News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-12-03

| the lignl.
| You're getting careless, Minnie" he
said, squinting at 1t. Some of those
drugs ought to be dissolved first In
hot water. There's a lump of lithia
there that has Schmidt's pharmacy la
bel on it."
for it. He laughed at that, and put
ting the glass down, he came over and
stood smiling at me.
| CAS- ingenious as child" he said
in his mocking way, "a nice, little red
haired child Minnie, how old is this
young Carriers"
"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" / said, "but if you're
counting on his being a fool"
'If he hasn't too much character he'll
probably succeed. I hope he isn't a
fool. Where is he now?"
Hes 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 if 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 l will"
$50 you're actually going to fight
1t out" he said, grinning. well, the
odds are in your favor. You are two
to my one"
81 think it's pretty even," retorted
1--WE will be hindered, SO to speak, by
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 SpTlnS-HOuSo III 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 a play down at Finleyville tonight
called Sweet Peas" Senator Biggs
and they say it's the worst in twenty
years. Put on a black veil and let's
slip away and see it."
1 thinlAshe agreed to do it, 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 l guess
she's got the humps"
Mumps!
My joint gave a 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.
He hadn't come back by the morn
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 sleigh, and he didn't come.
was uneasy, knowing Mr.. Dick, and
Mrs. Sam was worried, too.
1t had been showing hard for a. day
or so, and at eleven o'clock that day
l 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!" l repeated, staring at her
in sort of daze.
Alone" she said solemnly, "and I
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter. 1t
seems he started for here yesterday"
But I'd had time to get myself in
hand, and If had a chill up my spine
she never knew it. AS she started
away l saw Mr.. Sam hurrying down
the path toward the spring-house, and
/ knew my joint hadn't throbbed for
nothing.
Mr.. Sam came in and slammed the
door behind him.
Whats this about Mr.. Dick not be-
ing here?" he shouted.
We'll, he isn't. That's all there is
to it, Mr.. Van Alstyne," said calmly.
But he must be here" he said. 81
put him on the train myself yester-
day, and waited until it started to be
sure he was off,
Exactly what was he doing when
you last laid eyes on him?" / asked.
He was ON the train"
"Sitting?"
mo, standing. What the deuce,
Minnie"
Waving out the window to your
"Of course not!" exclaimed Mr.. Van
A Ia ii. . l. -.