Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-25

1HINGs had gone from bad to worse
at Brook farm. First II was the
drouth that ruined the crops OF a
1890 whole season. then the frost that
- caught the fine young peach
orchard. The following year Dan re-
solved to circumvent fate by stalking all
his hopes on hog and hominy." and what
was the result? The cholera took the
hogs and the brook, swollen from a clobd.
burst In the hills, swamped and almost
wholly destroyed the corn crop.
It began to look as If old Mrs Hastings
was right about Kitty marrying can.
The predicted disasters were All there
with the best prospects in the world Of
more disasters to come. Dan could have
stood It, yes. and all that was to come.
on his own account; but Sc CALLED him to
watch his brave little wife gradually
droop and grow pale under the burden az
hard work and disappointment. She had
the same strong fibre the same grit and
patience that he displayed i'm the face Of
hardship. IL was the haunting of her rich
relatives, particularly Of her mother, that
plucked the roses from her cheeks
In one respect at least, the family pre-
dictiOns had failed utterly Everybody in
the countryside had told her that Dan
Ellis was wild, that he had been known
to get roaring drunk that he was dan
gerously lucky with cards, possessed OF
the born gamblers instinct, and that when
a horse race was on, he could easily forget
he had wife waiting for him at home.
If ever man was discouraged in tryin
to do his duty, I'm that man., he COM
planned to Kitty when this fresh trouble
came upon him. lie rarely complained.
no matter how dark the outlook; but to
have seven prize chickens go in a single
night, and that loss followed up by the
carrying of of four turkeys 1t surely
did look as II the long lane of trials was
without the proverbial turn.
II know f., Danny, dear" Kitty put a
brave arm around his neck and petted his
tanned cheek. Wen Just have to round
em up at night and put EN- In the hen
house"
Hen house won't do no good unless we
line II with tin For once In his life, Dan
spoke harshly. Kitty WINGED at the sud-
den rebuke. He was usually so tender with
her, feeling all the while as II he owed
her a boundless debt Of affection in pay
nIent for the comforts Of her fathers
house. that she had cheerfuly foresone for
his sake Now she looked at him half
angrily. He need not be so hasty, even
II her suggestion were worthless.
"You don't seem TO understand what $
gettin en- he went on. That's what
uses me up so. l counted on maxim a big
stake with Thanksgvin' turkeys, and as
for them Cornish Indian game capOns.
they're worth more IN the New York mar
ket than turkeys any days in the year.
We kin deduct sis from the Thanksgivin'
money right now, and no tclin' what the
pesky critters will lug off tonight and every
night fur the next two weeks"
whats atakin en- Danny?" Kittys
arm was around his neck again. She had
forgiven the one hasty' speech. He was so
manifestly not angry with her, but with
the fate that pursued him.
'Mlnkl" There was need for further
comment. What could n mere farmer, an
awkward, two-legged man do when his
hennery was the center of attraction for a
perfect swarm" of mink? To his aston
ishment his wife's eyes grew suddenly
bright
mink? The funny little critters that
they make furs OF? That's what mas new
sets made of and. Danny she paid s75 fur
Just neck piece and a mum Who'd ever
think anything so common as chicken
thieves would cost so much?"
There 1t is again. The mnks comes In
and steals my turkeys and your ma takes
thelr hides to dress herself up In" II
mother should profit by all his losses,
I<ittys mother who gloried in every dis
aster that came to him, &itty's shallow,
purse proud mother. who took intense de-
light in the insulting IL told you so" when
each new mishap befell him.
DANNY. I've got an idee. We can't make
no money farmln'. We can't do nothin
with hogs anc poultry Suppose we try
mink"
1--WE got all the mink want. right now.
Dan spoke sharply again. What business
had a woman to offer advice. foolish ad
vice at that? II was the woman's place
to keen within her household sphere, to be
loved and petted, to take his mind of his
toll ana his trouble, TO provide good din
ners for the inner man, and be the sunshine
Of his life.
Dan was willing to work, to work early
and late for her. He would gladly have
clothed her in satins and furs; but thu
masculine in him resented her interference
in the business side of his life, Besides
how could a man go into the mink raising
business?
Kitty pushed him resolutely into chat
and pumped herself down on his knee
Her ''idee" was not to be put away 81
lightly. In that position she could hav
her say. Dan knew when he was "sa
upon" by his wife It was little way sh
had when she wanted to persuade hin
against his will.
III was up 10 Saint Looey, the fall befor
we was married, and / heerd about then
buyin' all kinds Of pelts and sellln then
10 the men that makes up the furs. heer
EN- say that a Vine mink skin would fetc
IS easy. They have the traps and the bal
to SELL and you don't have nothin' to d
but take in the hides and go round an
collect your money"
who told you all that? never hear
such a thing" Dan was alive with interes
Could this new visitation OF Providenc
be an angel in disguise? Al least the thin
would bear investigation.
Cousin Tom took me down to see tn
place 1 see furs piled up like little mour
tains, $4,000 worth Of furs IN one pile. silvS
fox skins that fetched H,0OO apiece in II
site, and sea otter skins that sold for twist
that much. I don't know how l came
firgit all about 1t"
And you say a Teller kin git the traI
and the bait that is hound to fetch EN-?
Dan was all excitement Tow. lie was d
his feet the clinging arms still around b