The Red Cloud chief., 1908-12-25

"So?" says I. "Then don't see that
Miss Page had any complaints. 'Tain't
usual for a young woman to kick be-
cause her steady company Is making
too much money. There's something
else. Out with It. I'll keep my mouth
| shut"
So then he told me little-much as
he knew, guess likely. Seems that
! he was acquainted with the feller they
| call the butler-sort OF q steward, I
| judged he was--over ut the Page girls
house. And this butler was sweet on
the ''maid'---the young woman valet
who took care OF Agnes duds and
| spare rigging. And one night this maid
happened to be In the conservatory"
which I presumed likely was the
heightened name for the preserve clos
tet--and Miss Page and Hartley was In
| the setting room. And Agnes was
laying into Martin for staying down.
town and neglecting her.
The maid said she could hear only
part of the talk, but twas more than
average sharp and vinegary. Agnes
| told Martin he was getting more mer-
cenary every day he lived. That all
he thought of was the offlce and ma
king money. She detested q mercen.
airy, hard, money-grasping man. Said
money-loving was the worst vice there
was, and she thanked God she had
none OF It. meaning vice, Of course
she had money enough to sink ship.
Then Martin he speaks up proud and
/ chnrf mud Onx hn hn hnnn UArrfpH
hard and had been trying to make
money. Said he had good reason for
1t. and some day he would tell her
what It was. She said he could tell her
now or hang his May-baskets on some
body else's door--or words to that ef-
feet. He says every WE'LL" and she
says something else, but the maid
didn't hear II because just then old
lady Page come in and give her her
walking papers for listening.
"And So" says Lord James, "the en-
gagement was broke off. And a good
thing, too, say. Watts the use OF 'er
lowering 'erself to marry man whose
father got is money in trader"
How did Vans dad get his money"
/ asks.
"By Inheritance" says he. "Of course
Mr.. Edward dabbles In shares, but,
Lord love you, only for the fun of it."
"How was the inheritance come by
In the first placer" says ]. He didn't
know, but l found out afterwards.
Grandpa Van Brunt was an alderman.
The Twins come back into the house
then. They come In slapping and
jawing. judged that the mosquitoes
was living the Natural Life too. The
Heavenlies set down on each side Of
the fireplace-I had wood fire going,
Just for sociableness-and smoked
and talked.
BY and by Van rummages out that
Natural book and spreads 1t open.
| Martin" says he, "hark to the
voice of the oracle. Come In here.
skipper. and improve your mind"
But me and his lordship was I'M
proving the dishes just then, and.
when that was done, he had beds to
make and had bread to mix and fires
to lay and wood to chop and q couple
of million other chores to do. The
Twins read and talked until they got
sleepy, which was about half past nine
or SO; earlier than usual, but neither
of 'em had rested well the night afore,
/ guess. Anyhow, they went upstairs
to turn in and kept ON with my work.
!, Lord James turned in too. He had the
back bedroom. the one over the
kitchen.
Twas still as still could be. The
door and windows was open and there
want sound except the mosquitoes
humming glad and thankful, and the
breeze whining In the pines outside
and the waves moaning along the bay
shore of the island. Once In awhile I'd
hear his lordship thrash over In bed
and fetch grunt or groan In his
sleep. He had one OF the late Mar.
cellus' cornhusk mattresses. and
wouldn't wonder II there was a cob
end or two in with the husks. A rake
across the back from a corn cob amt
the most comforting thing in the world
even when feller is used to 1t, and
Lord James had been brought up
tender.
Pretty soon went to the back door
to throw out some fish bones and
things and then heard somebody
tramping through the sand up to the
house. Neighbors are scarcer than
snakes fingernails round Horsefoot
Ozone and l couldn't think who was
coming At this time Of night. amt
nervous chap. generally speaking,
/ but remember how old Marcellus had
died in this very house all sole alone.
and the short hairs at the back OF my
neck begun to bristie up. callated
II anything would fetch q sot old cod
ger like Marcellus out of his grave.
the dolngs Of the Heayenlies was that
thing.
But In minute more the walker got
into the light from the door and l