Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-01-24

orations. real champagne wine, and
everything imported even when it's
made on the spot They don't make
no hurroar over losing a few thou
sand at cards. but they just amt going
to stand seeing Polly laying around
drunk on the barroom floor. / tell
you when they comes amt going to
have Polly around my place. That's
straight She'll get her marching or
ders P d. a.
So Polly was next for betrayal
Yes Brooke became very con-
fdential. What 1 require at Forest
Lodge is a real society hostess, lady
Yes, that's what's the matter-a lady.
Now that's what 1 come about Ever
since seen you. Mrs, mean madam.
1 mean
He became quite difident, leaving
the doorway. leaning over the coun-
ter.
Would you" he began, would
you be prepared, ma'am, to-
Ny way was clear, and 1 ran
Billy had held these last few weeks
that Polly's funds were gone. that she
| was penniless. He begged me to let
| him destroy the great sign-board
| across the road to Spite House. Fail
ure to renew that would indeed be
conclusive proof of the woman's
penu-y, but the meanness of such a
| test revoIted me, for one does not
| strike fallen adversary.
Were there any funds to promote
| black pines and mosquitoes as an at
traction to millionaires? Brooke in
his folly had divulged that foolish
| scheme, sufficient to complete the ruin
of poor wretched woman. before he
abandoned her interests to seek his
own Was it true? 1 went straight
to Captain Taylor.
Yes, Kate" he chuckled, the muir
| der's out at last You see I'm not ex-
actly prosperous, and my retired pay
is drop in my bucket of debts. And
then our good friend Polly invested all
her wealth in buying up the mortgage
on this ranch"
| But why?''
| For fun. For the pleasure of turn
| ing me out. She kindly granted me
permission to sleep in that old barrel
which used to belong to my fox, but
then you see 1 really couldn't be I'M
der any obligations to the lady,"
Did you pay off the mortgage?"
q did. So Polly strums rag-time
tunes on my piano, Brooke wears my
/
their beans and bacon with my family
plate, the gentleman sports my crest,
the lady has my dear mothers dia-
monds which are really paste. My
dear, they're county society-you real
ly must call and leave cards.
But the portraits!"
| They stared at me so rude1y that
1 burnt them. Ancestors ought to re-
member they're dead, and they'd rath-
er be burned, too, than be claimed as
| Polly's aunts.'
And the Star Pack-train?"
"A half-interest my dear, a half
interest, that's ALL"
so you're in partnership"
why, no. Fact is, old Pete has
been working thirty-fve years, with
| his faithful eyes shining behind that
| hair-it's silver now, Ell? Well, I
couldn't leave him in the lurch. And
| there's the Hudson's Bay to consider.
with forts up north depending on us
for supplies. And 1 suppose, when
come to think of it, I'm rather proud
of the outfit. So, in my sentimental
way, made a deed by which Pete is
managing owner, with a half-interest
while Polly is sleeping partner with
no right to interfere"
You've told Peter"
mo. 1 suppose I've got to own
up?"
You don't want Pete to be cheated
by his partners"
You're right. Just open my desk
and look inside. It's the paper on
top
1 found and read the deed.
You've read it, CT course said.
ct was read to me by the lawyer
chap. Isn't it all right?''
"Oh, yes" 1 managed to say, Its
all right-such funny legal jargon.
1 looked at the names of the wit
nesses, Cultus McTavish and Low.
lived Joe, the worst characters in our
district. The document read to the
old blind man had been no doubt de
stroyed The deed actually signed
made Polly sole owner of the famous
pack-train. My friend had been
cheated.
CTO BE CONTINUED
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