Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-28


smiling over the plot he had just de-
vised, and the other man putting with
puzzled expression at his cigar
That's all there is to it," summar-
lied Mr.. Farbish. succinctly. IF we
can get these two men, South and
Horton. together down there at the
shooting lodge. under the proper condi.
tions, they'll do the rest themselves,
think. I'll take care of South. Now,
it's up TO you to have Horton there
at the same time"
How do you know these men hare
not already met-and amica3ly?" de-
manded Mr.. Bradburn.
Il happen to know it, quite by
chance. 1t is my business to know
things quite by chance!"
Indian summer came again to
Misery, Haunting woodland banners OF
crimson and scarlet orange, but to
Sally the season brought only heart.
achy remembrances OF last autumn,
when Samson had softened his stoi
cism as the haze had softened the hori
zon. He had sent her few brief let.
ters-not written, but plainly printed
He selected short words--as much
like the primer as possible, for no
other messages could she read There
were times in plenty when he wished
to pour out 10 her torrents of feeling,
and it was such feeling as would have
carried comfort to her lonely little
heart. He wished to tell frankly OF
what a good friend he had made, and
how this friendship made him more
able to realize that other feeling
his love for Sally. There was in his
mind no suspicion-as yet--that these
two girls might ever stand in conflict
as to the rightof-way. But the letters
he wished to write were not the sort
he jared to have read to the girl by
the evangelistdoctor or the district
school teacher, and alone she could
have made nothing of them. However.
Il love you" are easy words--and those
he always included.
The Widow Miller had been ailing
for months, and. though the local
physician diagnosed the condition as
being right porely," he knew that the
specter of tuberculosis which stalks
through these badly lighted and ven
tilated houses was stretching out its
fingers to touch her shrunken chest.
This had meant that Sally had to fore
go the evening hours to study, be-
cause of the WEAKNESS that followed
the day of nursing and household
drudgery. Autumn seemed to bring
to her mother slight Improvement.
and Sally could again sometimes
steal away with her slate and book,
to sit alone on the big powder. and
study.
She would not be able to write that
Christmas letter. There had been too
many interruptions in the self.imparted
education, but some day she would
write. There would probably be
time enough. 1t would take even Sam
son long while 20 become an artist.
One day, as she was walking home
ward from her lonely trysting place,
she met the battered-looling man who
carried medicines in lis saddlebags
and the Scriptures in his pocket, and
who practiced both forms OF healing
through the hills. The old man drew
down his nag, and threw one leg over
the pomnel.
"Evenin'. Sally" he greeted.
''Evenin'. Brother Spencer. How air
ye?"
"Tol'able, thank We, Sally" The
body and-soul member studied the girl
awhile in silence. and then said blunt
ly:
we've done broke right smart, in
the last year. Anything the matter
with YEP" SOS
She shook her head, and laughed.
1t was an effort to laugh merrily.
but the ghost OF the old distinctive
blitheness rippled into 1t.
i've jest come from old Spicer
South's." volunteered the doctor.
He's ailin' pretty consid'able. these
days." III
What's the matter With Unc' Spi-
cer?" demanded the girl. In genuine
anxiety. Every one along Misery
called the old man Unc' Spicer.
Il cant jest make out" Her in.
former spoke slowly, and his brow cor
rugated into something like slllen.
ness. ale amt Jest to say sick. Tibet
is. his organs seems all right, but he
don't pear to have no heart fer nothin',
and his victuals don't tempt him none.
He's jest puny, thet's all"
"Pll go over thar. an see him." an.
nounced the girl. "Ill cook chicken
thetll tempt him."
The girl spent much time after that
at the house Of old Spicer South, and
her coming seemed to waken him into
a iitful return OF spirits.
Il reckon. Unc' Spicer," suggested
the girl. on one Of her first visits,
I'D better send fer Samson. Mebby
hit mout do ye good ter see him.
/ The old man was weakly leaning
back on his chair, and his eyes were
vacantly listless; but. at the sugges-
ton. he Strengthened. and the ancient
fire came again to his face.
Don't ye do hit" he exclaimed, al.
most fiercely. Il knows we mean hit
kindly. Sally. but don't ye neddle in
my business ~.
III didn't low ter NEEDLE" fal
tered the girl.