The Winslow mail., 1913-12-20

she thought of the kindly deeds he
had done secretly since coming to
Lindgrove. He was not a rich man,
tar from it, but his simple charities
were many, and one concrete deed of
goodness, where he had saved poor
widow from foreclosure, had complete
ly won Nellie's heart.
It was two mornings later when
Nellie entered the front Office of the
suite unobserved The boy who
opened up was busy in another room
and had not noticed her, nor had two
men seated in the outer apartment
She was about to apprize them of her
presence when a remark attracted her
attention sharply.
TITS a raw deal, Sharp" spoke one
Of the men.
That's the kind that pays, isn't it.,
Marvin and Nellie instantly knew
that the speakers were the expected
clients of her employer.
Yes, but if it's found out-about
that letter, you know"
ut won't be. If it Is. we've made
our turn. haven't we? See here, look
at the rationale of the thing: this way
back sleepy Mercer has tract with
uncovered riches under 1t. We dis
cover it. So does the Vulcan Steel
company. They write him offering him
ten thousand dollars for the land. /
intercept that letter and 1t never
reaches its destination. We came per-
sonally and get an option on the prop
erty. The Tidewater Iron works pays
us richly for it. That's our business
making a commission. See here" and
there was rustling of paper. There's
a sample of some of the prime stun
under that forty acres"
In a flash Nellie comprehended the
plot in motion. What should she do?
Mercer was FIVE hundred miles away
She had only surmise to go on. The
Office boy coming in announced her to
the visitors They stated their busi'
ness, Nellie had her orders. oh, for
time, for advice! Then, self-reliant lit
tie business woman that she was, she
prepared the deed the men asked for
executed it and received the two-thou-
VI
marched off jubilantly to record the
deed. Nellie nearly collapsed when
she tried to realize the bold, defiant
thing she had done.
The men had left what looked like
q lump of clay behind them. 1t was
the specimen they had talked about
From one of the professors up at the
college Nellie learned that it con
tanned rare substance known as ere
solite, employed in blasting furnaces
| to fuse metal.
Then Nellie waited, expecting an ex
plosion every day. Having secured
their deed the schemers were taking
their leisure. One day Mr.. Mercer ap
peared.
by the way, Miss Ward" he spole
after a warm, friendly greeting, II no
tice in the weekly paper transfer Of
the swamp tract"
Yes, SIR replied Nellie, her breath
coming quick, "I sold it to those eli
ents, Marvin & Sharp"
but they were to have the uplan6
acres"
They think they have got them,
explained Nellie. "They are swim
ilers, for they intercepted letter Of
fering you a large amount. Oh Mr
Mercer! / have tried to protect you.
hope l have not done wrong" and
bursting into tears, Nellie told all.
You are going to blame met" sh<
sobbed, as she looked up to find bis
| eyes fixed upon her.
"I am lost in admiration!" cried Jar
Wis Mercer. II need guardian, M
you have proved. Miss Ward-NelliA
could it be possible that you would as
eept such q responsibility-p
nently?"
'T love you SOL love you SOL" was
all Nellie could whisper, sheltered In
| those strong, protecting arms.
Copyright, 1918, by W. g. Chapman)