The pioneer express., 1912-05-10

empty rooms: but directly in front Of
him was = wide arched doorway ad-3
hitting to = long bedroom facing
south. Here rich rug was spread on
the bare hoor. handsome draperies
curtained the windows. tall mahog-
any bureau faced him. and in the mid.
die Of the room was q mahogany four.
post bedstead covered with rich silk
quilt.
The bed was occupied.
While Darlington hesitated some
body came out Of the shadow Of tho
curtains and advanced toward him
quickly. throwing a backward look
and word toward the occupant Of
the bed as she came.
"Some one has come to buy tho
place, grandfather! I'll be back in .
moment"
Darlington was almost guilty Of
staring at the beautiful girl who con-
fronted him In tho hall, even while
II don't know who you are" she
mprmured hastily, "but I'm going to
ask q favor Of you. My grandfather
is dying, and he has set his heart ON
selling the place before he does 80
that he can provide for me. Would
you object to pretending that you
have come to look at the place and
want to buy it? 1t would be a harm
less deception and would ease his last
hours" She spoke pleadingly, her
hands clasped tightly in front Of her.
Certainly" said Darlington, quick
ly; "and there won't be any deception
about the matter, either, because I
have come down to look at the F1etch-
er place with the intention of buying
it. thought the house was unoccu-
pied. beg your pardon for intrud.
ing"
"That does not matter In the least.
We are very poor, grandfather and I,
and the few rooms up here are all we
have to live in. Come and speak to
him." She led the way back into tho
room, where a small, shriveled old
man lay dying. Darlington could guess
after one rapid glance about the room
that the girl had surrounded her aged
relative with every luxury the old
place afforded.
Tm going going fast, Rose!"
whimpered the old man as she caught
one Of his hands to her lips. "Has-
some one come to buy the placer"
eyes," answered Darlington inn
pulsively. 1--WE come down from the
city to look it over and buy it. What
is your price?'
The dying man turned his eyes to.
ward tho stranger and a smile wil-
ened his lips. '1t's worth a good
deal more, but I'll take ten Thousand
cash for It," he croaked.
Every WELL" decided Darlington.
"I'll take it."
"Just give Rose here something to
bind the bargain-have it in writing.
Wake me up when it's ready. I'll
sleep a little while. Rose-you've
been a good girl. I'm contented to go
now-the place is sold," he added. He
sank back on the pillow and closed his
eyes, and did not breathe again.
Darlington found himself in the
unique position Of comforting a per.
fectly strange girl in the loss of her
only relative; but Rose Fletcher had
been through too much stress of pow
erty and storm Of aff1iction to give
way to her grief after the first shock
was over. In few words she told
Darlington the facts Of their strange
existence in the old homestead.
Thomas Fletcher, the old man who had
just died, was distant cousin of the
former owner Of the place and had
come into the property short time
before. The former owner had been
land-poor and when the aged heir and
his granddaughter journeyed to
Swampton to make their home in the
old place they found it desolate
wreck Of what they had expected to
find.
So It happened that Alec Caring.
ton was the only person to stand be.
side Rose Fletcher when the old man
was laid to his last rest In the family
plot. He it was who advised her and
found a home for her with the family
of the minister in Swampton until her
grandfather's affairs should be settled
up.
Because Carrington's client did not
care for the old Fletcher place, Car.
rington managed to purchase it him.
self and made good his promise to the
old man, and who can say that the
young real estate dealer did not have
visions Of q day when the old place
should be restored to it's former com.
Portable LONELINESS and that q Fletch.
or should continue to live there in tho
person Of Carrington's wife. Rosie?.
Well Named,
The simple process Of discovering
the meaning Of . foreign word, or
phrase. BY virtue Of it's sound. some.
times leads to peculiar results.
"shure. an fwat Is this briggy bras