The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-11-11

SI-1@ bring In the market, ana
vainly endeayored to make that sum
equal the amount she needed 10 pay
the interest on the mortgage held on
her little place by Elijah Green.
Elijah was the local money lender
and note shaver When Elijah had
concluded the prelimnaries OF a loan
with You, you began 10 realize why he
was rich. lie could bind you 70 more
different impossible agreements than
any one else Elijah owned farm alter
farm-all the result OF his shrewdness
IN the money-lending line. AS 10 shaw
ing notes, he was credited with cut
ting out everything but the date and
adding that TO his discount.
When he induced Miss Sabna Pen
nell to borrow five hundred dollars
from him and TO give him mortgage
upon her little place, he had really
acted more decently than ever before.
lie did not want Sabina's place, What
he wanted was Sabina herself lie
had proposed TO her--proposed In
about the tone and with about as
much sentiment as he usually mani
tested when he offered to lend one
third the value OF a farm for mort
gage on the whole thing. Sabina had
refused him, promptly.
She had refused him several more
times, and then Elijah apparently re-
signed himself 20 his fate But he
| knew Sabinas circumstances: he
knew that when her father died and
left her entirely alone in the world
J she would get into debt So he kept
track OF her debts. which was not
hard thing to do. when every dealer
i'm the town was a debtor OF his
At the psychological moment he Of
| fered to lend her five hundred dollars,
secured by the mortgage lie pointed
] out to her that he didn't need the
| money and wanted 10 invest H. and
that so long as she paid the interest
on It she need never bother about
repaying It.
IT'S just putting that much money
out at interest, for me-" he smiled
And Il will relieve you OF worry over
what you may owe. so you can man
age your place and make 1t pay you"
When Sabina signed the mortgage
notes and received Eliiahs check she
had her first almost-tender feeling
toward him. And when she went TO
him and asked him TO give her lit
tie more time on the interest, she had
been really affected by his generous
agreement.
Don't let It worry you n minute,
Sabina." he said. PAY II when you
can. don't consider IL a real bust
, ness matter-between me and you
you know"
But now Sabina owed him ninety
+ dollars, just for interest alone.
r Now. Sabina was not the conven
tionaI maiden lady I'm reduced circum
stances. She was not n haggard, thin
l. woebegone woman of uncertain years
4 eking out an existence She was just
twenty-five years old, neat and pretty
and a took all she made teaching
+, school 10 keep her She had relic,
s on her turkeys to pay the interest a
s least. How IN the world she shoui'
D ever pay the principal OF the mort
gage had not occurred 20 her.
But Elijah. with ninety dollars In
e terest coming 20 him. was not tn
! elijah who had so generously loane,
i her the money Elijah was telling he
that times were hard and money wa
close. and although he hated to do II
he simply had TO have money 10 NEE
his own obligations SO. since th
mortgage was overdue, and the II
tcrest was unpaid why
'Ill do the best | can 20 raise IN
money. Elijah. Sabina said. I've g
forty.nine turkeys and when | SCI
them
But forty nine turkeys won't brn
YOU over sixty dollars Elijah sai'
Youll get about ten cents a poun
Tor them. and mighty few Of thei
weigh moro than twelve pounds
sabina looked ont into the orchar
where her turkeys were strollin
shout. Elijah leaned toward her.
Haven't YOU changed your min
sabina?" he asked
Changed my mindg About what
About marrying me"
sabina turned 70 him, with her ey'
flashing
Wen. Elijah Green So that ".
why YOU made me- let you lend II
that money. and that was why y,
we're so nice about the interest. al
that WAS"
40. no. no. Elijah cried. sauir'
ing. Il never thought OF That J =,
~ca the moncy beennsc ! loves yot