The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-15

puSSCu VII uCIC ISu uuN UOuy u
mind my going"
"That's So" said Lnptta. with unex
pected crispness.
At noon l.uetta went home 10 din
ner. and while Lem sat there alone
consulting his time tables in came
George Hine. who had bought the
store. He was a tall. thin. dark mar
with a scanty black beard worn in 9
point.
George Iiiue placed his umhrel;
carefully in the stand near the door
and walked down the store to the back
part where Lem was sitting.
Take chair" said Lem. tossing
his time tables aside. Come to have
look around?"
Yes Have you got the inventor,
ready?"
NO We're working on it now. Lu
eta wouldn't have any help. She
made up her mind she would do it ali
herself. 1t takes longer but she knows
what she's about"
"Luetta's 81 pretty good clerk" OBJ
served George Hine.
There amt a better one in the
world
II suppose it would lp hard work to
find anybody to take her place" Went
on George EIine, more as If he was
speaking to himself.
You amt thinking of turning I.u
eta Wilson off. George" LENS eyes
flashed strangely.
what II am?" asked the other
lazily.
Nothing. only I'll call the deal off
LuettaS worked in this store too many
years to br turned off now. IN keer
the store and let her run it for ne
before I'll see her turned off," said
Lem hotly.
George Hine smiled tolerantly
Don't get excited. Lem. You won't
be called upon to do anything as SEN
sationaI as all that. Just the same
may discharge I.uctta Wilson as soon
/ take over tho store
"Oh. you WILL will you?" sneered
Lem.
ACS. IJbiI SSl 81 wv. liza" " III
until you hear the rest of It," soothed
the other man good naturally. "If LII
eta Wilson leaves this store it will
be because she's going to marry me-"
"Oh"' said Lem, very much as if he
had received an unexpected slap In
the face. IL didn't know"
The door opened. n customer enter
ed, and George Hine sauntered out
Later Lem saw him standing on the
corner talking to Luetta. Lem felt
strangely savage about the whole
thing and slammed dry goods around
the store until Luetta futtered back
to her place behind the counter.
II suppose you enjoy getting up this
inventory for George Hine," said Lem
tactlessly.
II don't know what you mean" said
Luetta calmly, though little color
Aickered in her cheeks.
"Of course can't expect anybody
to care much because I'm going
away" went on Lem, foolishly reck.
less and suddenly flercely jealous.
"Of course not" said Luetta, with
unexpected spirit.
"Why not7'
because you haven't acted as il you
cared whether you were leaving any
body behind or not" said Luetta
vaguely. Here's some more shell hair
pins. Lem. Put those down on the in.
ventory."
So Lem Boskins wrote down the
shell hairpins, and papers of needles
and darners. and spools Of thread. and
tape measures. and papers of pins, and
shoestrings. and hair nets and rats,
and not once did his lips part to utter
the little jokes that usually came readi
ly to him as he worked. Lem was
looking worried and harassed and not
at all happy. He was sorely puzzled
in big boy sort OF way, and he was
trying to work it out in his mind to his
own satisfaction.
At O'Clock Luetta brought him the
last sheet OF foolscap paper and said,
1.-THE inyentory's finished. Lem"
He glanced at 1t carelessly, and then
his eyes sought her blue ones and held
them In long, close look.
you got everything in, Luetta"
"Everything, I'm sure"
How about yourself. Luetta?"
me" she faltered and then blushed
hotly. Lem Boskins. are you laugh
ing at me?"
He arose and stood close beside her.
"Luetta." he said in a low, husky voice.
1--WE been an awful fool. and | never
knew 1t till this noon when George
Hine came in here and told me that
when he took over the store he might
discharge you because you were going
to marry him. didn't know that, Lu.
eta"
II didn't know 1t either" said Lu.
eta quietly now that she realized the
great moment had come into her life.
'Then you're not?' he asked eagerly.
Not If never marry"
when George Hine told me that l
suddenly realized that in leaving