Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-07-05

-
years ago. Didn't get three months
leave of absence with full pay and
passes for US both SO we could take q !
nice trip?" @ ]
s'Three months leave In twenty-five
years!" moaned Mrs. Rood. "And now
that new managers going to take
AWAY your pension. oh, know you
think I'm awful, Amos. but just hate
that grasping, greedy oM company
that works it's men to death just the
way it does its poor horses, SOS to
save a little more money!"
ut hurts me to hear you talk like
that, Lucy" Amos Rood protested 10y.
ally. "The company does the best 1t
can't has troubles Of its own"
'Well, I won't say another word II
you don't want should, Amos" the
little woman promised, brushing the
angry tears from her eyes. II amt
afraid but we'll get along some way. 1t
Just made me mad to think how
little the company seemed to appre-
ciate how honest and faithful you've
been. Now you come and wash up
and eat your birthday dinner before
it's all spoiled
But though Amos Rood valiantly
attempted to do justice to the little
feast, it was evident to the anxious
wife who watched him that the dainty
viaHds that she had prepared with
such care were as dust and ashes to
his palate. He looked stunned and
bewildered by the unexpected blow
which had been dealt him, and as he
pushed back his chair from the table,
he said slowly:
I'D calculated to finish up that job
of Browns this afternoon, but when
I got that letter I sent 'em word not
. to expect mel didn't feel equal to
tacklin' figures today. But I'll paint
them storm-doors you wanted done,
Lucy. It'll be quiet out there in the
barn, and IL want to think things
over"
Mrs. Rood looked after him visit,
fully. II guess maybe he would be bet
ter by himself" she thought humbly.
II wouldn't wonder If my everlastin'
gable bothered him some when he's
Well, I'll fly around and straighten up
J. so't will look pleasant to him when
he comes in, an maybe if was to fix
i, that chicken into scallop he'd relish
it for supper. He didn't eat scarcely
a mite O. dinner"
But although Amos Rood had found
the solitude he craved, there was
ifxySr r. in
emptiness of the great barn, and as
\ he resolutely set himself to the task
I of painting the storm DOORS he had
mentioned, he began to wish vaguely
that old Dolly were still alive to stamp
her iron shod feet and to nicker to
him socially from her STALL
Then, with a sudden pang, he real.
lied that he was glad that the old
horse who had been his and Lucy's
FRIEND and companion for so many
years, had died last month, for how
could he have brought himself to sell
! her when their little home was broken
up? The brush dropped from his
nerveless hand as he muttered, yes, 1t
would come to that!
Lucy said that they would man
age some way, but Lucy, with all her
CHEEKY common sense and thrift, had
woman's ignorance of the grim fact
that two and two always make four,
and never by any chance five or
six.
- Perhaps, by selling their little place
and living on the proceeds they might
- manage to keep together for a few
:, years more, but the end was inev'
- table. Sooner or later Lucy would
- be obliged to 60 to the well-to-do sis
y ter who had never attempted to con
y ceal her conviction that the pretty
energetic girl might have done better
% than to marry Amos Rood.
1 AS for him, there would be nothing
left but the shelter Of the county pool
p house.
Something seemed to snap in the
IS mans brain. Why shouldn't he quiet
u ly get out Of it all, while there was
Il still something to keep Lucy from en-
u tire dependence on a woman like pros
Ferrous, self-satisfed Jane Thorn? She
n would mourn for him he knew, but
! death Is easier to bear than some 9th
g. er things.
u Suddenly he paused, arrested In hif
e grim preparations for the deed OF
sr which he was resolved.
D. amos! Almost" his wife was call
ing.
d, Ten, yes, five moments more and he
q. would have been forever deaf to thai
a tender voice, and Lucy would have
% come and found him-he shuddered
g. with sick repulsion. He had beer
e Observation-Disclosures! But Lucy'i
'e light feet were running along the gar
% den paths and she was calling. again
'e Amos! Oh, Amos. do please
ID hurry!" FIX - ~ 80
r The man stumbled blindly to tn,
'e door. The next instant he was stand
d ing in the warm sunlight he had neve
a thought to feel again, with, Lucy
lg arms about his neck; her happy tear
upon his cheek.