The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-10-17
The Case of
Jacob Rhine.
By NANCY BRENT.
copyrighted. 1907. by Homer Sprague.


closely. She decided 1t hung an inch
longer on the end next the kitchen
door. She Strengthened 1t conscien-
tiously. then gave her attention to the
spoons.
Since 1t was an impossibllity to set a
tabIe for twelve people and put a sill
yer spoon at each place, the number
of real silver spoons possessed being
seven. it behooved her to decide upon
which guests the honor was to be be-
slowed.
Mrs Judge Brown must have one
of the real silver ones because-no one
In Brownsville would have thought of
Offering her anything except their best.
Miss Josephine Dwight must be one of
the honored ones. 1t might keep her
from telling next day that there were
five pewter ones.
She finally arranged 1t to her salts
faction the pewter ones falling to her
self to the schoolteacher, to Uncle
Lem Whitley and little William Bos.
well
When John Tweedy and his wife ar
rived Miss Mary eyed them interroga.
lively
PA Tweedy had rheumatism come
on him." explained Mrs. John, and
couldn't come. | left the baby home
with him. That's one comfort"
I'm sorry your pa couldn't come
Miss Mary looked at the vacant seat
at the table-"for the turkeys done to
turn. and 1t seems kinder lonesome
for him to have dinner alone on New
Years day"
A knock at the door caused her to
excuse herself. The maid Of all work
was at the critical point of coffee max
Ing and Miss Mary herself went to
the door.
The old man standing there, a stran-
ger looked at her In a dazed manner.
I'm mighty cold and mighty hun
CRY" he said timidly. 81 wonder If
you would give me a little dinner"
Miss Mary's tender hearted hospital
fly was instantly his to command.
you just come right on in," her
CHEEKY tone making him sure of well
come. Il was right proper worried
about having that vacant place at the
table"
When, after dinner, the unexpected
guest fell III the company bedroom was
at his disposal. In the weeks illness
that followed Miss Mary lowered over
him with good natured anxiety, and
when he Unexpectedly died from a
bao ~ off ha al hot kho
man should not be buried by the coun.
ty-she didn't think she would miss IL
forever II she paid for a decent flu.
neral out of her savings.
Judge Brown came over the day the
old man died and had long talk with
her.
I'VE know you don't charge for TAX.
ing care of him. Miss Mary" he ar.
gued "but the pension certificate
found In his pocket shows he was an
old soldier, and the government is able
to bury Its soldiers"
She listened reluctantly. But hate
to be so uncharitable." she said slowly.
folks"
That's just IT. the Judge exclaimed.
"If you send in a claim for burial ex.
penses the commissioner of pensions
will be able to notify his people II
they're hunting for him"
The Judge argued successfully. A
few days later he came with dusty
volume of pension laws. accompanied
BY the ministers. Peters the notary
and by Mrs. Judge Brown herself.
I'VE want to fix this up 10 regulation
style" he said loosely, land when me
and Peters get through drawing up
this claim and the minister and Mrs
Brown witness 1t, 1t ought to be as
legal a document as they ever handled
In Washington"
After the document was posted Miss
Mary and Brownsville-man, woman
and child-found 1t topic for converse
ton while they awaited the outcome.
1t came sooner than Miss Mary ex-
pected 1t knocked at Miss Mary's
door one night, and when she answer
ed, lamp In hand, she found a man In
an oyercoat of unmlstakable city cut,
who took off his hat In way that
filled her with admiration.
MY name is Rhine" he said In ex-
PLANTATION. ~ believe 1t was in your
house my father died"
She led the way to the sitting room,
volunteering bits of information and
sympathy.
Il hope you won't think l wanted to
be paid for nursing him." her comely
face flushing with sensitiveness. but
the Judge said | ought to-"
I'm glad you did" he responded
heartily. at was the way we located
bin. I'm a travelling man. aud my IA
Their lived at the soldiers home. When
came back from my trip and found
that he had wandered from the home
IN state OF melancholia. you can i'm
agine how | felt"
You sit right down and take of
your overcoat. While you are warming
III heat the coffee and fix you little
snack. | know you are hungry after
Your drive through the cold. | always
I'D say Brownsville was the meanest
place on earth to get to. It's ten mile
drive from any direction you try to
reach It,"
Miss Mary, freed from anxiety that
they would not go round. was lavish
with silver spoons. There was one for
coffee. one for saucer of honey and
one in the jelly glass. The other four
were carelessly arranged on the white
cloth in way that indicated spoons in