The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-01-23

! ly. IF you don't know that this spring
has its origin in"
I'm Schmidt's drug store down in
FinleyviIle!' he finished for me. "Oh,
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
a selfrespecting COW wouldn't die Of
thirst before she drank that stuff as
1t is now"
| I'd been filling him glass--it being
a matter of habit with meand he
took 1t 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
hot water. There's lump of lithia
there that has Schmidt's pharmacy la
bel on it,"
"Where?" | 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 a child" he said
in his mocking 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"
mot at ALL" he broke in hastily
If he hasn't too much character he'll
probably succeed. / hope he isn't a
4 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 IL you know what's
good for you, you'll sign in under the
new management while there's va
cancy"
iii were you" said, looking him
straight Inc the eve, 81 wouldn't pick
out any new carpets yet, Mr.. Thoburn.
promised the old doctor I'd help Mr..
Dick. andII will"
SO you're actually going to fight
1t out" he said, grinning. well, the
odds are in your favor. You are two
to my one"
4 think it's pretty even," retorted
We will be hindered, so to speak, by
having certain principles OF honor and
honesty. You have no handicap"
| He tried to think of a 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 az 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
She turned her back to her bus.
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.
Listen" he said, there's a scream
OF play down at Finleyville tonight
called Sweet Peas" Senator Bieps
and the bishop went down last night
and they say it's the worst in twenty
years. Put on a black veil and let's
slip away and see it,
! think she agreed to do it but that
night after dinner, Amanda King who
mas charge of the news stand told me-
the sheriff had closed the opera. house
and that the leading woman was sic.
at the hotel. oN
They say she looked funny last
night, Amanda finished, "and | euess
she's got the mumps."
Mumps!
My joint gave a throb at that min.
ute. mil
Mr.. Sam wasn't taking anv chancas
Ior the next day he went to the citv
noea " prinS mr.. Dick up.
He hadn't come back by the morn
ing OF the sixth day, but he wired nj.
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.
II had been snowing hard for a.
or so, and at eleven O'clock that d.
saw Miss Cobb and Mrs. Bigge CON-
ing down the path to the spring.house
Mr.. Van Alstyne is back" said Ms.
Cobb, but he came alone"
"Alonei" l repeated, staring AZ ha-
In sort of daze.
Alone" she said solemnIy aana
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter :.
seems he started for here YESTERDAY ;.
But I'D had time to get myself n
hand. and II had chill up INV amino
she never knew It. AS she star,ad
away ! saw Mr.. Sam hurrying down
the path toward the spring-house and
/ knew my Joint hadn't throbbed for
nothing.