The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-11

L
ted there, 1t seems to me-. A few
head of cattle, more or less, don't
count for much against the brok-
en- heart of an old woman
"Oh!" Billy Louise stared up
wild-eyed into his face. "Oh!
You saw that, too! And they're
your cattle that were stolen! You
saw it-oh, you're
"Hmm-mm-a human being, I
hope, Miss Macdonald. as we'll as
a mere cattleman. How is the
Iold LADY,"
Crying" said Billy Louise,
with brief directness. Crying
over that picture Of that-swine.'
DO you think, Miss Mac Dom
aid, she would feel like talking
business for a few minutes?"
"Oh. yes; If she's like me, she'll
want to get the agony over with"
Billy Louise turned with a twitch
of the shoulders.
Marthy did not attempt to rise
when Seabeck followed Billy
Louise into the sitting room.
"Hm-mm-I have been looking
over the cattle" he begun. "You
-mm-mm-you tell me there
we're seven head of Rown
stock"
THAT they shot and throwed
In the river, with the brands cut
out" interpolated Marthy stoi-
idly. -.
Il amt got the money now.
You can fix up the papers T. suit
yerself. I'll sign anything yuh
want"
"Hmm-mm-yes! A note COW
ering the amount, with legal rate
OF interest, will be-quite salts
factory, Mrs. Melkle. If you have
blank note, /"
You kin look in that desk
over there" permitted Marthy.
IF yuh don't find any there, there
amt none nowhere" 49,,
Seabeck did not find any blank
notes. He pulled a sheet Of pa
per toward him and wrote.
You will please sign, here, Mrs
Melkle,' he said calmly.
And If Miss Macdonald will
also sign as an indorser, / think
| can safely do away with any
mortgage or other legal security"
Il don't want Billy Louise to
git tangled up in my trQibles,"
Marthy said uneasily. She's got
plenty Of her own. Her maw's
just dead, Mr.. Seabeck., And I'll
bet there was a hospital n doc
tors bill bigger'n this cattle note,
to be paid. l don't want to pile
on"
Now, Marthy, you be still, I'm
perfectly willing to sign this note
with you, IL it will satisfy Mr..
Seabeck, I'm sure it's the very
least we can do--or-expect."
Billy Louise, bless her heart, was
trying very hard to be grateful
to Seabeck.
Whereupon Marthy signed the
note. Then Billy Louise wrote
her name. Seabeck took the pa
per, returned with 1t to the desk
for a blotter, hunted and envel-
ope, folded the note carefully,
laid 1t away carefully inside and
left the room with what haste his
natural dignity would permit.
That ended the Seabeck part of
the whole sordid affair, except
that he remained for another
hour, doing chores and making
everything snug for the night.
Billy Louise thanked Seabeck,
when he was ready to go.
81 knew you were square, and
you're really big-souled, too. I'll
remember it always, Mr.. Sea-
beck"
"Will your" Seabeck looked
down at her, with his hand upon
the latch. Even IL you are put
in a position where you must pay
that note-you will still-hm-m!
l see. Before | go, Miss MacDon-
aid, I-er-should like to give
you a little-wedding gift, since
you honored me with the news of
soui approaching li--iuui-
riage. AS an old neighbor, and
one Of your most sincere admir-
ers, who would feel greatly hon
ored by your friendship, /
should like to have you accept
this" He held something out
to Billy Louise and pulled open
the door for instant escape.
Good night, Miss Macdonald"
Billp Louise closed the door
and her half-open mouth. Stand
ing with her back against the
wall, she turned that something
an envelope-over twice, then
tore off the end and pulled out
the contents. II was the note she
and Marthy had signed no longer
than an hour ago, and written
large across the face of 1t were
the words, Paid, Samuel Sea-
beck"
"The-old-darling!" said Bill
ly Louise under her breath and
went straight in to show It to
Marthy. -