The Meeker herald., 1909-03-27

scratched his head. looked It the nro
and the ceiling. hummed and hswed
few times. and finally said: Dear
a-me!" several times. very slowly.
And who's Z house and & land
mortgaged to-" he suddenly inquired.
facing sharply round ON the sisters.
..Onnybody hereabouts!"
Sarah Ellen shook her head sadly.
Lawyer Reynolds" she said.
Eye went to { sharpest and Z hard
est 'torney 70 could md. seeminly."
he observed.
WED tried others, Mr.. Poskitt."
answered Sarah Ellen. He was the
last chance"
And now he weren't give no more
time-mun have his money. reckon"
asked Mr.. Poskitt.
YES" replied Sarah Ellen. Hes
q hard man. We thought. perhaps. that
you might be able to persuade him to
wait until We were dead. Mr.. Poskitt.
We're old women-we want to die In
the house where We were born"
In the house where We were born"
echoed Martha Mary
Mrs. Poskitt began to show signs OF
tears. Mr.. Poskitt blew his nose very
loudly, and. finishing his toddy at one
gulp. made great noise and hustle In
mixing another glass Of It.
why. now. why. now!" he said pres
emily. Say no more about II. We
mum all do what We can. one for an
other. I'll away on Z owd boss 4 Z
morning and see Reynolds. and try to
persuade him to hear reason. We
mont hev NO turning out O hearth
an home + these parts"
It was = day or two later that Mr..
Poskitt called at Lawyer Reynolds
once. At the end Of . quarter Of An
hour Mr.. Reynolds and Mr.. Poskitt
emerged upon the street together. Mr..
Poskitt buttoning his cut-away coat
over some bulky documents and Mr..
Reynolds rubbing his hands. They
walked together to the King George
and pledged each other In friendly
glass. Then Mr.. Poskitt lighted .
cigar.
yell understand" he said ~ h.
held out his hand to the solicitor. ''ysll
understand at all at happened atwesn
W Is to be KEEP secret till { day o
wor deaths. II 70 liver breathe word
on 7 to onnybody-"
mot . word. my dear sir. not one
world" protested Mr.. Reynolds. II
understand you exactly, my dear sir.
and honor your great and highly ad-
mirable delicacy Of feeling. Rely. my
dear sir. on my absolute secrecy
why. now. then. that's all reight,
and I'll bid you good-day." said Mr..
Poskitt, and he made his way home
wards. In the village he drew rein
At the gate Of the little garden In
which the old maids house stood.
Sarah Ellen and Martha Mary. older
than ever in the morning sunlight
came hurrying down the path. Mr.
Poskitt lifted his hat.
" Morning. ladies. Aflne morning.
he said. He bent down from his rad
die, Conscious Of the anxisty In the
old fAces lifted to his. Nov. thsn.
ha' settled yon bit o business vi
'Torney Reynolds" he said. ITS Al
reisht. Yen niver be bothered about
It agen. n long ~ eyther on you lives
See you.' He drew q paper from his
pocket and pressed 1t into Sarah Ell
lens hands. "That's T. title deed ~
house and Z land. Lock 1t up safe.
Now yen understand at ye're safe for
life."
The two. old women clasped their
hands. Both uttered the same words
at the same moment
"oh, Mr.. Poskitt! How did you
manage it,"
Mr.. Poskitt kicked the oft-side of hi.
horse.
Nov. you mont AZ no questions"
he said. 'I1i tell 70 all about 1t some
other time. I've vary important en-
gagement, and I'm late for T. dinner
now. 'Mornin'-'mornin'."
In another moment Mr.. Poskitt was
out Of sight. Tho old maids, daxed.
speechless, went back to the shop. The
child was waiting patiently ut the
counter for its pennyworth Of sweets.
Miss Martha Mary gave 1t such . pen.
nyworth ~ no child had ever seen
before, and pressed upon 1t paste
board donkey which moved its head.
well, love-" said Mrs. Poskitt, when
the master rat down in his shirt
sleeves to the dinner table. and. hav.
Ing knocked three times with the
carving knife, said grace and fell to
upon the Joint as his own Amen died
away. did you persuade Mr.. Reynolds
to have little consideration for the
old ladieR?"