Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-12-04
CHAPTER u.

Well, we got the poor old doctor
moved back to his room, and had one
of the chambermaids find him there.
and wired to Mrs. Van Alstyne. who
was Mr.. Dicky Carter's sister. and
who was on her honeymoon In South
Carolina. The Van Alstynes came
back at once, in very bad tempers.
and we had the funeral from the
preachers house in Finleyville so as
not to harrow up the sanatorium
people any more than necessary.
After 1t was all over the relatives
gathered in the sun parlor Of the san
atorium to hear the will--Mr. Van Al
styne and his wife and about twenty
more who had come up from the city
for the funeral and stayed over-on
the house.
Well, the old doctor left me the but
tons for his full dress waistcoat and
his favorite copy Of "Gray's Anatomy"
! couldn't exactly set up housekeeping
with my share of the estate.
They thought that was funny, but
few minutes later they weren't so
cheerful. You see the sanatorium was
a mighty fine piece of property with
deer park and golf links. We'd
had plenty Of offers to sell it for a
summer hotel, but we'd both been
dead against 1t. That was one of the
reasons for the will.
The whole estate was left to Dicky
Carter, who hadn't been able to come.
owing to his being laid up with an
attack of humps. The family sat up
and nodded at one another, or held
up it's hands. but when they heard
there was a condition they breathed
easier.
Beginning with one week after the
reading of the willard not a day
later-Mr. Dick was to take charge Of
the sanatorium and to stay there for
two months without day of II at
the end OF that time the place was
being successfully conducted and
could show that 1t hadn't lost money,
the entire property became his for
keeps. II he failed II was to be sold
and the money given to charity.
Well, the family went back to town
in a buzz of Indignation, and car
ried my waistcoat buttons and my
Anatomy" out to the spring-house and
had a good cry. There was man
named Thoburn who was crazy for
the property as a summer hotel. and
every time shut my eyes could see
"Thoburn House" over the veranda
and children sailing paper boats In the
mineral spring.
Sure enough. the next afternoon Mr.,
Thoburn drove out from Finleyville
with suit case. and before he'd taken
of his overcoat he came out to the
spring-house.
Hello, Minnie" he exclaimed.
Does the old mans ghost come back
to dope the spring. or do you do it?"
II 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 Schmidt's 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 1t.
leave 1t to you." he said, smiling, ''if
a self-respecting COW wouldn't die Of
thirst before she drank that stuff as
1t is now"
I'd been filling him glass--it being
a matter of habit with me-and he
took 1t to the window and held 1t to
the light.
You're getting careless. Minnie" he
said, squirting at 1t. Some of those
drugs ouglt to be dissolved first in
hot water. There's a lump of lithia
there that has Schmidt's pharmacy la
bel on it."
"Wheref" demanded, and started
for 1t. 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 hooking 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 2"
He's young" said. but II you're
counting on his being a fool"
mot at ALL" he broke In hastily.
IF 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