Connecticut western news., 1913-11-27

! If it's worth our while We may set : up for a week or two"
 "Oh. then. you'll be here over 1 Thanksgiving. won't you? I'd like 10 have you all take dinner with us to- morrow"
 The man looked at his fellows with curious smile. half questioning. half lncredulous. Its rather unexpected" he remarked humorously.
 "Oh. we're all neighbors out here, l you know" Milly explained cordially. My husband would be very glad to have you with us. We are from the east, and we're used to having com pany for Thanksgiving"
 Your husband is a prospector. too, take it?''
 "Oh. no. He came out here for his health two years ago. when he was all run down with overwork. We expect i to stay here until he's quite we'll"
 We didn't notice any houses as we passed along. Where do you liver
 1.-Two miles below here on the Sun rise road. not on the trail. Will you come over tomorrow"
 Well. being as you're so kind as to take the trouble to invite us. we'll be glad to accept your hospitality and thank you
 Very well. I shall expect you promptly at 12. There are eight Of you. aren't there? want you all. re member. Now I'll go. for the walk is rather long. You cross the hill and 20 straight south till you reach the Sunrise wagon road. which will take you directly to our shack, going west. Good night"
 Muly returned in great good spirits. Jim looked dubious at first, but he was Il loath to dampen the ardor of his good little helpmeet by voiclng his doubts as to the wisdom of inviting eight strangers to their home.
 T hope we have enough stun on hand" said cautious Jim. "It will take heaps to satisfy eight hungry men. you know"
 "Of course we have plenty. Well kill both turkeys. and I'll make four pies instead of one and two boiled pud- dings besides. We'll have potatoes and turnips and the canned corn l put un myself and as much cider as they can drink. For dessert we'll have real good coffee and iced cake Oh, we'll have enough, you may be sure. Jim. you must rig up table big enough to seat them all"
 They. worked till bedtime that night. peeling apples. seeding raisins and picking the turkeys The next morn ing Milly rose long before dawn and set about her baking and brewing. while Jim put up big deal table that stretched almost the length of the room. and by noon it was set with all the luscious viands of an eastern Thanksgiving dinner. set with homely platters and dishes. 10 he sure, but not rougher in appearance than the rien who finally seated themselves about the steaming board. Jim beamed hos pitably from his place at the head Of the table and tried dutifully to "act as if the company belonged there" as Milly had said The big. black whisk- cred fellow whom the others addressed as Blaisedale watched Milly with n curious intentness which made her un- comfortable.
 You're michtv comfortably fixed for these diggings." said he presently. look ing about the walls with their homely l prints and ornaments.
 "YeS. we are rather comfortable thanks to Milly's ingenuity" Jim an. swered. with a glow of affectionate pride.
 You're lucky to be able to afford such luxuries. for all those fancy fix ings are luxuries in Colorado" Blaise: dale remarked significantly.
 "Yes. 1 count myself one of the luck. | fest men in the world. I owe every thing to Milly. even my life. was a poor law student when we were mar ried. and when my health broke down she simply took all responsibility into her own hands. It was her money that enabled me to come here It's her bit 1 of money that we're living on now. All | that she has in the world is in the lit tie bank at Sunrise, where she goes once month to draw the necessary sum for our provisions. But now that I've got to work we're making our way along without much help from the bank. I tell you I hated to use that money bad enough. but if 1t hadn't been for that the Lord only knows what would have become of me"
 Milly blushed deeply and becomingly. "Why. 1t doesn't amount to that" said she. with a snap of her brown fingers "All the money in the world would be worthless to me if didn't have Jim"
 "I've heard a saying about a good wife being a treasure. Blaisedale re- marked. "Your wife proves the truth of it.
 The dinner was a great success. Blaisedale. who seemed to exert mys- terious influence over his fellows. grew very talkative and entertaining. He told stories of queer places and queerer l people. which savored of familiarity with lawlessness and lawbreakers but which kept Jim breathlessly interested until the eight strange guests made their adieus. Blaisedale. who was last to go turned to the threshold and held