The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-06-04
CHAPTER XIV.
The White Plague.

ley's great scheme that he thought
was going to help Eureka, and that /
cal'lated would be one more big boost
for him in the Page girls eyes, had
gone to pot to see the kettle bile. In
stead of getting rid of Papa Sparrow,
1t had fetched that old ~hypocrite
right over to eat and sleep and groan
under our very noses. And, instead
of helping Martins love business, it
had knocked the keel right out of it
and left him stranded with a bigger
reputation than eve for cold-blooded,
mercenary money-grabbing. Sweet
mess, want it?
l snum, l did hate to tell Eureka!
And yet of course she was bound to
find 1t out for herself. When she went
home that night, thinks l: "Ill catch
it tomorrow morning" And, sure
enough, next morning she was laying
for me.
She come out to the garden, where
I was trying to fool myself into
hoping that six inches of green string,
with a leaf or two hung along it, might
bear a cucumber some day, and down
she'sets in the heap of dry seaweed
by the pig pen.
Now. then" says she, sharp, u
want to know all about it,"
"Oh!" says I, looking innocent at
the cucumber string; II amt give up
hope, by no manner Of leans If the
loan don't blow off, and I'm able to
lug water enough, we'll have as much
as one jar of two-inch pickles off this
plantation by the time the Heavenlies
are ready to quit"
"Humph!" she shifts. you ought to
pickle that understanding of yours.
It's too fresh and green to keep long,
out in this in. Now you look me in
the eye and tell me all about it."
about what?" 1 asks, not looking at
her, however.
about the doings at our house yes
terday. Why is pa coming over here
to live? And what makes Mr.. Hartley
so blue and cross? And how come that
Agnes Page to be mixed up In u at
fairs? Out with it. It's my family
business, and I want to know"
So l had to tell her. She was pretty
mad, and mighty sarcastic.
II thought So" she snaps. "Didn't
you know no better than that? Didn't
you know that a girl who's as far gone
with charity as Miss Page is would
be sure to go and see pa and want tc
do for him? I've found out that she's
been giving him money for medicine
and things for over a week. Why, 9
sentimental city Is pas besi
holt; he can tie 'em In bow knots
round his finger. / s'pose you thought
you could fetch Hartley and his CIR
together all by yourself. Well, you've
done a good job. Now I've got to be
gin 1t all over again."
1T amt no use now" l says. shes
down on him for good"
Rubbish! Don't talk SO foolish. It'll
be my turn next, and my plans
won't go backside frontwards, like 9
crab. And I've got to fix pa, too. I've
been working out a notion about hin
for two OF three days. l guess til
time to be starting it a-going."
She wouldn't tell me what the no
tion was. Twas her turn to have
secrets. She seemed pleased to have
Editha and the children go over to the
Fresh Air school, because there they
could be studying their lessons with
somebody to look after 'em. She liked
the idea Of Lycurgus' hiring out tt
Nate Scudder. too, though she did say
that she guessed he wouldn't wear out
his pants pockets carting his wages
around.
Next day she stayed 'at home ant
shut up the house, and that night she
and Washy come to the island to stay
all the time. They had rooms in the
back part Of the house. three flights
up, and Scudder sold the Twins bed
ding and truck enough to more thar
make up for losing the rent Of thu
Sparrow house. Yam put the wa,
wreath and Marccllus' picture and tn,
lrost Of NatA's "presentsp up In tb'
49,. MtAIt ~