Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-02-27
CHAPTER XIV.
The Best Laid Plans"

IO"CQ " Tic lAdln anu dASAOI GU tLO
skiff.. Then me and Hartley walked
up to the Neck road. I didn't ask no
questions. He could speak first or be
still I'd had my dose. Nobody can
call me nosey.
He did speak first. We'll, skipper"
he says, finally.
well, Mr.. Hartley" says L.
why don't you ask me what my
scheme is? Aren't you curious?
'Scheme?" says I. Scheme? amt
| much of a schemer. myself. Nice
weather we're having, amt it?"
He laughed. SOL" says he. 81 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, pref
| ty average dry. Il don't seem to be
| getting no other kind. Pity me and
| Nate couldn't divide the substantialS
more equal
His face clouded right up. Money!"
| he says, disguised, kicking a stick out
of his way. Don't you for one minute
| believe that money means happiness"
"All right" 1 says I amt contra
| dieting you. You've had more ex-
| l.
times it seems as if I could manage
to bear up under couple of thousand
| or so without shedding more'n a buck
| ct of tears; but I'm open to convic-
| tion-like the Teller that 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:
| THE scheme is this: 1 determined
to see what could be done to make
things easier for the Sparrow girl
The only solution seemed to be the
| getting rid of papa.
'If you'd waited long enough"
says, maybe his consumptive dys-
| pepsy would have saved you the
trouble
81 wish 1 had your faith says he.
"You have. The same kind Washy's
is different. His doctrine is faith with
out work. Go on
| $50 l tried to think of some way to
bring it about. When you told me
that Scudder owned the Sparrow place
saw my chance. Scudder and 1
| consulted. He was willing to lose his
| tenants provided he didn't lose the
rent. The rent was nothing; 1
promised to make that good until our
season here was over and Eureka
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 somewhere
else. Then we saw the doctor and
| Morton the minister. Morton was
somewhat prejudiced, owing to Vans
rattle, but he's a pretty decent fellow
and seemed to think what he called a
| orf ioh+
| even bedquilt gamble. So between
/ US we fixed it up.
/ tOld Sparrow is offered a job as
general shoveler and brick carrier
| over there at the hotel. They're build
ing a new addition, 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. Scudder has told him he
| can't stay in his house any longer.
You should have seen him when we
4 broke the news last night
| "'S'pose he don't accept" 1 asks.
What about the children"
| They'll be looked out for. Lycurgus
will board at Scudder's. Eureka will
stay with us. Editha and the baby
| will be roomed and fed by the minister.
| The 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 beautifully
Hold on a minute" says 1. Its
all right, as a clam. 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 board? She
| can't"
I'll attend to that says he, i'm
| patient. ut isn't enough to signify.
And it will be all settled before Eu-
reka knows it. The old man will take
the job
I'll bet a cooky he DON'T 1 says.
But it'll make him scratch gravel one
way or mother. Bully for you, Mr..
Hartley I'm glad I'm along to see
/ the fun
| The fun was last night says he.
/ Caesar. how he did cough and grOan.
! And then swear, But here's the rest
of the crowd"
They were waiting for us on the
corner. DR.. Penrose was there, and
Mr.. Morton, and Cap'n Benijah Pound
i berry, chairman CT selectmen, and
Scudder, and Peter T. Brown, manager
| of the Old Home slouse. They was
| all laughing, and thinking the whole
thing a big joke.
Mr. Hartley" says the doctor. 81
| wish you were to be a permanent
/ resident There are a few more more