Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-02-23

seeh W tulHh dDoul are Tue SOluS anu
the excitement. l suppose it's because
I've never been away from home
much. It's a good thing l didn't de-
eide to go till after all my folks had
passed on. There isn't anybody to
mind my going
That's So said Luetta. with unex-
pected crispness.
At noon Luetta went home to din
ner. and while Lem sat there alone
consulting his time tables in came
George Hine, who had bought the
store. He was tall. thin. dark man
with a scanty black beard worn in a
point
George Hine placed his umbrella
carefully in the stand near the door
and walked down the store to the back
part where Lem was sitting.
Take Il chair" said Lem. tossing
his time tables aside. Come to have
a look arOund?'
Yes Have you got the inventory
ready?"
No. We're working on it now. Lu-
eta wouldn't have any help. She
made up her mind she would do it all
herself 1t takes longer but she knows
what she's about"
"LUctta's a pretty good clerk OBJ
|. served George uine
There amt better one in the
world"
II suppose it would be hard work to
| find anybody to take her place" went
IN
| speaking to himself
You amt thinking Of turning Lu
eta Wilson off. George" LENS eyes
! flashed strangely.
What II am?" asked the other
Iazlly.
Nothing, only I'll call the deal off.
Luetta's worked in this store too many
years to be turned off now. I'll keep
the store and let her run it for me
before I'll see her turned Off" said
Lem holly.
George Hine smiled tolerantly.
Don't get excited. Lem. You won't
De called upon to do anything as sen
sat!onal as all that Just the same l
may discharge Luetta Wilson as soon
| take over the store"
oh. you will. will you?" sneered
| Lem
Yes. Don't get so hot. Lem. Wait
| until you hear the rest of it, soothed
the other man good naturedly. "If Ll-
eta Wilson leaves this store it will
be because she's going to marry me-"
on" said Lem. very much as if he
had received an unexpected slap in
| the face. Il didn't know"
The door opened, Il 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 ana slammed dry goods around
| the store until Iuetta fiIttered back
to her place behind the counter
Il suppose you enjoy getting up this
inventory for George U:ne," said Lem
tact!cssIy.
Il don't know what you mean" said
Lue'ta calmly, though little color
t!icipred in her checks
"Of course | can't expect anybody
20 care much because I'm going
away" went on Lem, foolishly reck-
less ana suddenly tierrely Jealous.
"Of course not said Laetta, with
unexpected sr'rit.
why not:"
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 uarncrS. and SpoOlS of thread. and
tape measures. and papers of pins, and
Shoestrtngs. and hair nets and rats"
and not once did his lips part to utter
tue little jokes that usually came readi-
~ to him rs he worked. Lem was
looking worried and harmSScd and not
at all happy. He was sorely puzzled
In a big boy sort OF way. and he was
trying To work it out in his mind to his
own satisfaction.
At > O'Clock I.uetta brought him the
last sheet of foolscap paper and said,
'Tha iuventory's finished. Lem"
He glanced nj it carelessly, and then
his eyes sought her blue ones and held
them in Il long, close look.
You got everything in, Luetta?"
Everything, I'm sure
How about yourself. Luetta:"
Me-" she faltered and then bushed
hotly. Lem BoskiDS. are you laugh
ing at me-"
He arose and stood close beside her.