The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-07-23


penny, uncle" Lucy would say, half
crying. People will think We make
you work for us"
II guess not" answered Old Mark.
Il tell 'em that I'm doing It against
your wishes. But It's all coming to
YOU"
That sounded we'll enough, but no
body had seen any Of Marks money.
The postmistress stated tEat the old
man had bought money orders re-
Gently. But to whom was he sending
his money? To bank?
"Pshaw, Lucy, let the old fellow
have his way" said Frank. "If 1t
makes him happy, and he feels less
under an obligation to US, 1t doesn't
do him any harm"
But I'm eighty-five next month.
and I amt going to do a stitch OF
work after I'm eighty-fve," 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
ripened-it was the wet summer Of
a few years ago; finally, the price of
corn had gone shooting down. The
struggle of the "ne'er-do-well' Frank
Smith had long excited the derision
Of his relatives. He seemed an In
capable farmer, and they knew moth
ing of the crushing mortgage and Of
the difficulty with which each interest
day was met.
At last Frank and Lucy had to facc
the prospect Of selling out and NOV
ing to the city. We'll take Old
Mark" they said.
Old Mark, learning of his relatives
difficulties, did not appear greatly con-
cerned. "It's life!' he said. That's
all. 1t happened to me. I guess !
can go to the poorhouse."
"You certainly will not go to the
poorhouse SO long as l can work"
said Frank.
At last the farm was advertised for
sale. Nobody was surprised, but sew
eral people were pleased. The 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 to reproach us
with not looking after Mark. Why
don't you buy the farm, Philip? It'll
trample them into the dust. And I'd
like to know what they'll do with Old
Mark then"
I'm going to bid for It," answered
Philip shrewdly. IF 1t goes for a
song, I'll take It."
The day Of the sale arrived. Frank
and Lucy, very subdued, but bravely
meeting the inquisitive gaze Of the
neighbors, sat by the auctioneer.
What bids for this property"
snapped the auctioneer. Fifty acres
Of first-class farming land"
"Ho! Hol" roared voice from
among the audience. 1t was Philip
Adams, who chuckled and nudged his
wife. That's good, amt it," he said.
"a house and barn in fair condition,
an orchard with fruit trees in bearing,
chicken houses and two hundred hens.
What bids?'
Ten dollars!" shouted Adams exu-
berantly.
BE sensible, gentlemen" pleaded
the auctioneer. "One-third cash and
the remainder on mortgage. What Of
fers?"
Five hundred dollars said a bald
headed city clerk, who was trying to
get back to the land.
six hundred" said Adams.
They ran the price up to twelve
hundred dollars, at which the city
clerk subsidized. Frank watched the
scene in humiliation. Lucy, impassive.
regarded the sneering face Of Philip,
as he wrestled with another bidder at
fourteen hundred.
AT fourteen hundred" said the auc-
tioneer, nodding to Philip. Going
going"
Fifteen" snapped Old Mark. stand
ing up as spryly as young man.
"Eh?" grunted the auctioneer.
where's your money!"
Old Mark advanced to the auction
CCi uCoh dilu oibPPOu NC"h oA OAOA-
nous wallet choking with bills. The
auctioneer peered inside. He saw sew
eral hundreds.
"He can't bid-he's too old!" shout
ed Philip wrathfully.
There amt 10 age limit" said the
auctioneer. ANY higher offer?"
II tell you hos faker, and stand
by what l bid, and take the farm"
shouted Philip in rage
"At fifteen. Gcing-gone! It's
yours" said the auctioneor to Mark.
"One-third cash and"
I'll pay the whole fifteen hundred"
answered Cid Mark, counting out the
money.
1t was done. Mark owned tho farm,
and Lucy and Frank found themselves
one on each side Of him in the open.
Round them gathered curious crowd,
including Jane and Philip Adams. The
situation was reposterous-incred
lie.
Hush! Old Mark was speaking.
"Ycu see, my dears, you were kind