Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-19
CHAPTER XIV.
"The Best Laid Plans. F."

| to the Neck road. l didn't ask no ques-
lions. He could speak first or be still.
I'd had my dose. Nobody can call me
nosey.
He did speak first well. skipper
he says. finally.
| We'll, Mr. Hartley says I.
why don't you ask me what my
scheme is? Aren't you curious?"
| ''Scheme?" says I. Scheme? l amt
much of schemer. myself. Nice weather
we're having. amt it?''
| He laughed SOL" says he. II like
you. You're the right sort-you and
| Scudder.'
Drat him! Why did he want to spoil it
all by that last?
Virtue must be its own reward. then.
| fairs I'm concerned says, pretty aver
age dry: Il don't seem to be getting no
other kind. Pity me and Nate couldnt
| divide the substantials more equal"
His face clouded right up. Money!!
he says. disguised. kicking stick out
of his way. Don't you for one minute
believe that money means happiness"
"All right" I says Il amt contra
| dieting you You've had more experience
with it than l have. Sometimes it seems
| as If l could manage to bear up under q
couple of thousand or so without she'd
ding more'n a bucket of tears: but I'm
| said he stole the horse. but they'd got to
| show proof enough to satisfy him.
Twas some minutes afore he come out
| of his blue fit. Then he says
1.-The scheme is this: 1 determined to
see what could be done to make things
easier for the Sparrow girl. The only So
| luton seemed to be the getting rid of
papa"
IF you'd waited long enough" I says.
| maybe his consumptive dyspepsy would
have saved the trouble "
Il wish had your faith" says he.
YOU have. The same kind. Washy'
| is different. His doctrine is faith with
| out work. Go on
| bring it about. When you told me that
| Scudder owned the Sparrow place / saw
| my chance. Scudder and ] consulted. He
| was willing to lose his tenants provided
nothing; l promised to make that good
| until our season here was over and Eu-
| reka could return home. But I made it
clear that when she did return home her
| father mustn't return with her. He
| must be provided for somew where else.
Then we saw the doctor and Morton. the
| minister. Morton was somewhat preju-
| diced, owing to Vans rattle, but he's a
pretty decent fellow and seemed to
| think what he called a good action on
| my part might Offset even a bedquilt
gamble. So between us we fixed it up.
'Old Sparrow is offered job as gen.
eral shoveler and brick carrier over there
at the hotel. They're building a new adj
dition, you know. Brown. the manager.
! said he'd take him on. as a favor to me.
He has been offered the place. If he
doesn't accept, why. out he goes. Scud-
der has told him he can't stay in his
house any longer: You should have seen
him when we broke the news last night
"S'pose he don't accept" l asks. What
about the children?"
They'll be looked out for. Lycurgus
will board at Scudder's. Eureka will
stay with U.S. Editha and the baby will
| others are to have good boarding places
and go to school. Every one Is willing
to help the family, but they won't keep
the old rascal. 1t has. worked out beau
tifully.'
Hold on a minute says I. IT'S all
right. as a plan. But Eureka won't let
| her dad suffer. even though she knows
there amt nothing really the matter with
him. And who's going to pay all the
young ones boards She can't"
I'll attend to that" says he. impa-
tient. ut isn't enough, to signify And
it will be all settled before Eureka knows
it. The old man will take the job"
I'll bet a cooky he DON'T / says
But it'll make him scratch gravel one
way or mother. Bully for you, Mr.
| fun.
And then swear! But here's the rest
of the crowd"
They was waiting for us on the corner.
DR.. Penrose was there. and Mr.. Morton
and Capt Benijah Poundberry. chairman
of selectmen; and Scudder. and Peter T.
Brown. manager Of the Old Home House.
They was all laughing. and thinking the
whole thing big joke.
Mr.. Hartley" says the doctor. Il wish
you were to be d permanent resident
There "A few OF this kind
I'd like to have you tackle"
We walked on together the rest of the
way. laughing and talking. Nobody took
the business serious at all. They all
he found twas either that or get out and
hustle for a place to put his head In.
We marched into the Sparrow yard like
a Fourth Of July parade. Hartley knocked
"Is your father in?" asked the Twin.
s'pose you'd like to see him. wouldn't
you? Pa. here's Mr.. Hartley"
There was groan from the dining
room. Then some coughs. like string
of small earthquakes. Finally dreadful
weak voice orders us to step right In.
The rest of the crowd went on ahead. I
stopped for a jiffy to speak to Editha.
where's the rest of the children?' 1
asks.
Il sent 'em over to the grocery store on
an Grand" she says. Il thought you'd
be along pretty soon. They took the baby
| with EN-
"How's your dad been since he heard
the news?" says l.
ooh. he was going on terrible last
night. Had nerve spells and fired the
chairs around and carried on SO we was
all scared But he went out about 8
| o'clock with letter he'd wrote. and this
| morning he seems better. Say. Mr..
Pratt she whispers, eager. lis 1t true
| that me and Dewey are going to live with
| the minister's folk?"
Maybe So" says I. "Why?'
| "Oh. 1 hope So she says Then l
| could go to school. and pa wouldn't be
| round to jaw us. and Reky'd have lit
| tie rest. She does need 1t So
| Think of twelve-year-o young one
| talking like that. But the children was
all grown-ups in that family.
| I went into the dining room. The dele
| cation was gathered one side of the
| table. and Washy was crumpled up In his
rocker on the other. He looked some
| scared.
well. Mr.. Sparrow" Hartley was be-
ginning when come in, have you made
up your mind about the position which
this gentleman has been kind enough to
offer your He pointed to Brown as he
| said 1t.
| "Hey?" asks the invalid, feeble.
Martin said 1t all over again; he had to
stop in Tie middle SOS to give the candi-
| date for the job chance to cough and
| turn loose a few groans.
! And all that Washy said when the Twin
had finished was another "Hey?"
Hartley begun to lose patience. You
heard what I said.'' he snaps. sharp.
Have you made up your mind?"