Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-08-25
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CHAPTER X.

Block. This was an old-fashioned Of
flee building, with a basement and a
short stairway leading to the main cor
ridor. 1t was no longer fashionable, As
the better class of lawyers and real es
tate brokers had sought building of 4
later type that offered electric lights
and elevators. The Dameron Block
faced the court house square, and was
the habitat of divers small attorneys
and real estate men. In the basement
below, a justice of the peace sat in
judgment next door to a musty old
book shop, where the proprietor, a
quaint figure with a great mop Of
iron gray hair, sold pens and paper
and legal blanks to Dogberry Row, as
this quarter of the street was called
Zelda strayed into this thoroughfare
by chance one winter afternoon short
ly before Christmas and was arrested
by the sight of some old books in the
booksellers window. The venerable
bookseller came out into the barement
area and spoke to her of the books,
holding a volume meanwhile, with his
forefinger closel upon the page he had
been reading. Yes; he kept French
books, and she went into the shop and
looked over his shelves of foreign
books.
There is very little demand for
them" he said. Some of these are
rare. Here is a little volume of HUI
go's poems; very rare. l should be
glad if you would take it for a dollar
any of these poets for a dollar. But of
course l can only offer 1t is for you
to decide"
Il shall take the Hugo" said Zelda
He wrapped it for her carefully, even
regretfully and held the packet for a
moment caressing it with his hands
while she produced a dollar from her
purse and took it from him.
Call again. 1 have been here for
twenty years; Congdon, Dameron
Block"
Yes, Dameron Block" repeated Eel
da.
The constables and loungers on the
sidewalk in front of the Justices court
stared at her as she came out and
glanced for a moment at the upper
windows of the building. A galvanized
iron sign at the caves bore the name
''Dameron Block, 1870" in letters that
stone given to them originally by gray
paint.
Zelda went into the dim entrance
and read the miscellaneous signs that
were tackled there. One of them was
inscribed "E. Dameron, Room 81; and
passing on she presently came to
Frosted glass door, where the same
legend was repeated. 1t was late in the
possibly her father would
go home with her, she thought, and
turned the knob.
She entered a dark room on a court
way, evidently used as place of wait
ing; there was another room beyond,
reached by a door that stood half-open.
Her father was engaged; his voice rose
from the inner room; and she took
chair by the outer door of the waiting
room. She looked about the place GU
riously. On a long table lay in great
disorder many odds and ends-pack
ages of garden-seed under dust that
afforded almost enough earth to sprolit
them; half a dozen fence pickets tied
together with a string; and several
strata of old newspapers. On the floor
in a corner lay a set of harness in a
pasted on the walls were yellowed
sheets of newspapers containing tables
of some sort. Zelda did not know what
these We're though any of the loafers
on the curbstone could have enlighten-
ed her as to their character-they were
the official advertisements of the sales
of tax titles. Ezra Dameron always
talked poor" and complained of the
burden of taxes and street improve
ments; but he had been the chief buy
er of tax titles in the county.
I'm sure that I've been very lenient
very lenient indeed" Ezra Dameron
was saying Il have, in fact consider
ed it family matter, calling for con-
siderate treatment, on the score of my
friendship with your husband. If it
had been otherwise, l would have been
obliged to take steps-steps toward
safeguarding the interests-the inter-
ests of my trust, 1 should say"
But another extension of two years
would be sufficient for me to pay. I
wish very much for Olive not to know
that her schooling was paid for with
borrowed money She gives me all she
earns. Her position is assured. and l
am putting aside something every
month to apply on the debt We owe
nothing else"
But two of these notes are already
In default, Mrs. Merriam. have in
obligations on the strength nj
them. woman can't understand the
and exactions of busi-
ness"
Il am sorry, very sorry, Mr.. Damer-
on. All ask is this extension. 1t can't
be large matter to youi"
Il regret more than l can tell you
that it is impossible. If it were myself
If it were my own money that I ad-
vanced you, could perhaps be less in |
sistent, but as it is, this money belongs
to another-in fact, it is part of my
estate. She is perfectly |
helpless. utterly ignorant Of business; !
it is necessary for me to exercise the |
greatest care in administering her af- |
fairs. 1t is a sacred trust, Mrs. Mer- |
riam. a sacred trust from her dear |
mother"
Il came to-day" said the woman's
voice. apologetically, hoping that pay
ment could be deferred"
yes. to be sure; it's wise to be fore
handed. But the loan must be paid at
the maturity Of the last note. in May.
/ must close my wife's estate very
soon. I have timed all my loans to
that end"
The purring voice stole through the
anteroom, where Zelda sat forward IN
her chair, listening with parted lips and
,urorder and main in her ewes. The book