The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-04
A Bluff
That Told
By SADIE OLCOT1

James Pearson was thirty years old
and possessed a fine farm. He was q
bachelor. and an old woman who had
been his nurse kept house for him
Sam Slack was his right hand man.
and on him Pearson relied for every
thing 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 shout the place. Mrs. Grifiths (the
housekeeper) is getting old. and it's
all she can do to keep the house In or
der and get my meals. I wish you'd
get married. You could have the cot
tage free of rent. Then II anything
turns up that requires a woman to do
there'll be some one to do It."
II wouldn't mind, Mr.. Pearson" re-
piled Sam, III could get a nice gal.
Is there any one about here you think
would have me?"
Lots of EN- Old Sawyer has three
daughters and nothing to leave 'em.
/ could chuck you in for bait, and all
three would swim for 1t. The most
likely Of the lot is Amanda. She'd
make any man a good wife,"
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, It'll
think the matter over, and II I 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 it 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 w8s a good man, but as for
making proposition Of marriage he
was like bull in china shop. Since
he Had asked especially for Amanda
ne was given the living room and she
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
before she had seated herself, arose
again. remarked that It was q fine
evening and when both were seated
plunged into his subject.
Miss Sawyer" he began, "Mr. Pear
son says that Mrs. Grifi1ths. his house.
keeper. is gittin' old and they'd oughter
be another woman on the place."
Miss Sawyer had been thinking on
that same line. She was not surprised
that Pearson had come to 1t. and jump.
ed at the conclusion that he had sent
Sam to her with some sort of a prop
osition. But marriage was the only
proposition she would listen to, and
surely Pearson would not send his
, hired man to make a declaration for
him.
"Jes' So" she said. and waited for
further development.
He told me that If I'd git married
l might have the cottage on the farm
that's been shut up for so long" con.
tinued Sam.
This was development on unex.
pected lines. Miss Sawyers rigidity
OF countenance did not relax. There
was no mute or openly expressed in.
vitation to proceed. but Sam was in
for 1t and there was no way to back
out, or If there was he was not com
petent to avail himself Of It.
Il asked him If he thought there
was any gal around here that would
suit him-I mean that would fill the
bill. and he said he thought YOU
BY this time the scowl on Amanda's
face had so far deepened that Sam
dare not 60 any further. Amanda sat
like stone. The quiet was so i'm
pressive that those who were listening
at keyholes wondered If the couple had
left the room by way of the chimney.
Finally Amanda. appearing to soften
somewhat, said:
I'm much obleeged to you. Mr.
Slack, for your proposition. The only
thing l don't like about it is that Mr.,
Pearson has mixed himself up in It.
II YOUR, prepared to give me a home
that doesn't come through him I'm
ready to marry you tomorrow. But as
to Twin In one O. Mr.. Pearson's out
houses. I'm not thinkin' that way al
ALL"
Sam stammered something about be,
Ing taken fat aback as to the condi
ton and went away, saying that IL he
1 found way out Of the matter be
would let her know.
Pearson, who had his eye on Sam
as we'll as on Amanda, knew of the
visit and the next morning reopened
the subject of Sans marriage and the
cottage. Sam told him of the girls
acceptance of him and the condition
Pearson opened his eyes very wide.
swell. SAM" he said when he had
recovered something of his equanimity
whats going to be the result?"
Il dunno" replied Sam. Seems {,