Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-03-24
CHAPTER XIV.
The White PLAQUE,

lie ldL was dill III Tie lire. f1dTI-
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,
it 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?
l 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
it 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; 81 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"
"Humph!" 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 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 our af-
| fairs? Out with it. It's my family
business, and l want to know"
So had to tell her. She was pretty
mad, and mighty sarcastic.
81 thought So" she snaps. Didn't
you know no better than that? Didn't
you know that 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 a week. Why, a
sentimental city woman is pas best
holt; he can tie 'em in bow knots
| round his finger. l s'pose 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"
1T amt no use now" 1 says. "She's
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 a
crab. And I've got to fix pa, too. I've
been working out a notion about him
for two or three days. l guess it's
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 with
somebody to look after EN- She liked
the idea of Lycurgus' hiring out to
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 and
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 than
make up for losing the rent of the
Sparrow house. Van put the wax
wreath and Marcellus' picture and the
rest Of Mates presents" up In the