The Press., 1910-03-02

 tiently. q wish the postman would come! Pm worried"
 'What about?" asked her mother.
 'I'm afraid we're not going to gel the loan."
 There was a whistle far down the street. Ella pricked up her ears. As 1t came nearer she grew more and more excited, When Mrs. Kane heard the postman at the next house she went to the door to open 1t before he should ring. The postman came up | the steps and handed in letter.
 '4It's from Archie, mother" and Ella snatched the letter before it reached her mothers hand from the postman. ''Now we'll see what he has to say about the loan. But, of course, it'll be all right" and she dropped upon g window seat and opened the envelope with happy eyes.
 'sOf course" agreed Mrs. Kane. 'Archie is like your own brother"
 'N-no, not quite," demNrFed Ella Then her face sank leRIAr over the en. velope, cOloring furiously.F Mrs. Kane looked at her sympathetically. A few moments. then the color lied suddenly and the happy eyes grew dark.
 ''Oh, motherv' she gasped Archie MT. Booth. mean But read the let ter"
 What is the matter. dear?" anxious ly. Has Archie"-
 "Mr. Booth is mercenary wretch!' vehemently. But read the letter."
 Mrs. Kane unfoIded the letter with trembling fingers. Whatever it is, Ella," she ventured, you mustn't judge Archie too hastily. He is a good boy, and you have known him a long time." Then she read: Dear Ella-Can't let you have the money. It would be a mistake. And there's another thing. Be sure to demand pa pers to show every transaction you have with that tricky lawyer. Iknow his reputation and the value of proof with such a man. You write that you owe him $3,OOO and that unless it is paid within one month he will fore close the mortgage on your home. don't quite understand. You say you have only received $1.2OO and that he was to let you have the rest when you needed it to meet the note your father lndorsed. If he hasn't paid it yet why should he fOreclose on the full amount? There must be sharp practice some where. Will be down just as soon as ! Gan get away from here and fix the matter up."
 'I don't see anything in that to wor- ry about" said Mrs. Kane perplexedly. Archie is coming down and will make 1t all right. He's such a resourceful boyY'
 Ella threw out her hand wearily.
 ''Oh. it isn't that, mother she said. ''Mr. Booth will be down and make things all right. of course. He's in- tensely business, and he understands perfectly well that we were silly enough to take Lawyer Pill's word in- stead of his paper and so have lost the $1 800. Mir. Booth will come all right. probably on the day of the sale, pay off the mortgage and then hand you the release, with bow. He knows the place is good for the money"
 'tEllar'
 'Oh. don't quite mean that. of course. MT. Booth doesn't care so much for the money, but he's a man and must do things in a mans way, with himself as the central figure"
 What is it you want, Ellaw asked her mother, beginning to lose patience. You're to marry Archie, and you've professed to love him more than all the world. and you concede he'll come and pay of this mortgage. and we both know he can't have saved up very much in just the two years he's been from college and his mining stud les, even if he is an expert and getting famous. It seems to me he's acting nobly. What is the matterY
 'Why didn't he send me a check when asked for 1t and offered securi- typ flashed Ella suddenly. II know he has the money, for he'd just written about receiving $3.OOO as a fee for ex- pert work in. one of the big mines, and he knew that desired nothing so much in the world just then as to pay that hOrrid Pill and order him to never set foot on our land or on our side of the road again. Ugh. When l went to him that day and asked for our money and he stared at me with his little cold eyes and said he had no money of ours and for me to produce a paper to prove my words T. Mother. Archie ought not to have hesitated one minute. Strict business should be for business men, not for us. It isn't his paying the money. I wanted to do it myself, with my own hands. and then say few words to MT. Pill and after that lose sight of him forever. Heigho! After all. Arch-Mr. Booth isis only a man!'
 Two days later as they were stand ing on the veranda Lawyer Pill him. self surprised them by hurrying up the path. He seemed agitated.
 Good morning. Good morning!' he cried affably. "It's-ft's a fine day. isn't it? l hope you are both well?'
 "Yes." rather coldly, i've are very we'll. thank you.''
 'sI am glad to hear it-sincerely glad. Good health is the greatest of all blessings. And now to business. am sorry there has been a-a misunder- standing between us. It was owing to . bit Of memerandum untortunately mislaid and forgotten and now found. It is all right about the money. You can have it at any time, and I have ordered a stay of proceedings in the other matter. There will be no further trouble"
 Explain yourself, please. Mir. Fill. l don't understand at all."
 ''Why. am the quickest man in the world to rectify an error, and the mis- take was mine. And now l am anx- Ious to prove 1t in substantial way. You still own that pasture lott" ''The five acres of rocky land over on ! the back road-yes."
 "Will you sell it nowY' A prompt yes was on Mrs. Kane's {v1C UNI1., sH oud woSCo5 1,a~. hnv.5