Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-06-23
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THE COUNIERFE|TS

AS ioileu ny the ueSk, DOtn TOT lack
and in hope of better things to do,
heard the clerk thus gravely accosted'
"Oh, Mr.. Billikins, here is the 500
you so kindly let me have the other
day. Now. don't forget to scratch It
off my account, you dear man, and
thank YOU"
1t was Mrs. Lamuel Neiff who laid
the glittering piece on the counter
and then tripped blithcly away, leav-
ing even touch of tenderness on
Billikins's saturnine face. A pretty
woman still. despite the faded eyes
and the light curls cklessly stuck
here and there-what was more, an
attractive woman.
From her flattering tones, her car
essing smile, her pleading hands, to
the plump and pleasing curves of her
lorm coqueuishly adorned, everything
about Mrs. Neiff, so spontaneously
and natural even when artificial, coIr-
oined to make her a general and con.
slant favorite in the house. A tribute
10 clever geniality in any case, but all
the more remarkable when one recall
ed, as /, as an old friend, could, the
thousand and one ways of indirect ask
ing and direct taking by which she
and her husband managed to enjoy
the Injuries of life on a very modest
if not meagre income.
Lem and Louise they were affec-
tionately IL not patronizingly called:
and he was as harmless, If not so en-
terprising, as she. A quiet agreeable
man, who never protested, who always
accepted in chronic good nature, il
was a positive wedding benediction to
see him arrayed for stroll of Sun
day afternoon immaculate in high ha.,
long coat and patent pumps. with a
gardenia in his buttonhole, so bliss
fully proud of the wife who walked
his side.
He thought her perfection and she
thought him a ducky dear. They work
ed together in harmony; and If they
also worked their friends, they did it
in kindness, with keen Appreciation
of benefits received and to come.
Among my avocations have a pref
ty taste for coins, and the coin that
Mrs. Neiff had flippantly paid over
was an early and rare date, though al
fresh and crisply milled as if hot
from the mint.
"I'd just as lief give you small bills
for that, if you like l remarked with
hn an Of
Thanks awfully, Sniffen," replied
the sarcastic Billikins "Your wish
would be law of course, only it hap
pens l have other orders-superior
orders-not to pay out any more of
them either to priest or prattlers";
and he tossed the piece into the draw
er.
Very good; half the ardor of the
chase is the difficulty of it. lost no
time in joining Mrs. Neiff where she
sat in normal radiance waiting for the
elmer hour to draw near.
IF you will only tell me where you
got it, perhaps l might pick up an
other of them," / said.
She shook her fair fat head mis-
chievously.
81 couldn't do that" she replied.
"but l will do better See, here is
piece just like it which you may have
without any premium but continued
regard
AS she drew the coin from the sill
yer linked purse / could see through
the meshes at least a dozen mates of
it. i must say that / shifted surpris-
eddy, remembering how late it was In
the month and the small loan Lem
had felt himself obliged to make of
me a week ago, until the first, YOU
know, old man."
IL am so very glad" ] said in ex.
PLANTATION.
81 know you are" she replied tri.
umphantly, land some time you shall
know our good fortune; but for the
present, NUNS the word
"Therell be plenty of it later" she
gurgled artlessly, land of birds to
match the bots. Lem is looking for
car, and he has the refusal of a swell
house down by the shore.
what, won't there be doings after
the long, lean years! We won't forget
those who have been kind to us either,
Mr.. Sniffen; that's not our style.
"Ah, there he is now, the ducky
dear" With her fingers to her lips
Mrs. Neiff joined her husband, who
had just entered leaning lovingly on
his arm.
Presently Mr.. Flewcomb, our pro-
prietor came out from the Businesses
behind the safe and beckoned to me.
What kind of game are those
dam Neiffs trying to work on me
Sniffen?" he demanded when we were
alone and locked within the mysteries
of his innermost shrine.
"What?" / blurted gazing stupefied
at stack of twenty dollar gold pieces
on the desk before him. You don't
mean
IL just do mean," he retorted. "Coup-
terfeits every one of them, sent back
from the bank with the string of
sharp inquiry. She's been feeding
them out every day for the last week.
I won't stand for n Sniffen not a IF.