Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-04-13
In Hard Luck
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By M. QUAD

would have answered that Deacon
Thurston and his wife filed the bill.
Deacon Thurston was long, lean and
smiling. His wife was fat, content
and good natured.
The deacon had never been known
to get mad or to do a selfish action.
His wife was seldom known to borrow,
but was always willing to lend.
OF a summer evening they sat on
the porch-sometimes for three hours
without speaking a word to each
other.
After supper of a winters evening
the deacon built a roaring fire in the
sitting room, and then with a candle
in one hand and blue pitcher in the
other he descended to the cellar. The
barrel of cider stood in the northeast
corner. He knelt before it and drew
exactly pint and a half of its con-
tents. This was pint for himself and
half pint for his good wife. 1t was
never more and never less. The apple
bin stood against the south wall. He
went to it and selected four fine Bald
wins and put them in his coattail
pocket and marched up the stairs. His
wife was ready with a damp cloth to
give the apples a wipe. Three of
them were for the deacon and one for
his wife.
One winter when the first snowfall
came the deacon hitched up the old
horse to the '.pung," or homemade
sled, and started for the woods. Four
inches Of snow had fallen, and it was
a brisk morning. The old horse squeal-
ed and kicked up his heels, and the
deacon heard himself saying:
well, If amt glad to be alive this
morning, though they have raised my
taxes So more this Year,
When the deacon and his outfit en-
tered the woods there was a rabbits
trail leading in the direction he wanted
to go. He therefore followed 1t. 1t
led into the woods and stopped at a
hollow log.
with the head Of his ak struck a re-
sounding blow. He did not see whether
the rabbit ran out or not. His ear
caught jingling sound, and in the ex-
element the presence Of bunny was
entirely forgotten. 1t was Jingle of
money-not greenbacks, but solid coin.
Five minutes later he was splitting
the old log wide open and his eyes
were bullying out and his cheeks were
pale. There was coin before him
heaps of coin. 1t was all silver coin.
One, two, three, four capfuls Of sill
yer treasure. He carried each capful
to the sled and emptied its contents,
upon the horse blanket. When all the,
money had been gathered he tied up
the blanket. When he finally mounted
the sled he gave the old horse three or
four sharp cuts with the whip. They
were the first blows the old nag had
ever received at his hands, and they
started him out at numbering gallop.
Horse and driver appeared at home
in sweat. They did not stop at the
kitchen door. though Mrs. Thurston was
there to ask what had happened.
Ssh! You go right into the house,
Judith. and will be there In a min
ute."
In five minutes he followed after her
and laid the bundle Of coin on the
kitchen table with a clink that made
her exclaim:
ooh, deacon, have you picked up a.
lot Of horseshoesY
"Horseshoes nothing!p he whispered
as he united the blanket and folded It 4
back.
why, it's silver-it's money!
"Of course 1t is, and didn't rob any
body to get 1t either. l found it in a
holler log"
Deacon, we are richp whispered the
wife as she locked the kitchen door |
and pulled down the shades.
"You bet we are" replied the deacon |
Help me count the money"
They counted 1t. 1t took them full |
hour, but 1t was over at last, and there |
was just $4,000.
Deacon" said she after q moment
I'VE allus wanted to go to Niagara Falls
and see the water wasting itself, but |
you could never spare the money. We |
will go now, won't WEI"
The deacon was silent, but there was
such look on his face as she had |
never seen before. 1t was a look Of |
avarice and selfishness combined, and
1t was not good to see. She had to re-
peat her question before he replied.
Judith, want you to understand"
said the deacon as he walked back
ward and forward, ''there is to be no
nonsense about this money. l may
have to go to Niagara Falls on bust
ness, but you will stay at home and
care for the house. / shall have to
have a new suit of clothes, but you
can get along with your old ones"
But have not had new bonnet I'm
fourteen years." she walled
Your old one is all right"
And that treasure from the hollow
log bred dissension almost within the
hour 1t was found. Husband and wife
took opposite stands, and things were