundred tunes.
I That's heap more'n your cousin Nan
ME can play on her'n with all her
hans an feet, an you jess set down
an turn that little han'le an the
music fiows-thats what the Teller he
said"
You paid him 'leven dollars outen
the twelve Tweddle gave me for old
Shows calf?"
Yes, Els Ann, but he said 1t was
worth ten times the money. He said
you'd have to pay So to git into the
operay an hear only part O then
tunes played, an here you can sit right
in. your own parlor an have 'em at any
time. day or night, without extra cos
whatsoever
Els Ann sat motlonless a long time
The chickens went to roost, and Man
again took up her pensive vigil on tn,
front steps.
The gloom deepened in the room
where Els Ann remained alone. Sh,
was overwhelmed by the debris of al
the plans she had built on the 81:
Nam had so foolishly spent for tn
worthless box with a roll of perfo
rated paper inside. She should hay
carried the money with her when sh
went to Monticello instead of leavin,
it In the bureau drawer and tellin,
Nam to watch out that tramp didn'
sneak in and get it. Seemed like then
there agents always waited till sh
went away to flock in on Nam. Mus
all know about her. Orto be som
) law agin agents. An where was sh
TO get money for that new winter Jack
ct now! Butter'n eggs didn't fetc
any more than would buy groceries ar
shoes, with a dress for Nam now al
agin Shed been wearin that oil
Jacket for years an years. Let's see
how long was it? Well, hard to tel
exactly, but ever since the winter The
brassteld begun to keep comp'ny wit
her-for at least seven years comir
twict week, Winsdys an Sat'd'ys