Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-22

: LJOeS me old man 5 SnOSt come back
to,dope the spring, or do you do ito"
Il don't know what you are talking
about, Mr. Thoburn,' I retorted sharp
ly. If you don't know that this spring
has its origin in"
In Schmidts drug store down in
Finleyyille!" he finished for me. sOh,
know all about that spring, Minnie!
/ Don't forget that my fathers cows
used to drink that water and liked it.
leave it to YOU" he said, shifting. IF
seif-respecting COW wouldn't die of
thirst before she drank that stuff as
it is now"
I'd been filing him glass-it being
a matter OF habit with me-and he
took it to the window and held it to
the light.
You're getting careless, Minnie" he
said, squirting at it. Some Of those
drugs ought to be dissolved first in
there that has Schmidt's pharmacy la
bel on it
"Where?" I demanded, and started
for it. He laughed at that, and put
ting the glass down, he came over and
stood smiling at me.
AS ingenious as child" he said
in his knocking way, "a nice, little red
haired child! Minnie, how old is this
young Carter?'
Twenty-three."
'An-er-earnest youth? Willing to
buckle down to work and make the
old place go? Ready to pat the old
ladies on the shoulder and squeeze the
young ones hands,"
He's young" ! said, but if you're
counting on his being a fool"
Not at all" he broke in hastily
If he hasn't too much character he'll
probably succeed. I hope he isn't a
fool Where is he now"
He's been sick" | said "Mumps,"
''Mumps! Oh. my aunt" he ex-
claimed, and fell TO laughing. He was
still laughing when he got to the door
'Mumps!" he repeated, with his
hand on the knob. Minnie, the old
place will be under the hammer in
three weeks, and if you know what's
good for you, you'll sign in under the
new management while there's a va
cancy."
If / We're you" l said, looking him
straight in the eye, I wouldn't pick
out any new carpets yet, Mr. Thoburn.
| promised the old doctor I'd help Mr..
Dick, and l will"
so you're actually going to fight
it out" he said, grinning We'll the
odds are in your favor. You are two
to nay one"
I think it's pretty even" l retorted.
I'VE will be hindered, SO to speak, by
having certain principles of honor and
honesty. You have no handicap"
He tried to think of retort, and
not finding one he slammed out Of
the spring house in rage.
Mr. Van Alstyne and his wife came
in that same day, just before dinner.
and we played three-handed bridge for
half an hour. AS I've said, they'd been
on their, honeymoon, and they were
, both sulky at having to stay at the
Springs.
After the first rubber Mrs. Van Al
styne threw her cards on the floor and
:. said another day like this would finish
her
, band, but he pretended to tuck the
hair at the back of her neck up under
her comb, and she let him do it. AS
| stopped to gather up the cards he
kissed the tip Of her ear
I Listen" he said, there's a scream
, of a play down at Finleyville tonight
, called Sweet Peas" Senator Biggs
and the bishop went down last night,
+ and they say it's the worst in twenty
, years, Put on black veil and let's
; slip away and see it."
, ! think she agreed to do it, but that
I night after dinner, Amanda King, who
has charge of the news stand, told me
, the sheriff had closed the opera-house
a and that the leading woman was sick
at the hotel.
They say she looked funny last
. night" Amanda finished and l guess
! she's got the humps"
, Mumps!
i My joint gave a throb at that min
! ute.
Mr. Sam wasn't taking any chances
> for the next day he went to the city
' himself to bring Mr.. Dick up.
+ He hadn't come back by the morn.
r ing of the sixth day. but he wired his
: / wife the day before that Mr. Dick was
: on the way. But we met every train
] with a sleigh, and he didn't come. /
was uneasy, knowing Mr.. Dick, and
= Mrs Sam was worried, too.
1 1t had been showing hard for a day
or so, and at eleven o'clock that day
n l saw Miss Cobb and Mrs. Biggs com
:, ing down the path to the spring-house
y "Mr Van Alstyne is back" said Miss
! Cobb. but he came alone"
\ "Alonei" l repeated, staring at her
r tn sort of daze.
i Alone" she said solemnly, and
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter. II
: seems he started for here yesterday
g But I'd had time TO get myself in
hand, and if | had a chill up my spins
she never knew it. AS she started
q away I saw Mr.. Sam hurrying down
u the path toward the spring-house, and
g l knew my joint hadn't throbbed for
nothing.
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