Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-12-12


Jim was under suspicion. but an IN
vestigation settled the fact that the
house had been struck by lightning.
Sans house was Of course not insured.
90 that II was q total loss. There was
. great squeeze In lumber just at that
time. owing to the formation OF lum'
Der trust or forest fires or both. 30
that Sam had to stand around for q
while and watch Jim.
Jim went ahead with his house. He
put . fancy little cupola on It that
every one said was lust too sweet"
Even the lady. the beloved of Sam and
Jim, went into OBSTACLES over II, and
clapped her pretty hands wistfully.
From this, and other little things in
her manner. Sam saw that Jim's house
was triumph, and that II had thrown
the balance In his rivals favor for
ever.
That night he did not want to sit
upon the porch with Jim and Molly.
He knew that he was not wanted.
That was the night Of the dreadful
storm! It was the heaviest rain storm
that the valley had ever known.
Business was suspended the next
day. Everyone went over the country
to see the damage wrought-the land
slides. the dreadful gullies, and the
property washed away.
Sam hurried out to take q look over
his farm, and overlook Jim and Molly
on their way to look at their future
home. They joined Sam for q look
at his farm.
Behold! They were paralyzed and
dumb!
On Sans farm stood q beautiful,
snug, gabled-windowed. and semi-goth-
ical farm house of the most approved
design. II was all complete. and al
though It stood upon Sans farm right
on the site where Sans house had
stood, 1t had strangely familiar look.
Jim looked at Molly, and Molly
looked at Jim. Molly made wry lit
tie face. It was evident that she
would have to marry Sam.
The three picked their way along
and came up close to the house for a
more thorough inspection. 1t was GER
tainly complete. II was even furnish
ed.
They walked through the front door,
into the hall. The hall led into a
cozily furnished parlor, and the parlor
into a dining room. From the dining
room they strolled into the kitchen.
The kitchen was furnished with all
that was necessary in the way Of do
nestle happiness, for besides every
thing in the way Of utensils, there was
dainty, domestic blue-aproned
housewife.
Whose wife?
She blushed painfully when the
three entered.
why, Annie Boggins!" cried Sam,
lunging forward and grasping her
hand. Where did you come from?"
81 slipped down hill last night" ex-
planned the little lady. "And l don't
see how I am ever going to get my
house up again on my own land" :
Jim and Molly stepped outside and
gazed in wonderment at the slippery
path down which the Widow Boggins'
house had come the previous night
II thought / had seen the house
some place." said Jim.
Il thought witches had done IT."
declared Molly.
Meanwhile, Sam was busy talking to
Mrs. Boggins, telling her he had loved
her even before she had married Phil
Boggins, and arguing that the fates
had brought her to him, and he was
not going to let her go.
Annie Boggins' answers to Sans ar.
guments were bushes and stammer-
ings, and they did not convince Sam
that his arguments we're poor ones.
By way Of further argument he kissed
her on the cheek.
While they were discussing the mat
ter OF her remaining. Jim and Molly
returned from looking at the land
slide, and the situation was explained
to them.
WELL" laughed Jim, ut isn't every
man that wakes up in the morning in
possession Of a house furnished even