The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-04-04

WILL A 11rT1E CHECK FOR $500 WIN BACK
YOUR GOOD OPINION
jor had just borrowed Of the shoemak-
er upstairs and which he meant to last
him a whole week.
Great heavens, but what are you do
ingi" he shouted at her as he saw
black ruin staring him in the fact.
She turned from the stove and sat
down and said:
Major, l have come visiting, and I
want to be comfortable. You remem
Der me, Of course?"
To do the major Justice, he didn't.
1t had been five years since he saw her.
He peered at her for awhile, and then
q smile Of recognition came to his face
and he exclaimed:
1T can't be. and yet it must be my
old landlady. Mrs. Pittsburgh
"Just so," she replied. az she took
her knitting out Of a bag and began to
knit.
but let us shake hands," said the
major as he rose up and offered his.
"Why, my dear, dear woman, I sup.
posed you were under the sod long ago.
I can't think It possible that l see you
here alive"
"Never mind the hand shake, major.
Shake hands with yourself IL you feel
like shaking. You should have had a
better fire this morning. How IL the
deadbeat business"
"Ah, l see what you are driving at,
and I am glad you called and gave me
a chance to explain. Mrs. Pillsbury-
my dear old landlady-when I left your
boarding house a few months ago l
was owing you about a dollar, be-
lieve."
when you left my boarding house,
over four years ago, you owed me sew
enteen dollars" she corrected.
Starts His Jollyiug.
"Over four years ago and seventeen
dollars! 1t doesn't seem possible, and
yet l will take your word for it. How
time flies! How the exact amount Of
our debts escapes US! Well, well, we'll,
but l am rejoiced to see you once more
and In the flesh. You must have recov-
cred from your attack Of the small
pox?"
II never had an attack"
what! What! My dear soul Of
goodness. you don't tell me that you es-
capped scot freei"
The oma laughed. but made no re-
ply.
"Why, my DEAR" said the major as
he walked about, 1.-The night l left your
boarding house l was told that you
and several Of the boarders we're in
bed with the dread epidemic and had
no show to get we'll. AS a matter of
fact, l vas ordered by a red headed
policeman to pack my trunk and Co."
"But you didn't pack your trunk and
take 1t along. 1t was a dollar trunk. l
found it next day. with two old shirts
In It. You went at midnight, and you
went by way Of the alley window"
Il could dispute you, my dear old
guardian angel, but l shall not do so.
It Is barely possible that I did leave by
way Of the alley and neglected to take
my trunk along. The smallpox newe
naturally put me In a panic. Three
days later when on my way to the
house to ring the bell and ask after
You l was told by the peanut man on
the corner that you were dead and
buried. Shall l say that tears filed my
eyes as I heard his words? Shall l say
that l neve slept for an hour that
Shall l say
II don't think I would" interrupted
the woman as she smoothed at the
stocking she was knitting.
Had I known whom to send the ST.
to-" said the major as he tried to work
q Quaver into his tones, "of course 1t
would have been sent. l should have
sent at least 800 above the debt. You
were kind to me, Mrs. Pillsbury. when
! needed kindness, and l never forget
ny friends. However, let the past be
he past. You are here now, and I can