Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-01-03
A BURCLARIOUS
COURTSHIP
lcopyrIght. BY Daily story Pub. co)
By o. ". HAMMOND. JR.

Copyright, BY Daily Story Pub. ce)
There was q tremor OF suppressed
excitement In the usually placid man
ner OF Mary Prltchett as she picked up
the morning paper and began "a
search half.furtively through It's IL
big pages. Finally her eyes focused
themselves upon a paragraph on one
OF the inner sheets. and Miss Pritch'
ett's habitual composure returned al
she read with evident satisfaction the
contents OF the item.
Sue" she said. presently. stop
clatterin' those plates for q minute
and look at something In this paper,
Then we can have a good quiet talk
while 70 wash the dishes."
Mn. Sue Stubs set down the tray
OF breakfast dishes which she was In
tho oct Of carrying 20 the kitchen, and
cane 10 her sisters side. Ever since
shs could remember Mrs. Stubs had
obsyed when her sister spoke.
Here Il is." said Miss Pritchett,
pointing with . toil-hardened fore
finger. "the first advertisement m
der Personal"
The little block Of print which met
Mrs. Stubs expectant eyes read a.
follows:
WANTED. by q Maiden Lady OF for.
ty.five, In comfortable circumstances.
a Helpmate who understands farming.
Address p, 2713 Seventy.ninth St
Ia" gasped Mrs. Stubs. why.
that's this housed"
YES" replied Miss Pritchett calm
ly. that's this house; and p that's
me-"
You, Mary" queried her sister
dumbly.
"Em-ha." was the brief response.
Il decided yesterday mOrnin' on mat.
rimony. mailed this nd. to the Herald.
and came down myself by the night
train and surprised you. | expect to
take him home with me day.after-to.
morrow. reckon that I'll get some
replies by this afternoons mail"
Mrs. Stubs mild blue eyes were
round with establishment. She gazed
IN speeches. wonder at the elder sis.
ter whom she had regarded all her
life Us the very personificati2n OF all
that is wise, prudent and sensible.
The full. rosy face, with its shrewd,
kindly gray eyes. and square, deter.
mined jaws, the carefully brushed
chestnut hair, the ample figure. OF
Mary Pritchett were all as usual.
Doubtless, Mary knew what she was
about.
Sue" commanded the prospective
bride" take those dishes to the kitch.
en-. and I'll tell you all about 1t. No,
let me take the dishes: you'd drop
them. japanese teapot and all"
We'll, you see, Sue, it's this W y"
she began five minutes later as she
carefully polished the plate which Sue
had automatically washed and handed
her. The farm Is pretty big place,
bigger than any one person, man or
woman, ought to try to manage. The
crops have to be looked after and sold,
the livestock attended to, the house
kept tidy. and hundred other things
done. can't follow up and oversee
the hired men like man could.
Things that ought to be done
amt done; and things that are done
amt done right; and, in short,
everything gets so snarled up now
and then that guess Brother John
must roll over and over in his grave.
II was all so different during his life
time. Until two years ago, when the
doctors killed him trying to cut out
what the good Lord never intended to
be cut out-no, don't tell me, Sue;
you know as we'll as do that people
never had appendicitis when we were
girls, and wouldn't have It now but
for the doctors as was saying. un-
til two years ago there was no inner
farm in the county.
so you see, Sue, that need a help
er with the farm. but that Is not the
reason that I'm doing what am. I'm
very lonesome, too. all alone in that
big house; but that's not the reason,
either The real reason is that need
protection"
Mrs. Stubs looked up in half
amused surprise. The determined face
and robust figure Of Miss Pritchett
were not those of the ordinary timid
female.
"Oh," said their possessor, serenely,
I'm able to take care OF myself I'M
der most circumstances. But there are
two things that just can't stand.
Ones cockroaches, and the others
burglars. don't have any reaches
about the place, but with burglars I'm
regularly ha'nted. There were seven
burglars last year. and there have
been nine up to date, this year, 80 the
habit seems to be growing. To be
sure. they don't get much, but just