Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-16

BIDDING FOR A Wife
Nv GRACE kERRiGAN.

June day with horse and buggy. q
young man smiled and laughed ana
hummed. He Knocked crow, and ne
shouted at farmer In the field. Now
and then he slapped his leg, and now
and then he gave the old horse cut
with the whip, and few seconds later
begged his pardon for the act
Mr.. Ralph Warrenton, attorney ana
counsellor at law, was resident OF
the town of Dorset. where he was
neither beloved nor despised
He had set up a law office on Eoth-
ing, and still had his original capital
and was In debt besides. He mad lour
clients in three years, and had ios'
their cases for them with promptness
and dispatch.
1t was the general opinion that ne
didn't know much about law. and that
some day he would get discouraged
and go into partnership with the town
cooper.
They hadn't been fair to young war
renton. They are never fair TO the
young man who starts out without
money or influence to make his way In
the world. A pull Is needed, and
when one has it his road Is plain and
easy to travel.
Ralph Warrenton was smart, but he
wasn't in with the ring. 1t could
neither be said that he had money or
was making money, and 30 the clients
carried their easy cases to other law.
yers and gave him those without a
hope. He didn't amount to much so
cially How could he when he couldn't
buy dress suit nor join club? he
had raised the money two or three
times to buy a chance at the grab
bag at church festivals. but that
hadn't helped him much.
In the first place. how could the
briefess young lawyer AFFORD to be
riding about In livery rig at an ex'
pense OF $3.50?
In the second, why was the grin on
his face so broad and merry that one
was reminded of eating hot maple
sugar on a white maple chip out in the
spring sugar bush?
He had cool ten thousand dollars
right in his pocket. He had been over
to Iona to get it cashed. He had been
left that sum In his grandfather Will,
and as no one had contested the will
on the grounds that the old man was
of his perch the legacy had come
along. And knowing all that the
money meant to him the young man
wanted to ring out the fire depart
ment.
"Doggone your hide, are you
olind?"
The horse was driving himself, and
mad almost run over an old man VINO
vas padding along In the middle of
the highway.
Whoa there, | didn't see you l
beg your pardon and hope you are not
hurt"
You needn't hope anything about
IT. You are a darn mean man! II you
had run over me I'D have you IN
prison."
Again ! beg your pardon"
You needn't beg nothin'. | know
you. You are that young whipper'
snapper lawyer from town, and you
tried to set party up to make me
Irouble!"
But don't remember you" said
the lawyer.
~ don't care whether you do or not!
II you ever try to run over me again
III give you dose of your own law!
Young Warrenton's spirits were
somewhat chilled as he drove on. but
he entered Dorset with most of his
smile back and drove to the bank to
open an account The Difference ex-
tended him was balmy. 1t makes
heap of difference to banker whether
you come to deposit or to borrow!
by the way" said the banker as the
business was concluded. why don't
YOU pick up a good real estate invest
ment with a part of this money!"
"Why, might" was replied. do
you know the Isabel farm?"
No"
"A mortgage has been foreclosed on
It. and it is to be sold to the highest
bidder tomorrow. OF course the old
man Carney, who held the mortgage,
will bid It in II he can. No one may
bid against him. as no one wants trou'
BILE with him. He'll get farm worth
all of $4,000 for less than $500. BY
laying out $1,000 in improvements you
will have a $1,000 farm there. Better
20 out and make bid. | like to see
young men get along
And this was the banker to whom
the lawyer had been introduced twice,
but who didn't remember his name
three days ago when passing him on
the street. He was now anxious to
throw something good in the young
mans way.
Mr.. Warrenton drove out to the farm
the next morning. No one had arrived
vet. and he knocked at the door OF the
farmhouse to make some inquiries. He
started back when 1t was opened by
Young girl whom he thought must have
dropped down from the city the night
before
81 want--want-," he stammered.
you wish to see my father, prob
ably?" . ....
'The-the farmer who Is to be sold
out today"
That is my father. He Is in bed
with broken leg. but he will see
you"
It did not take the farmer ten min,
utes to explain matters Poor crops
two seasons In succession-the loss of;
his wife by death-the accident to him.
He had defaulted on his last payment,
and cid Carney had sold him out. The
old man had a son. and he'd have cam
celled the mortgage if"
Father" said the girl In the door;