The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-09-08
Mans Hundred
Dollars
By EDGAR wELToN COOLEY
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col

Copyright, 1904, BY Daily Story Fub. Col
COR the second time Nan Paxton, sit
| ting upon the edge of a chair, took
velope, read the letter and smoothed
upon her knee the piece Of blue paper
that accompanied it.
When she had finished she sank upon
the floor and cried.
A hundred dollars! A small amount
to be her entire share of relatives
estate; but large amount to Mantle
most she had ever had at one time dur
ing the % years of her life. How many
things for her home-her and Jim's
home-she could procure with that! Jim
had been out of work for month and
the rent was due and there were the
grocer and the butcher to pay. But, per-
haps she could have a new carpet for the
parlor-she had wanted one so long
and a few new dishes for the table. How
surprised and pleased Jim would be
dear old Jamie!
With happy laugh that dried her
tears, Nan finally thrust the letter in a
bureau drawer and returned to the kitch-
en-, where her preparations for dinner
had been interrupted by the postman' s
visit
A song, bubbling out of her heart,
overfowed her lips as she placed the wa
ter to boil and pealed the potatoes.
Then Jim came home-poor, patient
discouraged Jim, with his coarse clothes,
his worn shoes and the pathetic stoop to
his shoulders.
He came in quietly and taking a seat
by the window, gazed at the wall in
solemn silence. Nan thought at first
to run to him and tell him of her good
fortune, then decided to serve the sur
prise as desert to his dinner.
What luck, Jamie?" she asked, stir
ring the frying potatoes with a case
knife.
None ut ALL" he answered, soberly.
Don't seem to be a vacancy anywhere,
Mamie. I've been clear out to Walls
worth's, but he amt needin' any one just
now. Says he had to lay off two men
Saturday. Times are gettin' dull, he
says. and he has to cut expenses"
Nan did not reply, but stirred the po-
tatoes vigorously.
Presently Jim arose and going into the
kitchen sat down on the edge of the
table. His forehead was furrowed with
deep lines of care and anxiety.
Man." he said, after long silence,
"the boys at the mills want me to run
for constable. They say they'll all vote
for me and that I'm sure to be elected"
Nan looked up suddenly.
For constable?" she asked. "Why,
Jim"
And why not, Nannie?" he asked. at
pays about 81 200 year, and it's worth
having. Thing what we could do with
$1,000 year for two years, anyhow,
Nan"
81 know" she answered, "but-but I'm
afraid, jamie"
"Afraid?" he demanded.
81 don't know anything about poll
tics" she said, land I'm afraid you
might be defeated, and that would hurt
would make you feel more discouraged
than ever, wouldn't it,"
But can't be defeated" he replied.
Cali need is the nomination, you know.
Our party's in the majority and-and If
I'm nominated, why that settles it, don't
you see?"
But are you sure of being nomi-
nated?" she asked, looking at him with
hopeful eyes. ~
THE boys in the mills are for me to q
man. OF course they are not all the
party, but they are willing to work for
me, and that would be big start, don t
you see?"
He grew enthusiastic and some of his
enthusiasm was impaired to his wife.
"Oh, wouldn't it be nice if you could be
elected" she said. pausing in her work
to look at him proudly. Some called
Jim Paxton shiftless, but to Nan he was
always her big, true-hearted, unfortu-
nate Jamie. Twelve hundred-why
that's hundred dollars month! Per-
haps-we could buy little home
Jamie"
"And you could have some new dresses
and a new hat, and-and there wouldn't
be anything wouldn't get for you, Nan
ME-" r
He had left the table and was pacing
And / can get the nomination, too, "
he continued; Il can get it, tell you.
I'm sure of all the laboring mems votes,
and all need isis" He paused and his
face clouded.
st what, Jamie?"
is something / haven't got-some-
thing I can't get, Nannie," he said,
gloomily.
He sighed and the old look of dis
couragement came into his face.
tits this way" he said, after a mo-
ment, seeing the unspoken question in
her eyes, 'T'd have to have more than
just the labor vote, Nan. I'd have to
make a canvass-that is, I'd have to see
every voter in our party and I'd have to
have two or three other fellows help me
10 get others to vote for me. OF course
these fellows would have to be paid, and
Chen there'd be other expenses-Quit q
lot of other expenses, and-it would cost
considerable But amt got any money,
Man.
Mans face clouded.