The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-05-08
would rise south of the town and de-

per?' repeated Mrs. Brown, enthusi-
asticallv. We'll, she's the dearest
girl! Every one knows Anne. aud
every one talks % Anne What?'
But her husband had said nothing.
he had merely groaned. Hastily he
turned the groan into cough, and
added, Consequently, tnep, Anne
talks 10 everybody"
Mrs. Brown hesitated. "Why-ee-
! yes, and no. Anne Is a quiet sort OK
girl, but what she says counts"
If she heard" he decided, the
news will spread like wild-hre."
He came on a group Of men in
! front OF the pOstofiice, hobnobbing
with their heads together. There it
is." was his nervous thought. He
stopped abruptly and listened:
Twas the biggest fish ever taken
out OF the Susquehanna, fell on his
relieved ears.
80 nonsense, Stopper. ! got one
last October that weighed"
That evening he telegraphed TO
Hammond in cipher: signs indicate
that she did not hear. Not sure. how
ever"
The following day, still apprehen-
sive, he mixed with the townspeople,
alert and listening, and that night
sent a stronger telegram to New
York: Am satisfied she did not
hear
But the third day this satisfaction
was turned into uncertainty and
alarm by simple remark from an
old woman, known by every one as
Aunt Ruth" She had recently re-
ceived some long-deferred pension
money. She was waiting on the side
walk for Anne, and Mr.. Brown was
just behind her.
I've invested half my pension
money" Aunt Ruth announced, as
Anne came within hearing. Did it
this morning"
"Oh, did you, aunty?" responded
Anne, brightly. Howe
In lot at the south end" she
responded, eagerly. Il tried to get
one of your pa up at the north end.
but he told me TO get a south end
one. lie said 'twould come much
cheaper now, and mebby-"
Here Aunt Ruth, bowling crisply to
Mr.. Brown, waited until ho had
passed. Anne also, glancing up,
bowed, and flushed uneasily.
"She looks guilty" thought Brown,
walking on, but | can't understand
Tupper's advice. If he knew, he'd
certainly try to sell off his north end
lots instead OF advising people to buy
at the south end, and his perplexity
increased.
That night Hammond received
last telegram: Hurry the purchase.
Am afraid it's known The owner
Of the South Bluff, with whom Ham
mond was closing the deal, lived in
New York.
But at the end of the third day
suspense gave way to relief, for
whether Anne had heard or not, the
South Bluff was in the possession of
Hammond and Brown. Hammond
brought the deed from the city.
well" said Brown, the following
morning, as the two sat on the hotel
porch, Fl don't care to repeat the
anxiety OF the last week. | wonder If
Anne"
Mr.. Tupper came up the porch steps
with DR.. Close.
We've just heard of your pur-
chase, said DR.. Close, shaking hands
in a congratulatory way.
,f =.
manded Brown, rising and confront
ing Mr.. Tupper impulsively. Your
girl has given us great scare. We
didn't know but that she overheard
us talking down at the station Mon
day night"
Mr.. Tupper nodded. "She did over
hear
Hammond pushed forward, laugh
ing. do you mean to say that she
didn't tell few other girls under
promise never to tell?"
Mr.. Tupper smiled and shook his
head.
DO you mean to say that she
didn't tell your" demanded Brown,
soberly. He had had too much anx-
iety to feel in n laughing mood.
Mr.. Tupper hesitated. YES" he
admitted, Anne told me, but only
when old Aunt Ruth was determined
to invest in a north end lot. She has
so little TO invest that Anne could not
be silent and see her invest in prop
erty likely to depreciate in value
nor could H. he ended, adding,
Anne. of course, told no one else"
DR.. Close clapped Mr.. Tupper on
the shoulder. "Anne's as near like
her father as two people can be!" he
laughed. "Ha! ha! Glad to know
of a girl that's got SO much honor
about keeping secret. Good for
Anne!"
Hammond and Brown sat in silence,
watching the two SO down the street.
Suddenly Hammond smote Browns
knee. There's our manager!" he
announced, excitedly.
y