The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-27
A Bluff
That Told
By SADIE OLCOTI

Sam Slack was his right hand man.
Ind on him Pearson relied for every
hing pertaining to the care Of the
farm and the raising Of crops. The
financial part Of the industry Pearson
attended to himself, also the sale OF
what the farm produced. One day
Pearson said to his man Slack:
"Sam, there should be another wom-
an about the place. Mrs. Griffiths (the
housekeeper) is getting old, and it's
all she can do to keep the house in or
der and get my meals. l wish you'd
get married. You could have the cot
tage free Of rent. Then If anything
turns up that requires woman to do
therell be some one to do 1t.
81 wouldn't mind, Mr.. Pearson" re-
piled Sam. IF l could get nice gal.
Is there any one about here you think
would have mel"
Lots Of 'em. Old Sawyer has three
daughters and nothing to leave 'em.
l could chuck you in for bait. and all
three would swim for 1t. The most
likely of the lot Is Amanda. Shed
make any man SOOu vile.
The last words were said as much |
| to himself as to Sam, but Sam did |
not notice the musing tone in which |
they were spoken.
| well. Mr. Pearson" he said, III
think the matter over, and If find
there's any chance of gettin' gal to
fill the bill mebbe I'll try for her."
Sans reply was based on the fact
that since Pearson had proposed the
plan he must consider the man to
whom he had proposed 1t fixture. 1t
was not likely that he would be turn
ed out of job so long as he did his
work and kept the peace with his en-
ployer. The very next evening he
; went to Sawyer's and asked for Aman-
da Sam was a good man. but as for
, making a proposition Of marriage he
4 was like bull in china shop. Since
he had asked especially for Amanda
. he was given the living room and she
y was notified that he was waiting for
her there When she entered he got
-, up out Of the chair he was sitting In.
said good evening"" sat down again
| WV
l again. remarked that it was a fine
t evening and when both were seated
Is plunged into his subject.
Miss Sawyer" he began. "Mr. Pear
son says that Mrs. Griffiths, his house
keeper, is gittin' old and they'd oughtel
be another woman on the place"
- Miss Sawyer had been thinking OF
to that Pearson had come to 1t, and jump
at ed at the conclusion that he had sen
IN Sam to her with some sort OF prop
10 osition. But marriage was the onl
proposition she would listen to, an
a. surely Pearson would not send hi
H. hired man to make a declaration fo
al him.
se "Jes' So she said. and waited ft
further development.
"He told me that If I'd git marie
ids might have the cottage on the far
a that's been shut up for so long CO..
tinued Sam.
This was a development on une
pected lines Miss Sawyers rigidl
Ter of countenance did not relax. The
ral- was no mute or openly expressed
for vitation to proceed. but Sam was
;,v for 1t and there was no way to ba
~ out, or If there was he was not CO.
'uS- petent to avail himself Of it.
EEK, 81 asked him If he thought the
Who was any gal around here that won
suit bim-I mean that would fill
bill. and he said he thought your
IL By this time the scowl on Armand
THIS face had so far deepened that 81
all dare not 60 any further. Amanda
ent. like stone. The quiet was so
fas. pressive that those who were listen
at keyholes wondered II the couple |
left the room by way of the chimn
'ou' Finally Amanda, appearing to sof
anu somewhat, said:
"I'm much Obleeged to you,
your Slack. for your proposition. Inc Q
over thing don't like about 1t is that
,orr Pearson has mixed himself up In
~ vou're prepared to give me ne
An that doesn't come through him
ready TO marry you tomorrow. Bu
ONE n Twin I'm one o. Mr. Parsons
n a houses. I'm not thinkin that way
entail ALL"
,oov. Sam stammered something about
osl ing taken fat aback as to the co
ton and went away, saying that L
your found a way out Of the matter
brain would let her know.
l in Pearson, who had his eye on
Il he. as we'll as on Amanda, knew or
visit and the next morning reop
the subject of Sans marriage ano
ahoo cottage. Sam told him OF the
rienu acceptance of him and the cond
fiat Pearson opened his eyes very wld
yeels.i .Well. SAM" he said when ne
high. recovered something of his equanll
ts n whats going to be the resultf
~ dunno" replied Sam. Seen
'io" me that the plan o gittin' another
e are man on the place has broke down
know Reckon replied Pearson Al
e gets turned away
The same evening he went Z
,rianI Amanda Sawyer and apologlze'
wbat he called interfering IN nei
~ - affairs. 1t was not long after ina
can Amanda supplied the feminine
from o,.,cy in his home but as tne W