The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-10-01

penny, uncle" Lucy would say. hall
crying. People will think we make
you work for u.s."
Il guess not" answered Old Mark.
Il tell 'em that I'm doing Il against
your wishes. But It's all coming 10
you"
That sounded well enough. but no
body had seen any OF Marks money.
The postmlstress stated that the old
nan had bought money orders re.
Gently. hut 10 whom was he sending
his money? To a bank?
"PshRw, Lucy, let tho old follow
have his way" said Frank. N II
makes him happy, and no feels less
under an obligation TO us. II doesn't
do him any harm"
But I'm eighty-hve next month.
and I amt going to dc a stitch OF
work after I'm eighty.hve." said Mark,
chuckling.
Indeed. Marks industry afforded
the farmer and his wife less time for
meditation than formerly. The sea
son had been poor, the crops had not
AAHfANh-AN WIS NuN WI AhhAAhNt W
a few years ago; finally. the price OF
corn had gone shooting down. The
struggle Of the "ne'erdo-well' Frank
Smith had long excited the detision
Of his relatives. Ito seemed an in
capable farmer. and they knew moth
ing of tho crushing mortgage and Of
the difficulty with which each Interest
day was met.
Al last Frank and Lucy had 90 face
the prospect OF selling out and NOV.
ing to the city. Wen take Old
Mark" they said.
Old Mark. learning Of his relatives
| difficulties, did not appear greatly con
cerned. IT'S lifel" he said. That's
all. Il happened TO me. | guess
can go to the poorhouse,"
you certainly will not go to the
p~oorhouse so long as | can work.
said Frank.
At last the farm was advertised for
sale. Nobody was surprised. but sew
eral people were pleased Tho Adams
family were very pleased.
And he thought he could feed an
extra useless mouth sneered Philip.
1t serves that woman right" said
his wife, for trying 10 reproach us
with not looking after Mark. Why
don't you buy the farm. Philip? I'll
trample them into the dust. And I'D
like to know what theyn DO with Old
Mark then"
I'm going TO bid for IT," answered
Philip s~hrewdly. II II goes for q
song, I'll take H."
Tho day OF the sale arrived. Frank
and Lucy, very subdued. but bravely
meeting the inquisitiye gaze OF the
n~eighbors. sat by the a%uctioneer
What bids for this property
snapped the a%uctioneer. Fifty acres
Of first class farming land"
lilo, IIo'" roared a voice from
among tho audience. It was Phiiil
Adams. who chuckled and nudged hi
wife. That's good. amt it, he said
"a house and barn In fair condition
an orchard with fruit trees In bearing
chicken Louses and two hundred hens
What bids
Ten dollars!" shouted Adams exu
berantly. .
"Be sensible, gentlemen" pleade'
the a%uctionccr. "Oncthird cash an,
the remainder on mortgage. What Of
fers?'
Five hundred dollars" said a bald
headed city clerk. who was trying I,
get back 10 the land
six hundred, said Adams.
They ran the price up to twelv
hundred dollars. nj which the cit.
clerk subsidized. Frank watched tn
scene I'm humiliation. Lucy. impasslv,
REGARDED tho sneering face Of PhillI
as no wrestled with another bidder a
fourteen hundred.
at fourteen hundred" said the auC
]tionccr. nodding 10 Philip. Going
going"
Fifteen" snapped Old Mark, stand
ing up IA spryly as n young man.
En- gruuted the auctioneel
Where's your money!
Old Mark advanced 10 the auction
GERS desk and slapped down al emo
nous wallet choking with bills. Tn
a~uctiouccr peered inside, lie saw Se'
eral hundreds.
Gle can't bid-ho's too old" shou'
cd Philip wrathfully.
There amt ne age limit" said IN
a|uctionccr ANY higher oner?'
Il tell you he's a faker, and I stan
by what / bid. and ! take the farm,
sboutod Philip IN a rage.
! AT fifteen. Going gone! II
yours" said the a%uctioneer TO Mari
One third cash and"
I'm pay tho whole fifteen hundred.
answered Old Mark, counting out th
money.
Il was done. Mark owned tho farr
and Lucy and Frank found themselyC
. one on each side OF him In tho opel
p Round them gathered "A curious row
a including Jane and Philip Adams. Tn
situation was preposterous-incred
e bic.
Hush, Old Mark was speaking.
"You see. my dears, you were kin
I to an old man. he said. "lC
z thought ! hadn't no money. but thel
was my life insurance, which | too
out nifty years ago last Wednosda
, E,ur thouganl dollarg a. woro. m