Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-02


detection as she had never known her
to display. though she fired up suffi-
GENTLY to say: ''That cussed little
thimblerigger has been throwing a
great big scare into me. He says I've
got to get outdoors, live on raw meat
and weak tea and walk five miles a
day. That's what he says" she add
ed in renewed establishment at the
mans audacity. who's at the CASH."
"Mr. Redfeld." replied Lee "pn go
right back"
"No, you won't. I'm no dead horse
vet" She struggled to her feet and
started for the cash register. 81 won't
let no little Omaha doughie like that
nut me out Of business"
Despite all warnings she walked out
into the dining room and took her ac-
customed seat with set and stern face.
while her daughter went to the table
where the doctor sat and explained
her inability to manage her mother.
That's your problem" he replied
cooly. Then rapidly. succinctly and
clearly he went over the case and laid
out course of treatment. Out of it
all Lee deduced that her mother was
very i'll indeed. though not in danger
of sudden death.
"She's on the chute" said Fessen-
den. land everything depends upon her
own action whether she takes the
plunge this winter or twenty years
from now. She's strong woman, or
has been. but she has presumed upon
her strength. She used to live out Of
doors, she tells me, during all her ear
" life, and now, shut in by these
walls, working sixteen hours a day.
she is killing herself. Get her out IL
you can and cut out stimulants."
As he rose and approached the coun-
ter Lie showed a couple of gold pieces
across the board THAT wipes you
off my Map.' she grimly declared. Il
hope you enjoyed your ride"
Its up to you. madam" he replied.
pocketing the gold. Good day"
"rll be down again in day or
two" called Redfield.
The machine began to pur and spit
and the wheels to spin. and Lee Vir-
ginia was left to face her mothers OBJ
stinate resistance alone. She felt sud
denly very desolate. very weak and
very poor. what if mother should
die?" she asked herself.
Gregg was standing before the coun-
ter talking with Lie as Lee returned
and he said, with a broad smile. I've
just been saying I'd take this hotel
off your mothers hands provided you
went with it."
In the mouths of some men these
words would have been harmless
enough, but coming from the tongue
of one whose life could only be OBJ
securely limited at the jest was an in
suit. The girl shuddered with repul
sion. and Lie spoke out:
'Now. see here, Bullfrog, I'm deat
on the hoof and all that. but neither
you nor any other citizen like you car
be funny with my girl. She's not TO
you. Now, that's final! She amt you
kind"
She turned to Lee. Pm hungry
Where's that grub chart of mine?"
Lee brought the doctors page o
notes and read it through, while he
mother snorted at intervals: "Hah
Dry toast, weak tea, no coffee. no al
cohol Huh! l might as well starve
Eggs-fsh-milk! Why didn't he sa,
boiled live Holsters and champagne
l tell you right now I'm not going t
go into that kind Of a game. II di
I'm going to die eating what blam
pleasev'
The struggle had begun. With des
perate courage Lee fought, standin
squarely in the rut Of her mother
daily habit. "You must not hive u
here any longer" she insisted. "fo
must get out and walk and ride.
can take care Of the house, at leas
till we can sell It,"
1t was like breaking the pride of a
athlete, but little by little she force
upon her mother a realization of ht
true condition, and at last Lie col
scented to offer the business for sale.
Lee longed for the presence of Ros
Cavanagh at this moment, when
her little world seemed tumbling I'M
ruin, and almost in answer to her wor'
less prayer came messenger from Il
little telephone office, "Some one wan
to talk to you"
She answered this call hurried
thinking at first that it must be Mr.
Redfield. The booth was in the lit
sitting room of a private cottage, al
the mistress of the place, shreW
little woman with inquisitiye eye
said, Sounds to me like Ross Cav
naghs voice."
Lee was thankful for the booths pl
yacy, for her cheeks famed up at tn
remark, and when she took up the
ceiver her heart was beating so lol
1t seemed as if the person at the 9th
end of the wire must hear it. WI
Is 1t, DleaSpS' she asked with Dreat