Graham guardian., 1911-02-03

"Whit," said Asaph earnestly
you've sartin made the place rise VI
out of It's tomb; you have so. It's {
miracle, pretty nigh, and l callate 4
must have cost heap, but you've don,
it-all but the old folks themselves
You can't raise them up, Cy; money
won't do that. And you can't live ir
this great house all alone. Who's goin
to cook for you and sweep and dust
and swab decks and one thing a'noth
er? You'll have to have housekeep
er, as told you spell ago. Have YOU
done any thinkin' about thatT
And the captain, taking his pipe
from his lips, stared blankly ut his
friend and answered.:
"By the big dipper. Ase, l amt!
remember we did mention 1t, but I've
been so busy gettin' this craft or the
ways that I forgot all about It."
The discussion which followed Mr.
Tidditt's reminder was long and seri
Gus. Asaph and Bailey Bangs racked
their brains and offered numerous sug'
gestions, but the majority Of thes,
were not favorably received.
"There's Matildy Tripp." said Bailey
"She'd like the Job, I'm sartin. She's
a widow. too, and she's had expert,
ence keepin' house along of Tobias,
him that was her husband. But. II
you do hire her. don't let Ketury know
i hinted at 1t. cause we're goin to
lose one boarder when you quit. and
that's too many. 'cordh' to the old
tady's way of thinkin'." ..f
"You can keep Matildy, for all me-"
replied the captain decidedly, Come
outer religions all right for those thu,
have that kind of appetite. bui havin'
1t passed to me three times day.
same as I've had 1t at your house, Is
enough; l don't banker to have 1t
warmed over between meals. II ship
ped Matildy aboard here she and the
Rev. Daniels would stand over me,
watch and watch. till was convert
ed or crazy. one or the other"
"Well, there's Angle. She
Angler shifted MIR. Tidditt stop
your jokin'. Bailey. This Is a serious
matter
II want jokin'. What
'There. there. boys" interrupted the
captain, "Don't fight. Bailey didn't
mean to joke. Ase. He's full Of what
the papers call unconscious humor,
I'll sive In that Angie is about as seri.
Gus a matter as can think of without
settin' down to rest Humph! SO fur
we haven't gained any knots to speak
Of. Any more candidates on your
mind?"
More possibilities were mentioned.
but none Of them seemed to I'll the
bill. The conference broke up without
arriving at a decision.
Monday morning after breakfast
Captain Cy's trunk was put aboard the
depot wagon. and Dan'l Webster drew
1t to it's owners home. The farewells
at the perfect boarding house were af-
fecting. Mrs. Tripp said that she had
spoken to the Rev. Mr.. Daniels and
he would be sure to call the very first
thing. Keturah affirmed that the cap.
tain's stay had been real pleasure.
"You never find fault. Cap'n Whit
taker," she said you're such man
ly man, II you'll excuse my sayln' so.
i only wish there was more like YOU"
with significant glance at her hus
band. AS for Miss Phinney. she might
have been saying goodby yet If the
captain had not excused himself.
Asaph accompanied his friend 10 the
house on the hill The trunk WAX un
loaded from the wagon and carried
into the bedroom on the first floor. the
room which had been Captain Cy's so
long ago. Gabe shrieked at Dan'l
Webster, and the depot wagon crawled
away toward the upper road.
"Got to meet the up train." grumbled
the driver-'not that anybody ever
comes on It. but I carlate I'm sposed
to be there. Be more talk than lit
tie If ! want Git dap. Dan'l! You're
slower'n the moral law"
$50 you're goin' to do your own cook.
in for spell. CyT" observed Asaph
q half hour later. "Well. guess that's
a good idea till you can find the right
housekeeper. amt been able to think
Of one that would suit you yet"
"Nor I either. Neither's Bailey. I
Judge. though for awhile he was as
full Of suggestions as pine grove Is
Of wood ticks, He started to say some.
thin about It to me last night, but Ee-
tury hove In sight and yanked him of
to prayer meetin'."
Eyes, I know. She callates to get
him into heaven somehow"
II guess 'twouldn't be heaven for her
unless he was around to pick at. There
he comes now. How'd he get out Of
wipin' dishesY
Mr.. Bangs strolled into the yard.
''Hello!" he hailed. III was on my
way to Simmons on an errand, and
thought I'd stop In a minute. Got
somethin' to tell you. Whit"
"All right. Overheard with It! 1t
won't keep long this hot weather"
Bailey smiled knowingly. "Didn't
hear the up train whistle as was
comm along" he asked. Seems to
me ! did Yes! Well, II ! amt mis-
taken somebody's comm on that train,
=zsomebody for You, Cy Whitaker"
"Somebody for moi"
"Um-hum! ] can centrally be de.
pended on, cal'late, and when you
says to me. bailey, you get me a
housekeeper.' didn't lose m:cn time.
! got her,"
Mr.. Tidditt gaspGd.
Got her?" he repeated. Got who7