The Ordway new era., 1915-02-05

| DOeS tne Olo man ShOSt come pdCf
to dope the spring. or do you do it?'
II don't know what you are talking
about. Mr.. Thoburn," retorted sharp
ly. "Ifyou don't know that this spring
has its origin In"
"In Schmidt's drug store down II
Finleyville!" he finished for me. "Oh
I know all about that spring. Minnie!
Don't forget that my fathers cowi
used to drink that water and liked 1t
leave 1t to you," he said, smiling. 'ii
q self-respecting COW wouldn't die oi
thirst before she drank that stun al
It Ia now"
I'd been filling him a'glass-it being
a matter Of habit with me-and he
took 1t to the window and held it to
the light.
You're getting careless. Minnle." he
said. squirting at ii. Some of those
drugs ought to be dissolved first in
hot water. There's lump of lithia
there that has Schmidts pharmacy la
bel on it."
"Where?" demanded, and started
for 1t. He laughed at that, and put
ting the glass down, he game over and
stood smiling at me.
"As ingenious az a child" he said
in his mocking way. "a nice. little red
haired child! Minnie, how old is this
young Carter."
''Twenty-three."
"An-er-earnest youth? Willing to
buckle down to work and make the
old place go? Ready to pat the old
ladies' on the shoulder and squeeze the
! youpp ppaa' hapda
Hes young" said. but II you're
counting on his being fool"
mot at ALL" he broke In hastily.
III he hasn't too much character he'll
probably succeed. hope he isn't a
fool. Where n he now?"
Hes been sick" said. 'Mumps!"
"Mumps! Oh. my aunt" he ex.
claimed. and fell to laughing. He was
still laughing when he got to the door.
"Mumps!" he repeated, with his
hand on the knob. Minnie, the old
place VIII be under the hammer in
three weeks. and II you know what's
good for you, you'll sign in under the
new management while there's q va
cancy."
IF ! were you." said, looking him
straight In the eye. II wouldn't pick
cut any new carpets yet. Mr.. Thoburn.
promised the old doctor Id help Mr..
Dick. and I will"
80 you're actually going to fight
It out" he said. grinning. well. the
odds are in your favor. You are two
| to ray one" at
Il think it's pretty even" / retorted.
I'VE viii be hindered. 30 to speak. by
having certain principles Of honor and
honesty. You have no handicap"
Ks tried to think of retort, and
not finding one he slammed out OF
the sprin8-house in rage.
Mr.. Van Alstyne and his wife came
In that same day. Just before dinner,
and we played three-handed bridge for
half an hour. As I've said. they'd been
on their honeymoon. and they were
both sulky at having to stay al the
Springs.
After the first rubber Mrs. Van Al
said another day like this would finish
her.
She turned her back to her hus-
band, but he pretended to tuck the
hair at the back OF her neck up under
her comb. and she let him do 1t. As
l stopped to gather up the cards he
kissed the tip of her ear.
Listen" he said. there's a scream
of play down at Finleyville tonight
called Sweet Peas" Senator Biggs
and the bishop went down last night.
and they say it's the worst in twenty
years. Put on black veil and let's
slip away and see it,
think she agreed to do 1t. but that
night after dinner. Amanda King. who
has charge OF the news stand. told me
the sheriff had closed the opera-house
and that the leading woman was sick
at the hotel.
They say she looked funny last
night" Amanda finished. "and guess
she's got the mumps."
Mumps,
My joint gave throb a. tina, min
uts.
Mr.. Sam wasn't taking any chances.
for the next day he went to the city
himself to bring Mr.. Dick up.
He hadn't come back by the morn.
ing OF the sixth day. but he wired his
wife the day before that Mr.. Dick was
on the way. But We met every train
with a sleigh. and he didn't come.
was uneasy. knowing Mr.. Dick. and
Mrs. Sam was worried. too.
1t had been showing hard for a day
or SO. and at eleven O'Clock that day
saw Miss Cobb and Mrs. Biggs COM
ing down the path to the spring-house.
Mr.. Van Alstyne is back" said Miss
C~h sh,,k ha oI1
-Alone," I repeated, staring at her
in a sort Of daze.
Alone" she said solemnly. "and
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter. 1t
seems he started for here yesterday"
But I'D had time to get myself in
hand. and II I had chill up my spine
she never knew It. Az she started
away ! saw Mr.. Sam hvrrying down
J - n