The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-24
TIE EVENING STORY
Fathers Scales.
(By J. T. Greenleaf.

| dusk.
Yes and no." answered the young
man. He said: When I'm in danger
of going to Jail on account of my sharp
practices or some woman ropes me into
marrying her. you may have Brownie. "
That's father all over" she laughed.
| How he does enjoy a war Of wits, es-
peciaIly with you'll Let's think about 1t,
| for 1 don't believe it's a wholly idle
speech. Tell me something else that
has happened today with you"
Absolutely a gray blank in every re-
spect. We've been hauling potatoes to
the car for him to ship-but yes, there
was one little thing that was interest
ing. Widow Atkins brought two bush
els of the tubers, and when weighed
the outfit back again it fell short go
pounds, showing one bushel only"
That's queer" the girl flashed.
What did you do?"
Registered it for two bushels and
gave her a credit slip accordingly"
Then his scales are wrong, Brownie
cried.
IF they are, he doesn't know it. He's
the most obstinate, cantankerous' old
"Sh-sh-" the girl ordered, laying
a slim, brown hand over the farmers
mouth, you mustn't speak in that de-
rogatory way of your future father-in-
law!'
"A-a-mighty long way in the fu-
struction to free speech in his hand as
he went on; but even then he's honest
and square,"
I'm glad you think so, but I know
him better than you do, and there's
more in it than shows" she pursued.
Tomorrow every load you bring to
him. you weigh at home and then weigh
back the crates on your own scales and
tell me about it when you come over in
the evening"
eff there is an inaccuracy he doesn't
know it, and if it should turn out that
he does, you and 1 couldn't catch him.
know there isn't. He's honest"
You mind me, Paulsie," the daugh-
ter of Hiram Weston ordered, for
there's something doing, know" This
reminder of Westons own spirit was
enforced by something that stopped the
young mans mouth.
The following morning a solid bit of
humanity, Hannah Arbuthnot, queenly,
even in her dark blue calico dress, said
to Brownie:
Whats the matter with my baby?''
Nothing new, dearie.' replied the
girl. "Just the old story-father won't
let me marry Paul. He keeps jollying
us along. You know what a dear try
ing mischievous old angel he is!''
whats he done now?" asked the
housekeeper. hitching her portly self up
on the broad kitchen table and gather
Ing brownie IN ner SIrOnB arms.
A few words told the latest develop
ments and then Hannah solioquized:
He said that, did he? You leave him
to me. Well see what your old maid
foster-mother can do for her baby. He
wanted to marry me once, you know"
When Weston drove in, tired, wet and
muddy, that evening, Hannah caught a
lantern and slipped out to the barn,
saying as she closed the door:
You give him his supper, little |
girl
Toward the end of the satisfying |
meal, Weston remarked with his eyes
taking in the beauty of the girl:
you remind me so much of your
Brownie!''
That's a great compliment, father.
for they say she was handsome
woman"
She certainly was he agreed;
"but what's Hannah up to, taking
care of old Kitty for me and all? She
hasn't heard of my proposition to
that that slow;; good boy lover of yours
what would she try to do if she
had?"
"She might think I'd ask her to
marry me, especially If you two got
man." he chuckled.
But I'll never do that twice to the
same woman!'
A light step on the porch took the
cred into the parlor.
well, what about the weights?"
asked the little lady at once.
Each load was about so pounds
short; but he don't know it, I'm
IAN right" she responded, with
her eyes dancing with mischief. I'll
call him in and you tell him.
IT? I? Tell your fatherl I'd
rather face locomotiveT" he ex-
but don't you think he ought to
know it?"
'sWhy-yes. He certainly he
stammered, as she called out through |
the open door into the dining room:
Father, Paul and don't agree
about matter and we want your adj
vice. Hannah, you better come, tool" |
What is it all about?" Weston
asked, going directly to Paul, who |
was as white as marble, lips and |
slow in coming, there was a second |
demand: "Out with it!''
''Your-your-scales, Mr.. Weston, |
are wrong, but I don't"
My scales wrong?" the older man
burst out why you young-you
young-and right in my own house |
Thought you ought to know
it, sir" Paul babbled. Then he told |
But I'm sure you didn't know it,"
he added.
land you and Brownie aren't in |
tending to use it in response to my |
proposition of yesterday
"Oh no, sir. That wouldn't be fair |
unless you knew it. You're honest, |
SIR
well, sir. L did know it, said |
Weston, handing Brownie the round, |
iron disc that represented 800 pounds |
as a weight. Turn it over. Kitten. |
See that little wad of lead. That |
made the overweight that Paul
found. I used it on his own outfit