The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-03-10
IT wish felt more sure" hesitatea

| really received $4,000: Was If
cruel hoax! The time she passed he
fore it would be time to return in the
afternoon was passed in suspense
The hands Of the clock turned SLOWLY
At last the time came round. and she
went to the bank. The cashier hand.
ed her a telegram. 1t read:
| Merchants Bank. Talbottom. Ga.
! Gentlemen-Nothing to explain We for
| warded check to Willie Smith, Talbottom
rs requested. IL party presenting it can
| be identified you may cash same with
! perfect safety Yours.
WALDRoN & co.
so. you see. it is all right said the
cashier genially. How will you have
it:".
Suppose you give me $780," said
Willie, with sudden feeling of ex-
ultation. THAT will pay off the mort
gage and make some necessary repairs
| The rest | will leave on deposit with
you"
The next few hours were mOmentous
ones in the young girls life. The
mortgage was paid, and visits were
made to grocery and hardware and
| seed stores and to painters and car
penters and stOnemasons.
| One day a brisk. prepossessing young
man stepped into the Talbottom post
office.
ANY letters for Willie Smith?" he
asked.
No; she called for them not an hour
ago.
''She?" curiously
Yes. Generally her man lobe gets
them. but she happened to be in town
this morning You're one OF the new
men working out there. | suppose"
mo. not exactly"
He left the postotiice and walked
across to the bank.
HAS Willie Smith presented check
here for ten thousand recently" he
asked.
Miss Willie Smith has," replied the
cashier.
Il beg your pardon. meant Miss
| Willie Smith. You see. out west we
get in the habit of dropping ceremony"
The old cashier looked at him
thoughtfully.
$50 you are a westerner, are youw
he asked.
Il was. but | expect to be a south
erner now" the young man said frank
iy My mother left this country
nearly thirty years ago. but | have
often heard her describe the neighbor
hood. When | made my pile / con-
Guided to come down here and look
around and if liked the place to stay
permanently"
The cashiers face cleared Instantly.
"Goodr he exclaimed. You can't
help liking such Il grand country. All
it lacks is money and energy. But
what part Of the west are you from?'
"Leadville. Colo"
"Ah. | began to suspect it. You
have been connected with the house
OF Waldron 4 Co. and called in to see
il the check reached it's destination all
right" He came from behind the
counter and took the young mans
hand warmly. Il am right glad to
meet you. sir. Your house never sent
out better check than that in all it's
| life. Miss Willie has paid Off mort
gage On her plantation and is making
| wonderful improvements. Sir-wOnder
| full. But how would you like to go
out and see her yourself: We close
early, and | generally so that way for
a walk. She'll be glad to see any one
from Waldron 4 Co."
WHY, I-nothing will please me bet
ter"
VERY we'll. You'll take dinner with
me. But you haven't told me your
name yet. sir
'Smith-er-call me Hamilton Smith,"
"A good name, sir-a good name.
We have Smiths in every county in
the SOUTH but tell them a good thing
cannot be TOO common. My mother
was Smith. But about you locating
with U.s. There's the Calhoun planta-
| ton. Joins Miss WilIies and is one OF
the best in the county, and just now
it can be had for song. Wen look
at it when we walk ont"
The young man said little, but on
| his face was an expression OF min
gled amusement and INDIGESTION. And
! this amused indeciSiOn remained with
him and even appeared in his voice
until they went out to the Smith PLAN
tation. But when they returned late
in the evening it had wholly disap-
peared.
Miss Willie is an exceptionally fine
girl he said with considerable en-
thusiasm. and il | am not mistaken
the community will be proud of her
] plantation. Miss Willie told me she
wanted to plant trees along her side
Of the river which runs between the
two plantations and that it would be
nice Ii the owner Of the other side
could be induced TO do the same. Are
you sure the place can be boughtY'
abruptly.
| The Calhoun place? Certainly, and
! for song"
well want if | SuDpOSe IFS ton