Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-03
For Spot Cash
BY Martha
Mecalloch Williams
Copyright. 1908, by Homer sprague

B. =. 81
81 WOMAN signs, I wish A
man should say, I will''
HA Norris read from an old
SJ commonplace book, adding,
with a little laugh: Lord, how this
generation discounts that fine piece OF
Bulwer's sentimentality! Women now
adays have got past signing anything.
Instead they say things, and. behold.
the things are done"
(which means. IL anything, that
yuUre dead sore" Marvin retorted,
pulling hard at hts pipe. 81 don't won
der at it, he went on. You We're so
lnmortally certain Baby Curran would
make ducks and brakes of her venture,
when, To-. she's succeeded in a way to
astonish everybody"
Wrong, as usual" Norris comment
ed Marvin shook his head, with a
lazy laugh, saying: George, but I'm
efad DADDY Curran left nothing but
dstts and livery stable to his flock
q children. There was nothing for
Baby to do except keep on with the
business
There was She might have mar
r1ed me-" Norris interrupted. "She
knew I'd look out for her stepmother,
and the kids 80
mo doubt" Marvin broke in, "but
that isn't Baby's way. Don't you re-
member how at school she wouldn't
Be told In class or have her sums done
for her? Honest independence is her
ruling passion so much SO, indeed,
6na1ed to have her go into this. Dad
u Curran never thought of doubling
anybody's word until he had to.
thought Baby was off the same piece.
30 she is, but she's got something else
IN her. Her spot cash conscience, she
calls It. heard her explaining to old
Major Axtun that the way to avoid
bad debts was to have no debts at all
and let the bank do all the bookkeep-
ing"
Norris dYummed hard on the table
"pm fool to keep on caringw he
burst out. "She puts me aside like a
last years bonnet; won't hear to mar
ying me until the debts are paid and
Benny boy through school and ready to
step into her shoes. That means four
years at least. Meantime there's the
devil to pay with my people. They're
not purse proud, but who can blame
them II they don't want to welcome as
. daughter a headstrong young woman
who has made herself the talk Of the
county, not even though abe did 1t with
the best intentions In the world? My
mother was at me yesterday, asking
me II I wanted q wife who had grown
sharp at bargaining with half the horse
dealers and teamsters In the country
side 1t seems Baby Is setting up to
buy saddle stock
II don't know anybody with bet
ter right. She knows horses better
than the most of us," Marvin inter
| posed. .And, all things considered, II
is a good thing. She has her market
ready made, as It were. Those city
folks take everything Of class she car
md them and pay her handsome
profit"
you seem to hold a brief for her."
Norris said sulkily, CLEAN of sus-
| picion In his eyes. ''It might be well
for you to join hands with her. You
might make more at horse dealing than
you ever did at the law,
Every likely-if had Baby's chance
But certainly shan't scheme to take
It from her" Marvin said steadily;
then, flushing little, he added: ~
would be only too glad to join hands
with her in anything land for life. But
she has let me know that's out Of the
| question. When she set you free she
left herself bound, little as you deserve
it.n
The last word was flung over his
shoulder. He had risen and was strid.
ing toward the door. Norris looked
after him, half angrily, half shamedly
then glanced about the handsomely APP
/ pointed Office with scowling sneer
His grandfather had been governor
his father was a senator, his mother
led society in Allingham. Naturally
she looked high for her only son, much
higher than bankrupts daughter. who
had taken upon her shoulders an I'M.
womanly burden. Still she had not sci
herself openly against her sons choice
She had even approved. though mildly
hls Intention OF constancy. How, then
should he suspect that she was plan
ming to upset that intention? The
htnge Of the plan was Miss Althea Ros
well-a beauty, Miss Althea, IL on,
could have overlooked her nose. IN
| fortunately 1t stood out 80 boldly over
/ looking It was impossible, even In til,
s6ulgence Of her many dollars. 1t wa,
the nose as much as anything else tina
had made Granville Norris feel 81
much at ease with her. She had com,
for q long visit, and Alltngham wa.
making much of her, yet somehow sh,
had not been brought face to fac.
with Baby, who had nowadays littl,
time and less money for ruff1ing It ii
the town gayettes. Norris himself sav
her but in little snatches. She wen
and came so uncertainty and at sucl
odd times he could not waylay her ant
calls were out Of the question. The lit
a de new home was SO crowded 1t wa.
impossible to say anything there with
out having It reach all ears. Norri
fslt that there was much which ough
Y. - be said, but somehow had not We
brought himself to the pitch Of say
. ting It.
He glanced out Of the window, hi
uss Frightening as they fell upon hi
AeHQw~ y. .a