The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-04-28
CHAPTER w.
The Wonderful Barn Loft.

"They can't nobody tell what a mort
gage and a Golf Club will do"
Miss Selma Lue.
Now, Bonnie, run home as quick
as you can, for ! know your mother
is in a hurry fer the things. Here's
the nickel head of cabbage. Put 1t
under your arm, and take the sack
Of meal in your hand. See II you
can't carry the potatoes on the other
arm and the piece of bacon in your
other hand. Instead OF the sorghum
molasses she sent for, am going to
send three-for-ten cakes Of soap, fer
she's forgot to buy a bit for more'n
a week. and l am sure she would
rather have It. My. what a load for
a boy! Open your mouth for this
ginger snap. and 60 careful but fast"
And Miss Selma Lue steered the heav-
ily-loaded youngster down the steps
and started him toward home.
As she came up again she paused
and, resting her hands on her hips.
leaned out to look far up the street.
There was the shadow of anxiety on
her usually unruffied brow, and she
sighed as she picked Blossom out Of
the cracker-box and put her far back
on the counter, hemming her In for
safety with two brooms.
Il feel like amt seen Miss Cynthie
fer a year." she said, and 1t has
been more'n a week sisce she came
down. The cook comes after things
and she says the child amt sick, so
| amt got no cause to worry; but
I'm Jest hungry to see her. Seems
like she is a kind OF a frosted cake
the more you git Of her the more you
want"
Yes. thick with frosting, and white
and cold: it's good to-look at" re-
marked Mr.. Alan as he seated him
self on an upturned peck measure
and reached to head Clemmie of from
pile Of scrubbing brushes she seemed
bent on chewing.
We'll. I've got a feeling In my
bones she'll come today. and I'm going
to expect her anyway. Mis- Kinney's
bones always gives her notice oil
trouble. but I've got mine trained sc
| Miss Selma Lue's wisdom was an un
/ conscious adaptation Of one of the
/ principles OF a very modern thought
/ II was at the lull time at clever
T o'clock, when the Bluff dinners were
all In the pot. and Miss Selma Lus
could get a breathing spell until the
afternoon rush for supper provender
! The Blur bought supplies a meal al
( a time and brought the nickels and
dimes In payment thereof. Miss Sc
I lima Lue had no need OF a bookkeepel
she put her money In a cracked win
egar jug behind the counter. Nor die
she ever have enough to make banl
deposits, as her stock was bought oil
much the same principle as that OF
which 1t was sold. little at tim'
and cash down.
For" she eounseled her neighbors
having on hand. most Of times means
wasting. and the piece OF mea
oughter go in the pot according Il
what you know you oughter have an'
not what you think you want. Lot
OF folks stomiks amt as greedy a
they is"
Mr.. Alan had come In for his din
ner a little before the time. He spen
most of his mornings down at tn
ferry sketching the roustabouts a
they loaded the early boats: but whel
the wharf was deserted, he found !
pleasant to come and chat with Mis-
Selma Lue as she prepared the simpl
meal he shared with her. He like
to watch the babies tumble and craw
about the grocery before their moo
maps. for the floor and low-lying n
gions of the store offered unlimite
opportunities for adventure to creeI
ers. and II always interested him I
see what they could manage In tn
way of exciting catastrophes.
Miss Selma Lue At such times fai
~ radiated with good cheer and II
terest and he felt constrains1 to d
likewise. In fact. Miss Selma Lu
lnsitnd conlhAncas m the sun invite