The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-10-09

y
think could afford a gardener under
those conditions"
There's letter for We the post.
man just brought, dearie," said Mrs.
Whalen that night as Mike came
shutting In somewhat later than usual.
who's it frOm?" she asked when her
husband had torn 1t open and read the
brief missive.
Just bit Of an advertisement that
don't amount to anything at ALL"
said he.
Hes afraid l won't Fave him take
the job" thought Mrs. Whalen. noting
him closely.
Whalen was early away from the
house next morning-indeed, quite ear
~ enough to stop on his way to his
new job at the Cobb place and catch
Charlie Cobb before he should leave
for town.
well, well. Mike" said Cobb as he
met Whalen coming up the walk,
what brings you round here at this
time Of day."
Whalen caught the other man by the
arm in his eagerness.
would We be dom me a favor, Mr.
Cobb!" said he.
"You know anything I can do for
you. Mike
Would We moind. now" Whalen
went on. "takin', say, few av yer
clothes over to Nora for her to press
and mend? Twill cost We nothin'," he
hurried on. catching the perplexity and
doubt in jovial Charlie CObb's eyes.
mot many. moind We. just few. And
| want ye to tell her yell be payin' her
tin dollars Il week to look after the
clothes av We for awhile.
I'VE see, I've just got the foine. aisy
job weedin' few pansy beds and the
loike that's to pay me that much,
but Nora did she know av it would
put her fut down and say l want
yet we'll enough to do the work..
She'd say she'd kape on wit the wash.
in she's doin', which same. God knows,
is cruel har-rd for Il woman av her
age. But she can't know I'm workin',
or she'll be unhappy and Worried to
death So I'll slip We tin each Satur.
day, and when Nora brings back the
mended clothes nv We We can slip it TO
her. and twill be aisy for her and she
none the wiser where ii comes from.
See?"
And so, after going into details some
what more infinitely. it was arranged
that Cobb should furnish Mrs. Whalen
an easier job than the washing she had
heretofore been doing
Now, on Saturday afternoon at 4
o'clock Charlie Cobb came into the
Evans yard and made for Mike VIVA.
len, who, seated comfortably On low
stool. was holding the nozzle Of a siz-
cling hose with which he watered the
lawn.
Mrs Whalen's just brought back
the suit sent over to her this week."
said Cobb. "She's waiting over at the
house for her money, although I've
had hard work to convince her the
work is going to be worth $40 week.
SO, If you'll just slip me the ten, Mike.
I'll pass 1t over to her."
1.-THE boss amt handed me me pay
yet" said Whalen. "She's waitin', yer
say? Well, III run up to the house
and
"Oh, never mind" said Cobb. I'm
going to have word with Evans,
anyway, before l 60 back. III just tell
him to pass your wages over TO me-"
"Sure!' said Mike and went on com.
fortably with his sprinkling.
Evans looked up quickly In the H.
brary few minutes later ut Charlie
Cobb's request.
"Come again. please" said he.
II say just saw Mike out here.
and he says for Won to pass the weeks
wages that are due him over to Inc.
You see. it's like this
Whereupon he explained the deal
into which ne had entered with Mike
Whalen.
wait" said Evans. holding up a
hand before Cobb was fairly through
Now listen to mer'
And he told Of his little business ar
rangement with Mrs. Whalen
Charlie Cobb began to laugh delight
eddy. but in the midst Of 1t be stopped
short His face became grave.
ITS fine circle to chase around,
isn't it?" he mused But I'm hanged
If I'm not going to find beginning
and an end TO this particular circle.
Why, II you'd see that old codger
Matching up that scheme with me so
that Nora wouldn't have to wash any
more and at the same time not be
worried to death about him
"Or II you'd seen Nora planning II
out 20 he would think he vas earning
the money" Evans interrupted.
I'm hanged II It isn't worth $40 q
week to have my clothes looked nfter!
said Cobb vehemently. bringing down
doubled fist on the corner Of the H.
brary table.
"Oh. no. ii isn't" Evans demurred
Never in the world, Charlie! Bat. III
,ell you what. maybe It's worth s. TO
you and SIS to me to have Mike look
after the lawn. always did hate wa.
tering It and wedding the pansy beds
But we can't be bothered chasing
around the mulberry bush with that