Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-03-13
CHAPTER XIV.
The White Plague.


ley's great scheme that he thought
was going to help Eureka, and that 1
callated 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 ever for cold-blooded,
mercenary money-grabbing. Sweet
mess, want it?
1 snum. 1 did hate to tell Eureka!
And yet of course she was bound to
find it out for herself. When she went
home that night, thinks 1: I'll catch
1t tomorrow morning" And, sure
enough, next morning she was laying
for me.
She come out to the garden, where
l was trying to fool myself into
hoping that six inches of green string,
with 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, 81
| want to know all about it."
"Oh!" says 1. looking innocent at
| the cucumber string; Il amt give up
| hope, by no manner of means. 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
"Humphi" she shifts. You ought to
| pickle that understanding of yours
It's too fresh and green to keep long
out in this sun. Now you look me in
| the eye and tell me all about it,
| About what?' 1 asSs, 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 CIR af-
fairs? Out with it. It's my family
business, and l want to know
So l had to tell her She was pretty
mad, and mighty sarcastic.
4 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 to
do for him? I've found out that she's
| been giving him money for medicine
and things for over week. Why, a
sentimental city woman is pas best
holt; he can tie 'em in bow knots
round his finger. 1 spose you thought
you could fetch Hartley and his girl
together all by yourself. Well, you've
done a good job. Now I've got to be
gin it all over again.
/ oi- Esc,I
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 q
crab And I've got to fix pa, too. I've
been working out a notion about him
for two or three, days. 1 guess its
time to be starting it a-going.''
She wouldn't tell me what the no
ton 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 will
somebody to look after 'em. She likeC
the idea of Lycurgus hiring out tt
| Nate Scudder, too, though she did sa,
that she guessed he wouldn't wear ou
his pants pockets 4carting his wage.
| around. =
Next day she stayed at home anl
J shut up the house, and that night sh,
and Washy come to the island to sta.
all the time They had rooms in tn,
back part of the house, three flight.
up, and Scudder sold the Twins bed
ding and truck enough to more thai
make up foE losing the rent of tn,
Sparrow house Van put the wa:
wreath and Marcellus' picture and tn
rest of Mates presents" up in tn