Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-12

ont I've been kind o. thinkIn' % that
lately. What wages would you expect
81 1 paid n hoy for the rough work.
asked the deacon TREMENDOUSLY.
well. to tell the truth. | don't quite
fancy the idea OF taking wages. Judge
Dickinson wants me 10 go TO Alfred
and hous Keep for him and named Sl2
| a month. It's good pay. and l haven't
said No But my rent Is small here.
I'm my own mistress. and l don't feel
like giving up my privileges.
Twelve dollars n month"; He had
never thought OF approaching that sum.
I and he saw the heap OF unwashed
dishes growing day by day and the
cream souring on the milk pans Sud
denly an idea sprang full born into the
deacon's mind. lied Morrilrs "Old
Driver must have been close ut handy
Would Jane Tillman marry him? No
woman I'm the three villages would be
more. obnoxious to his daughters; that
in itself was distinct gain. She was
n fine. robust figure of a woman in her
early forties. and he thought, after all.
that the hollow chested. spindle shank
ed kind were more expensive to feed
on the whole than their better padded
sisters. He had never had any diff
Guilty in managing wives and thought
himself quite equal TO one more bout,
even at siXty-five. though he had just
the faintest suspicion that the high
color on Mrs. Tillman's prominent cheek
bones. the vigor shown in the coarse
black hair and handsome eyebrows.
might make this task little more diff
fcult than his previous ones.
IF you'd lihe to have a home o your
own 'thout payin' rent, you've only
got to say the word an III make you
Mis- Baxter" said the deacon.
.'There'H be nobody to interfere with
you. an a handsome legacy IL / die
first for none o. my few savin's is go
in to my daughters, / can promise
you THAR
The deacon threw out this tempting
bait advisedly. for at this moment he
would have poured his hoard into the
lap of any woman who would help
him to avenSe his fancied wrongs.
This was information indeed. The
few savings" alluded TO amounted TO
some thousands, Jane Tillman knew
Had she not better burn her ships be-
hind her. take the risks and have faith
in her own powers? She was getting
along in years. and her charms of per-
son were Iessening with every day that
passed over her head. If the deacon's
queer ways grew too queer. she
thought. an appeal to the doctor and
the minister might provide way of
escape and a neat little income to boot
4AA,,
much against her natural incllnations.
seemed TO be providentially arranged.
If Jane Tillman became Mrs. Baxter
she intended TO get the whip hand and
keep il. but nothing was further from
her Intention than TO make the deacon
miserable if she could help it That
was not her disposition, and so. when
the deluded man left her house. he had
made more concessions in single
hour than in all the former years OF
his life.
His future spouse was to write out
little paper for his signature: just
friendly little paper to he kept quite
private and confidential between them
selves. stating that she was 10 do no
work outside of the house; that her
pension was to he her own: that she
was 10 have 81 in cash on the first of
every month in lien of wages. and that
in case of his death occurring first she
was to have third of his estate. and
the whole of It if at the time of MS
deccaSe he was still pleased with bis
bargain. The only points in this con
tract that the deacon really under
stood were that he was paying only 81
judge had offered ST.: that. as he had
expected To pay NJ least So. he could
get boy for the remaining So. and
so he none the worse in pocket: also.
that If he could keep his daughters
from getting his money. he didn't care
a hang who had II. as be hated the
whole human race with entire impair
tality. II Jane Tillman didn't behave
herself he had pleasing visions of con
veTtinG most of his fortune into cash
and having ii dropped of the bridge
some dark night. when the doctor bad
given him up and proved TO his salts
faction that death would occur in the
near future.
All this being tremendously settled.
the deacon drove away and caused
sle announcement OF his immediate
marriage to be posted directly below
that OF Waitstill and Ivory Boynton.
A spite match" the community in
general called the deacon's marriage.
and many a man and many woman.
too. regarding the amazing publishing
notice in the frame up at the meeting
house. felt that in Jane Tillman Dea-
con Baxter had met his Waterloo.
CHAPTER Xxx.