Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-11-20

she thought Of the kindly deeds he
had done secretly since coming TO
Lindgrove. he vas not a rich man.
far from il. but his simple charities
were many. and one concrete deed Of
goodness. where he had saved a poor
widow from foreclosure, had complete
" won Nellie's heart
II was two mornings later when
Nellie entered the front ONCE 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.
It's 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"
1T won't be. If il is. we've made
our turn. haven't we? See here, look
at the rationale of the thing; this way
back sleepy Mercer has a tract with
uncovered riches under it. 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 it never
reaches its destination. We came per
sonally and get an option on the prop
erty The Tidewater Iron works pays
for it, That's our business
making a commission. See here" and
there was a rustling of paper. There's
a sample of some of the prime stun
under that forty acres"
In a fash 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 bust
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-
sand. Messrs. Marvin & Sharp
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 |
4 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
aimed a rare substance known as ere
,olite, employed in blasting furnaces
o fuse metal.
Then Nellie waited, expecting an ex'
,losion every day. Having secured
heir deed the schemers were taking
heir leisure. One day Mr.. Mercer ap-
reared.
by the way, Miss Ward" he spoke,
.fter warm, friendly greeting, Il no
ice in the weekly paper transfer of
he swamp tract"
"Yes, SIR" replied Nellie, her breath
oming quick, Il sold it to those eli
nts Marvin & Sharp"
but they were to have the upland
I VI cdr
'1isey think they have got them
Explained Nellie. "They are swim
lers, for they intercepted letter'of-
ering you a large amount. Oh, Mr..
[ercer! I have tried to protect you. l
ope / have not done wrong" and,
ursting into tears, Nellie told all.
You are going to blame mel" she
obbed, as she looked up to find his
yes fixed upon her.
Il am lost in admiration" cried Jar
is Mercer. 81 need a guardian, as
gu have proved. Miss Ward-Nellie,
ould it be possible that you would &C {
ept such a responsibility-per
ently?"
81 love you SOL love you SOL" was
i Nellie could whisper, sheltered in g
lose strong, protecting arms. t
copyright 1918, by w. G. Chapman.) t