Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-11-06

Il don't know what you are talking
about, Mr. Thoburn," retorted sharp
ly. "If you don't know that this spring
has its origin in"
In Schmldts drug store down in
! Finleyville!" he finished for me. "Oh,
know all about that spring, Minnie!
Don't forget that my fathers cows
used to drink that water and liked It,
leave 1t to you" he said, shifting, III
self-respecting COW wouldn't die OF
thirst before she drank that stuff as
1t is now"
I'd been filling him a glass--it being
matter of habit with me-and he
took IT to the window and held It to
the light.
You're getting careless, Minnie" he
| said, squirting at It, Some of those
drugs ought to be dissolved first in
hot water. There's a lump of lithia
there that has Schmidts pharmacy la
| bel on It."
"Where?" | demanded, and started
for it. He laughed at that, and put
ting the glass down. he came over and
stood smiling at me.
"As ingenious as a child" he said
in his mocking way. "a nice, little red
haired child! Minnie, how old is this
| young Carter"
"Twenty-three."
"An-er-earnest youth? Willing to
buckle down to work and make the
old place go? Ready to pat the old
ladies on the shoulder and squeeze the
young ones hands?"
He's young" I said, but IL you're
counting on his being a fool"
Not at ALL" he broke in hastily
III he hasn't too much character he'll
probably succeed. | hope he isn't
fool. Where is he now?"
He's been sick" said. "Mumps!"
"Mumps! Oh, my aunt" he ex-
claimed, and fell to laughing. He was
still laughing when he got to the door.
"Mumps!" he repeated, with his
hand on the knob. Minnie, the old
place will be under the hammer in
three weeks, and II you know what's
good for you, you'll sign in under the
new management while there's a va
cancy."
IF l were YOU" said, looking him
straight in the eye, 81 wouldn't pick
out any new carpets yet. Mr. Thoburn
| | promised the old doctor I'd help Mr.
| Dick, and / will"
so you're actually going to fight
1t out" he said, grinning. We'll, the
odds are in your favor. You are two
| to my one"
Il think it's pretty even" | retorted
! 'sNNa will no hipHaroH tA
having certain principles of honor and
honesty. You have no handicap"
He tried to think OF a retort, and
not finding one he slammed out of
the spring-house in a rage.
Mr.. Van Alstyne and his wife came
in that same day, just before dinner,
and we played three-handed bridge for
half an hour. AS I've said, they'd been
on their honeymoon, and they were
both sulky at having to stay at the
Springs.
After the first rubber Mrs. Van Al
styne threw her cards on the floor and
said another day like this would finish
her.
She turned her back to her hus.
band, but he pretended to tuck the
hair at the back of her neck up under
her comb, and she let him do it, AS
stopped to gather up the cards he
kissed the tip of her ear.
Listen" he said, there's a scream
OF play down at Finleyville tonight
called Sweet Peas" Senator Biggs
and the bishop went down last night,
and they say it's the worst in twenty
years. Put on black veil and let's
slip away and see it,"
think she agreed to do 1t, but that
night after dinner, Amanda King, who
has charge OF the news stand, told me
the sheriff had closed the opera-house
and that the leading woman was sick
at the hotel.
They say she looked funny last
night" Amanda finished, "and | guess
she's got the humps"
Mumps!
My Joint gave throb at that min
ute
Mr.. Sam wasn't taking any chances,
for the next day he went to the city
himself TO bring Mr.. Dick up.
] nc hdAH lH0
ing OF the sixth day. but he wired his
wife the day before that Mr.. Dick was
on the way But we met every train
with a sleigh, and he didn't come.
was uneasy, knowing Mr.. Dick, and
Mrs Sam was worried, too.
1t had been showing hard for day
or so, and at eleven o'clock that day
| saw Miss Cobb and Mrs. Biggs com
ing down the path to the spring-house
Mr. Van Alstyne is back" said Miss
Cobb but he came alone"
"Alone!" / repeated, staring at her
: In sort OF daze.
Alone" she said solemnly, "and
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter. II
seems he started for here yesterday
But I'd had time TO get myself in
hand. and II had a chill up my spine
she never knew II. AS she started
, away | saw Mr.. Sam hurrying dowr