Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-11-02

buy this house. and thcy would be Will
ing 10 pay you something over wilma
vas paid FOR II. II won't make much
difference TO you. as you have no chill
dren and n place Is as good as an
other"
"As to children. men," responded Mr..
Smith thoughtfully, "there will be Eve
Of them down here next week. 'Twasn't
right to bring 'em TN we got things
fixed up a bit"
Consideration reigned in the breasts
OF the visitors. Five little Smiths run
ming Wild IN West Parkl There would
not be a whole pane Of glass In tho
place In two weeks. The necessity for
getting rid Of the Smith family was
greater than before.
"yyo viii give you $3.50 more than
you paid for the property" offered Mrs.
Pratt In a businesslike tone. "That
win be a good profit IN SO short a time.
VIII you take itT'
Couldn't think Of it. men," returned
the affable Mr.. Smith. "'Twouldn't
pay for the expenses OF moving both
ways"
xviii you take SCOOP
Mr.. Smith had moved In good
society. but he was nevertheless a nan
Of keen judgment. A faint smile APP
peared around the corners of his rather
large mouth, and his gray eyes twin
killed. merriiy.
'"rhls place was for sale d long time
before Mr.. Elder sold It, warn't It.
memT he questioned, eying Mrs.
Pratt closely. IT'S a pity your folks
didn't buy then"
"They didn't want the house then"
replied Mrs. Pratt evasively. 'Wlil
you take tho $500, Mr.. smlthT'
Then there's two or three houses In
West Park. just rs good MS this one.
that can be bought for the price this
ere cottage cost" continued Mr.. Smith.
not needing Mrs. Pratt's question. Il
can't quite make It out, mem, IN
less
unless whatT" demanded AIRS. Pratt,
not rellshing the searching glance Mr..
Smith fixed upon her.
"Unless, men," continued Mr.. Smith
slowly, you don't sorter think me and
Marthy good enough for West Park and
want to get rid Of u.s."
"Oh, Mr.. Smith, demurred the three
visitors In chorus, but the telltaIe
Pushes or their cheeks betrayed the
CONSERVATION that had been wrought
by the unexpected words. what
makes you think such n thIngT
"Well, ladies'" returned Mr.. Smith,
without the slightest truce Of III feel
ing. II saw II Of you pass the other
evening when l was a-fdttln' here In
my shirt sleeves, and that ones nose
was turned up so far that l was 'fraid
It would get out Of flint. Then. when
another of you folks saw Marthy
a-washin' of this ERE porch, that ones
mouth got all puckercd up as If she had
been catin' perslmmons. l guess you
think we aln't good enough for you,
don't your"
"No look ut II this way, Mr.. Smith,"
stammered Mrs. Pratt nervously, feel
Ing d%evoutly sorry that she had under
taken the plan Of purchasing the cot
tage, 1--WE don't think you are-ahem-
we'll, accustomed to such society as
there Is in West Park. We don't mean
any uiSEeSpSct, mr.. SIllIn, Dut every
one likes TO mlngle with those who are
%congenlnl. You don't keep any serv-
ants and you won't enjoy it down here,
so we thought we'd make you this offer.
What do you say?"
TITS very kind Of you to think Of
me-" returned Mr.. Smith, In no way Of
Tended. I'm sorry, mem, but l must
say that we're goln' to stay In West
Park"
Good evening" chorused the visitors,
indignant at the failure Of their plan
and crestfallcn at Mr.. Smiths correct
surmlse Of their view regarding him.
zone moment, lndies," called Mr..
Smith as his visitors descended the
steps, "AIe and Marthy won't lower
the tone Of this neighborhood. We
don't own this house-not much! Mar
thy she's tho cook, and I'm the gar
dener. We Just come down to fix up
the place for Mr.. Norwood, who's COM
in down next week with his wife and
children and three more servants"