Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-09


was very fat and quivered like mold
of jelly when she moved. She was an
idle. shallow minded woman, much
given TO gossip of a harmless sort. and, .
as might be expected. she was a poor
housekeeper. Her husband, Finrey
Lloyd, was a little wisp of man who
did odd jobs around the shipyard.
well. Aunt Betsey." said Aida in
her slow drawl. ANY news?"
News of what?" snapped Betsey
Findlebury.
"Oh, anything was Alida's reply.
| but her little eyes narrowed watch
fully as she swayed to and fro in the
| Boston rocker.
/ NO news" Mrs. Findlebury clipped
| her words sharply. as she always did
/ when speaking to her niece.
For the past six months Aida had
| carried much news from Betsey Fin
| dlebury's neat white house.
Haven't you heard a word from
| Uncle Silas?" asked Aida.
'T can't communicate with the
dead" persisted Aida.
"of course" and Betsey's lips shut
tight
"Then Mrs. Moore was wondering
why you don't wear black for him or
lavender" went on Aida.
Mamie Moore's always wondering
about something" retorted Betsey
dryly. "Once she wondered what Fin
ney Lloyd ever saw about you that
was with. falling in love with"
Alida's fat cheeks Redeemed duly.
Mamie Moore's always been jealous
of me marrying Finney," she said with
some difficulty.
Hum. Seeing's she gave Finney
the mitten two years before you kept
company with him, I don't see how
!, she's got anything to complain Of"
nodded Aunt Betsey. Now. you was
talking about your Uncle Silas, Aida
Mrs. Lloyd glared resentfully at the
quiet little white haired woman knit
ting so serenely by the west window.
81 amt the only one Mamie Moore
talks about" she muttered as she got
upon her feet. "She says, says she. I
hear that Silas Findlebury's ghost is
my own uncle, felt it a duty to my
self. me having been Findlebury, to
come over and find out about IT."
Betseys soft lips settled into q
straight line. and for a woment she
made no reply. Then:
Your Uncle Silas was drownded of
the White Rock six months ago-tc
be exact. on the 18th day of February
Leastways, we think he was drownded
and now we're sure. he was drowndet
because he never came home. and tn,
I empty boat, all stove in amidships
came ashore one day. You know al
that I know, Aida" Betsey was quite
pale when she finished.
I Aida stared at her with round eyes.
s. well, 'HumboIt Pedrick declared ht
:. saw Uncle Silas blowing the south fell
in April" she said boldly. Eat night"
r Fiddler snapped Betsey GROSSLY.
G well who plowed it them" demand
ed Aida triumphantly. ''Humbolt say
he's asked every man in Little River
and there amt one that done 1t. VIII
j? did it, Aunt Betsey?"
"Goodby, Aida" said Mrs. Findle
IL bury ,coldly. I'm sorry you're in sue
It n hurry, but it's most supper time, an
g expect your dinner dishes amt wash
ed up yet, and it might be that you
q beds amt made. / saw a pillow hang
k ing out of Finney's winder just now.
q She smiled grimly as the door slamme
g after Mrs. Loyd's bulky form.
n When she was alone her sweet fac
grew suddenly pinched as If with men
" tai suffering. She hid her face in he
r worn hands and rocked gently to an
"a fro.
"a 81 wonder-I wonder who did 1t,
. she murmured over and over again.
She wondered what Aida and he
inquistive friends would say If the
knew that Silas Findlebury had quar-
;. relied bitterly with his wife the da
before he disappeared.
No one but herself knew OF that qual
~ rel. the outgrowth of Silas' desire t
ie build a new barn on the place. The
&C had been saving money for two year
to pay off the little mortgage remainin
81 on the farm. The $500, together wit
81 SIS for the six months interest, wou
y" build the barn that Silas declared h
he needed for the proper housing Of hi
stock.
Betsey believed that the old bar
would do for awhile longer She wa
IT. eager to remove the last encumbranc
from her home. They had quarrele
for the first time during their happ
married life.
The very next day Silas had announ'
ed his intention of going fishing, an
that was the last Betscy had seen {
him. The money had been in his poci
cts, for Silas placed no faith in banks
he Early in April Mrs. Findlebur
lid awoke one morning to find her sout
field plowed and narrowed ready fc
OF the corn. 1t had been Silas' habit {
De- have his corn in before the 10th. TIL
field was pIowed on the It'll, and Be
ne sey planted the corn herself on the ST
he and 9th.
er' Humbolt Pedrick declared that |
saw Silas Findlebury driving tw
white horses before a white ploy
blowing his own cornfieId at midnigh
He also said that Silas was dressed
white robes and that cold wind BILE
n Il