American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-05-21

Allllh ULa
building a substantial addition 70 ~
cabin and rushing it up as fast as ba
could have 1t done. When newt
strolled over toward his forrao
friends house he was amazed 70
that the little shack was also -
transformed. Workmen were nutt,-e
up a brick extension and a sbina,1s
roof, and Bates, attired in a brans
new suit of clothes, was survovin-
operations with a cigar in his mon.s
A dreadful suspicion which Mm-
had entertained now grew into a cor
tainty. 0e'
Going in for a wife, Ell. limp
called jocularly, but with an odd s,n,'
ing feeling which Bates next wora-
confirmed.
We'll, | don't know but | mich,
Hank" answered the other. oMoyhs
there's a little girl down East
The rest of Jim's words were snot
en- to the air, for Henry Mills woe
hurrying away as fast as he could o.
He was determined to raise that .
ond hundred at once and send n II.
t1 9GAu Ill Ha
had only sent a hundred. reerett,n~
that times were hard. He was glaS
that he had held out a lingering prom,
Use of more.
A letter was waiting for hin. II
was in the same fluent Handwriting
Dear Friend" it ran. Yours 70
ceived and thank you so much for the
journey money. Now, Henry. LET ma
be frank with one another. NV clothes
are all worn out, and l am too mncb
of a lady to start u to be married
in shabby things, so | must have an.
other hundred and fifty, or else NAV
have to consider a proposal I have
from somebody who doesn't live a
thousand miles away from YOU"
Mills saddled his horse and half an
hour later, got down outside the hant
in the nearest town where his monev
was kept. AS he descended he saw
Bates coming out. He was drumming
a number of brand new notes in his
fist. The two men glared at each
other, started forward, and then with
a simultaneous impulse, turned their
backs on each other and went their
ways.
From that time on frank hostility
reigned between them. There were
no more friendly evenings together.
and the only time they met was when
they b~esieged the post office on the
arrival of the thrice-a-week mail.
Henry Mills sent $3.50 and implored
Estelle to come out on the next train.
After that it vas a weary period Of
waiting.
The house was built and new fur
niture placed in it before the longer.
pected letter arrived. Jim was wait
ing at the post Office that day. Henry
Mills did not wait to see whether any.
thing arrived for him, but clutched his
letter %exultantly and leaped on his
horse. She was coming, them He
would read the letter when he got
home. His soul was full of rapture
and he fingered the missive lovingly
as he rode along.
Once in his house he flung himself
down upon the new lounge and tore
it open. This is what he read:
Dear Friend: My heart bleeds fol
me to have to tell you what | must
tell you, but since your letter came
l have met the man of my choice, and
we are married. He is taking me Oh
our honeymoon to Europe, and w
shall probably be back in two years
time. So no more from your formed
friend, "ESTELLE"
She did not enclose the $3.50 thai
he had sent. Altogether, including
the house and the furniture, Henry
Mills was out" In the nelghborhoOo
of $1,000.
He sat there in a lethargy OF 90
spair for a long time. But suddenl
there came to him a thought una
strangely frightened and cheered Mn
He saddled his horse hastily and rou'
over to Jim's. Jim was not oulsiu'
in his fields. He knocked at the uoOi
Come in" muttered a hollow VoN'
full Of poignant anguish. Henry "e-
III. Jill Bdl6S was lyAh5 NPN - M
lounge. a letter on the floor Ds'S
him. As mis- old friend entered "
struggled to his feet.
Henry Mills looked at the ie''el =
seemed to recognize the hand"ri" .,
And suddenly a whoop escaped
lips, and, without even a O'9V-
leave" he snatched it up anu ,
rused it. u.u
1t was couched in identical ians1'S
with the n which be haa nSD
hour before.
Suddenly the same thought se'I A
to come into Jim Bates mlnd' !"
scowl relaxed and gave place
broad grin, and his hand went
ward his old crony's. ..,d
Same with you, Hank! no n,s an
Same here" said Henry Min a,arN
their hands met and were
warmly