Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-15

had made cr her mind. lust what It
WAS Size didn't say that evening. nor
did she tell ii next morning when she
put on her rusty old bonnet and sal
lied cut She said merely that she
had business matter to attend to.
Mr.. Magpate Strong had business
office in the town, of course. Aunt |
Hilda made straight course for it
and plunged herself down in chair |
in front of the great man to saRs
Jacob Strong, my niece and your
boy were attracted toward each other, ,
and they have fallen in love and are
engaged. | understand that you OPP
pose the contemplated marriage"
with all my soul. and if you are
here to say anything in favor of 1t you
may as well save your breath. l Won
der that you had the impudence to ap-
pear at all
And what are your objectionsT
quietly asked Aunt Hilda as she got a
strong hold of her temper.
You have no right to, ask!' he shout
ed at her. But l will tell you at least
| one objection. No son Of mine can
mate with the daughter Of common
carpenter"
NO? Jacob Strong. how long did
| your father get skinny living off a
mighty poor thirty acres of ground In
Michigan and what did he amount to
rs man? How far back is it since
you were running an old sawmill on
Zen Mile creek I'm the same state? Mr..
';cribner IS carpenter. but his pedi.
| gree IS as good as yours"
, IF you were man I'd throw you
cut of the Officer shouted Jacob Strong.
"But. being I'm woman. I'll walk
| out as fast as 7 can. 7 lust called TO
let you know. Jacob. that / have ar
rived in town. Please keep a little
track of me for the next two weeks.
will yCu?"
The aunt reached home smiling and
Ichuckling. She laid Il hand on Nettie's
head and said soothingly:
Il talked up to old Strong today. 1t
was right that should. But l haven't
spoiled anything. Give me two weeks
and I'll have him here begging you to
marry his son. You tell the young
man to remain quiet and do nothing
affair. which will be one of finance
from now on. and if she makes Il fail
ure it will be for the first time. Now
I've got to 20 back downtown and see
a lawyer, and then III have some rid
ing around the country to do. oh. but
won't make old Strong jump before
l am through With him.
In planning for tie cannery Mr..
Strong had called upon most of the
farmers and had Informed them pom
pouSly that thereafter he would buy
their tomatoes ut the market price
He had made no definite agreement
with them. however, for he had de-
ternined to pay mighty low price
when the time came.
Miss Tlilda BascOmb saw lawyers
and had contracts drawn mp. With a
boy to drive her, she covered most OF
the county the week after the inter
view with tie magnate. Contracts
We're signed right and left. and some
thing was added for secrecy among
the si%ncrS
Meanwhile the tomato cannery was
hurried along and the fixtures ar
rived to he put I'm place. In her walks
, about the town the spinster met Mr.
, Strong several times face to face.
> Every time he scowled and she chuc-
kled. There was anxiety ut the Serb
, ncrs' to learn what was afoot. but the
, only explanation they could get was:
Il am simply doing L@tle iinancier-
. ing to help Cupid and the tomato
q market along. When it's time to eX-
plode the torpedo you'll all hear the
=, | racket"
, She had been in Strongsville almost
Il month when the racket was heard
The cannery WAS ready for business,
, and the farmers had been notified tO
: begin delivery on Il certain date. The
+, date came. but there We're no toma-
!, toes.
a messenger was dispatched with a
horse and buggy. He had been back
about half an hour when Miss Bas
= | comb entered Mr.. Strong's office for
! the second time and pumped herself
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