, 1905-03-29
How the Elder ,
Lost His Bet
By CHARLES c. WADDLE ,
Copyright, 1901, by s.. S. Mcclure Co.


$4,000 ANoRSo Jul vi lie DuU-
gy as he drove up to the door Of
the farmhouse and, springing up
the steps, swung Mabel into his arms.
pressing his lips to hers repeatedly.
There's II because you're wearin'
pink" he cried gayly, AN another
because it's my fav'rite color, an an
other because today's Sunday, an an
other because you're SO pretty, an
another-oh, another just because you
are you!"
Laughing and protesting, the girl
finally struggled from his bear-like hug.
"Oh, JIM she scolded in mock pettish-
ness, while she smoothed down her ruff
fled flounces, whatever does make YOU
behave so? SUPPOSE some one should
see us?'
"Who's to see? The old mans away.
| met him down the road as l came
sweet cream"
The sheriff, be it understood, was
old Simon Unger's pet aversion. ST.
mon, being the chairman of the Repub-
lican county committee and the senior
elder in Mount Sinai Presbyterian
church, regarded Dehus, who in SO far
as he had any religious affiliations was
allied with the Methodists and was in
politics a Democrat, as a brand reserv-
ed for the burning. Insurmountable
as were these objections, however, I'm
ger cherished a deeper cause of COM
plant against the young official. De-
hus had had the hardihood to WOO the
old mans only daughter, and to ST.
mons disgust Mabel had seer fit to
look with favor on his suit. This add
ed point to the old fellows already
sharp animosity.
by the way" inquired Dehus care
lessly of the girl as they sat talking,
who was that citifed chap l seen
with your paw this afternoon"
"Oh, he's from New York. Says he's
a cousin of George Story's, the cashier
of the First National bank up to town.
He came here right after dinner today
an told paw he wanted to buy a farm.
So paw took him over to show him
that piece down beyond the big mead
ow."
"On Sunday" calculated the sheriff
in amazement. Then he commenced to
laugh. what would the good broth
ers over at Mount Sinai think of that?'
Il say so, too,' responded Mabel,
tossing her blond curls. ''Course the
man said he had to be gettin' back
home tomorrow an that it was now
or never, but l don't see that that
takes off any from the sin of it. Paws
awful religious when it comes to any
body else dom anything on a Sunday,
but if it's him it's all right. He's even
talkin' about maxim mt stay home
from the camp meetin' tonight. He
says a Methody camp meetin' amt
really no better than a country fair,
just places for firtin' an cuttin' up
an all manner of Sabbath breakin'."
"Sho!" commiserated Dehus. 1.-THE
mean old hunks! Why, I've been bank
in for a week on us gettin' there to-
gether. Joe Branson an Kitty Reyn-
olds an Flo Thompson an all the
crowd s goin' to be there. Can't you
git around him no way?"
"Ill see," she answered. 81 won't
say anything more about it till supper,
an hen I'll coax him hard. Maybe if
he makes a good sale to the stranger
he'll be in a better temper"
well, I'll come after you anyway on
the chance" returned her lover, and
then, with many lingering f%arewells,
he took his departure.
An hour or so later old Simon came
nome and announced that he was
ready for the evening meal. He had
hurried in onc before shortly after
Dehus had left, and Mabel had heard
MIN turning over some papers in his
desk, but he had almost Immediately
nastened away again without giving
any explanation of his errand to the
girl.
Now, as he came up on the porch,
she noticed that he carried a small tin
Dox under his arm, and, had she OBJ
served him more closely, she would
nave discovered an undue elatiOn in
his manner, a greedy sparkle in his
aeep set eyes, a suppressed excitement
IN his whole bearing.
He seemed to be afraid to trust the
oox out of his sight a single moment,
even carrying it to the table with him
and setting it beside his plate. Mabel
was accustomed to his vagaries, how
ever, and made no remark. In fact.
supper was eaten almost in silence,
SIMON lost in contemplation of his ac-
qulsition, the girl cogitating how best
70 introduce anew the subject of the