Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-19
'TheEveningS STORY
WHAT "A
PEDDLER DID
BY M QUAD
Copyright. 1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

the other. Both wanted the best of the
bargain. and both feared to be cheated.
1t had been a cat and dog business
for years. and Abraham had come to
be thirty years old and Cynthia TWEEN
ty-eight. She was a strappin4, healthy
young woman. and she not only acted
as housekeeper, but worked in the
fields part of the time.
Nature had wanted to spite the state
of Indiana when she created them
cross eyed. lop shouldered. big ears.
big mouths. overhanging teeth and bow
legs. The pair had once been offered
$75 per week to go as freaks in dime
museum. They would have accepted
only they could not agree as to the d.
vision of the salary.
What tin peddler heard as he stood
in the open door of a summers morn
ing was:
"Ycu are liar.'
"And so are your
"Oh. how | hate your
And I'd like to kill your
"And what kind of talk is this be-
tween brother and sister," demanded
the peddler as he stepped inside the
house.
There: I'm glad somebody has lis
tened and knows just how mean you
are" exclaimed Cynthia to Abe.
| But what's 1t all about asked the
peddler
He wants to get married. but no
woman will have him." explained Gym
thia.
mo woman will have me as long as
she Is around. and you can't blame
her" added Abe. Just take square
look at her. will your
'And then take square look at him.
will you?"
The peddler helped himself to chair
and sat down. with his hands on his
knees. and took long look at both in
turn. Then he uttered whistling
'w-h-e-w"' and added;
Its nwful-just awful"
You mean herr" said Abe.
You mean himw added Cynthia.
| "Um, UNI. It's which and t'other,
guess. So you quarrel about getting
married.
They both nodded their heads.
You are right when you see no
chances"
No response.
Unless you make it an object for me
to help you out" finished the peddler.
What do you mean?' was chorused.
"Sit down and let's talk. Now. then.
the first thing is to recognize the fact
that neither man nor woman is going
to fall in love with you and marry you
out of affection"
Brother and sister sighed drearily.
But one of you can get wife and
the other a husband. just the SD 4
IL the scheme is worked right. j.
about one marriage out Of seven is a
love affair. In the other cases it's
money that talks"
You have scheme. Let's hear it. -
mot so fast. IL l can marry you
both off I want $50 ench."
You shall have it."
And you must do exactly as I tell
you to-"
For an hour the peddler's scheme
was discussed. and he then resumed
his way.
The Barnes farm was on a main
highway. and somebody was passing
every few minutes. One morning
farmers driving to the village two
miles beyond pulled their teams up
short at an unwonted sight. Abe and
his sister were digging with pick and
spade In grove near the road They
had evidently been at work since mid
night. for there We're several holes In
which calf could have been buried.
Hey, Abe. are you digging well
shere?' was called. but neither Abe
nor his sister pretended to hear.
What one farmer said to himself as
he drove on half dozen did, and that
was.
by thunder, but thought that tin
peddler was gassing when he told OF
buried treasure on the Barnes farm
Abe and his sister must have got a
pinter and are digging fur it. Consarr
EN-. If they find 1t they orter be made
10 divide"
That peddler did his work well oyel
three counties. On the fifth day of the
digging widower came twenty miles
to look Cynthia over. He shook his
head and backed Off. but heard some
one whisper that the treasure amount
ed to 81 100000 in gold Tie therefore
drew long breath. braced up and sait
to Cynthia:
1T Is love at first sight with me-"
but we may not lind the money
she replied.
at is a wife to love me and n,
money" he CALAMITY lied. And insid,
of four days they We're married.
1t was the day after Cynthia's wed
ding that widow with an eye to bust
ness came driving mp In one hors'
. wagon and got audience with Abe t
say:
I'm hunting for the right kind Of !
man."
, But I am as homely as thistl