The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-06-25
DailySbor1S1ory
IN REMEMBRANCE OF JEM
BY Lydia NJ. Peaster.

They sat on their two corded
trunks in the front row of the
small crowd that had gathered to
bid for their meager effects. Miss
Dempsey had been in favor of
handing over their trunks to the
waiting expressman, and hiding
their diminished glory in cheap
hired room. Mrs. Oneil, however,
objected. She took an agonized
interest in the auctioneering of
their household goods.
THE laws." she groaned as the
marble topped parlor table went
to huckster for IS cents: ''If Jem
hadn't been run over by his own
truck this would never have hap
pened."
'tAnd him SO savin'," Clipped in
her sister. Everybody thought he
was layin' by money. It's quare
what became of Jem's money, any,
how. He had good wages, and a
year before he died he got that
bit of money from his grandma's
estate. / can't think what hap
pened to it all. Do you reckon he
--gambled?"
."Lawsl" sobbed his widow:
how can you talk so unfeelin'?
When Jem wasn't at home, he WAS
drivin' his truck, and was run over
by 1t at last and never able TO
Gpeak word -. not even
to say goodby."
Meanwhile, the sale continued.
Finally, every article except an
old stove, rusty from disuse, had
been knocked down at universally
small prices.
Emma" whispered the wido "
systematically at this juncture;
they're offerin' the stove for 80
cents. 1t was II was
the first thing Jem ever bought
for the house when we moved in.
Can't l buy 1t? I've got dollar
here, and I'm strong enough to
go out and work"
Don't be silly" demonstrated
Emma What would we do with
the old thing in our room? It's
no manner of good"
1T was Jem's," persisted the
widow; and he set heap of store
by It. He paid a whole SIS bill for
It, and now it's going for old iron.
can't bear to see 1t treated that
way. Oh, Emma! Do let me buy
1t in remembrance of Jem."
you're crazy" retorted his sis
ter, starting up and reckoning to
the expressman. conscious of every
ruxfr.xu ~. op,.nad ulonaa frn.,,
the diverted bystanders.
While she was attending to the
loading of their trunks on the ex-
press wagon, her sitter suddenly
darted from her side. When Miss
Dempsey had time to look for the
widow, she saw her standing with
flushed face beside the pathetic
relic of Jem's prosperous days. The
widows only rival for the useless
mas of crap iron wa q very dirty
junk dealer, who would not rise
above 25 cents. so was worsted by
the sentimental Mrs. Oneil, who
went cents better
So. despite the circumstances
ri her exasDerated sister. and the
scowls of the express driver, Mrs.
Oneil inisted upon the junk being
hoisted on the wagon. IT was ex-
tremeiy heavy and the expressman
was profuse in perspiration and in
gectiye. Boosted ut last to per-
glous place on the back of tho We
hscle. II assumed areckless atti-
tude that boded IN for fts safety.
Nevertheless. the driver mounted
70 his doing. horse The startled
brute gsve furch and with a
great CHATTER the ancient stove
tunbled backwards onto the
ground and promptly fell to pieces
The ten~s OF Mrs. Oreii gushed
forth At this calamity, but were
checked abruptly. For. concealed
III the interior OF the cid stove WIS
canrhF bag hoavy Hifh gold
eoins Jcznss wealth. 80 mystefi.