The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-12-05
CHAPTER II.

Of the chambermaids find MIN 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 it 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 oyer-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
a 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 it. 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 mumps. The family sat up
and nodded at one another, or held
up its 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 a day off. If at
the end of that time the place was
being successfully conducted and
could show that it hadn't lost money,
the entire property became his for
keeps. If he failed it was to be sold
and the money given to charity.
Well, the family went back to town
in buzz of indignation, and l car
ried my waistcoat buttons and my
Anatomy" out to the spring-house and
had a good cry. There was a 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
spring.
Sure enough, the next afternoon Mr..
Thoburn drove out from Finleyville
with a suit case, and before he'd taken
off 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?'
81 don't know what you are talking
about, Mr.. Thoburn," l retorted sharp
ly. IF you don't know that this spring
has its origin in"
In Schmidt's drug store down in
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 it to you," he said, shifting, ''if |
| self-respecting COW wouldn't die of
.hirst before she drank that stuff as
t is now"
I'd been filling him glass-it being |
/ matter of habit with me-and he |
ook it to the window and held it to
he light
You're getting careless, Minnie" he
aid, squirting at it. Some of those
lrugs ought to be dissolved first in
lot water. There's lump of lithia
here that has Schmidt's pharmacy la
el on it."
"Where?' l demanded, and started
or 1t. He laughed at that, and put
ing the glass down, he came over and
TODD smiling at me.
"As ingenious as a child" he said
4 his mocking way, "a nice, little red
aired child! Minnie, how old is this
Dung Carter?"
"Twenty-three."
"An-er-earnest youth? Willing to
uckle down to work and make the
Id place go? Ready to pat the old
Ldies on the shoulder and squeeze the
oung ones hands?"
He's young" / said, "but If you're
bunting on his being a fool"
mot at ALL" he broke in hastily. 6
L he hasn't too much character he'll 9
robably succeed. hope he isn't a 4
iol. Where is he now?" f
He's been sick" said. "Mumpsi" S
'Mumps! oh. my aunt!" he ex- Y
aimed, and fell to laughing. He was {
Ill laughing when he got to the door.
s'MumnRl" ha ranaatad with hfa