Mexico Missouri message., 1909-07-01

WELL" ! says, looking down at his
cowhides. you'd ought to have plenty
of room to do It In. What are you
dying of-dropsy? You're FIVE pounds
heavier than when see you last"
He shook his head. Tell Reky In
doing my best to forgive her." he
says. when I'm gone maybe she'll
think how she treated me. Say! how
soon's she coming home? Lycurgus
can't cook fit to eat"
told him Eureka d be home that
night. 1t seemed to give him a little
more hopes.
when you see Miss Page" says he,
lust tell her l want to talk to her,
won't you? Tell her I'm most through
with this world and want to speak to
her about providing for the children,
Ask her to come over and see me-"
Just then the foreman yelled to him
to stop gassing and hustle that wheel.
barrow along. He done it, surprising
prompt, too, thought. l asked the
foreman about It.
"Oh!" he says, "Mr. Browns give
me the receipt for him. Every time
he groans or coughs l set him to lug
ging stones; the louder the groans
the bigger the rocks He's getting we'll
fast"
/ took Mates dory and went across
to the island. Eureka was up to her
elbows in work.
"Sakes alivel" says she. who's
been letting this house get this way?
The tea kettle bottoms burnt out and
somebody's been trying to eat the
ak. And the beds are so wet that the
feathers are beginning to grow"
That's the Natural Life" told her.
'The Heavenlies lived it for a whole
day."
81 thought they lived it afore I come
here at ALL" she says. Things was
bad enough then, but nothing like
this"
"'Twas me that was the Natural
then" says 1. This last attack hit
the Twins"
do you know who I think ought to
live the Natural Life?" she asks.
said ! didn't.
Nobody but natural born idiots,
that's who."
II guess that who's been living It,"
says l.
Next morning went over to see
Hartley. He was feeling like q new
man. DR.. Jordan had been there
ahead of me and set the arm. Redny
was pretty nigh we'll. Jordan had the
right cure for green-apple appendicitis
and it worked tip-top.
drove up to the depot in the Old
Home wagon and met Van Brunt. He
was in fine spirits. The Tea Lead
deal had been closed up-the Street
pirates having decided not to pass the
dividend-and the Heavenly Twins
had made money by the key, judged.
How'd New York look to your" l
asked him.
"Hush!" says he. Don't speak
lightly of sacred things"
When he heard about what had hap
pened while he was away he was the
most surprised man In the county.
Skipper" he says, grabbing my
hand, you're star Of the first magni-
tude. You and Eureka are the redeem
ing features of this Natural expert
ment. You pay the freight and large
rebate over. And Martin! bully old
boy! / want to see him"
Him and his chum was shut up to-
gether for good half hour. When
Van come down to the porch he beck
oned to me.
SOL" he says, there's another
question want to ask you. OF course
l know that Martin liked the boy and
all that, but that reason won't quite
do. What's the real one?"
Twas a ticklish place for me. But
I couldn't see but one way clear; that
it, but one way which was best in the
long run for all hands. So 1 spanked
up and answered.
'Mr. Van Brunt," says /, II hate to
say it, but Of course you know that
your partner and Miss Agnes set con.
siderable store by each other at one
time. And you can't break off feel
ings like that same as you'd bust a
piece of string. /"
He nodded. "All right" he says.
I'm not altogether a blockhead,
That1l do. I've been sure of it, my
self, for some time"
81 understand" went on, that the
reason she give him the mitten was on
account OF his being too grasping after
money. If she'd seen him, like have.
! inst throwing IL away as IL twas
shavings, 1 guess likely She"
He interrupted and looked at me
| queer.
How did you know that was the
reason?" he asks.
I'd put my foot in 1t away over the
| shoe laces.
We'll" I stammered, you see +
that is, twas told to me-and-course
/ can't swear"
who told It? Oh, never mind. l
see. Dear James! Well done, good