Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-23
In Hard Luck
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1916 by tho Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate

Thurston and his wife filed the bill.
Deacon Thurston was long. lean ant
smiling. Ills wife was fat, conten
: and good natured
, The deacon had never been knowr
to get mad or 10 do a selfish action
His wife was seldom known TO borrow
but was always willing to lend.
or a summer evening they sat on
the rorch-somctlmes for three hours
without speaking word to each
other
After supper OF winters evening
the deacon built roaring fire In the
sitting room, and then with II 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 knclt before Il and drew
exactly pint and half of it's con.
tents. This was pint for himself and
half pint Tor his good wife. Ii was
never more and never less. The apple
bin stood against the south wall. lie
went to It and selected four fine Bald
wins and put them in his coattail
pocket ana marched up the stairs. His
wife was ready with 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. anu it was
brisk morning. The old horse squeal-
ed and kicked up his heels. and the
deacon heard himself saying:
We'll, 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 Il rabbits
trail leading in the direction he wanted
TO go. He therefore followed it. 1t
led into the woods and stopped at
hollow log.
The deacon advanced to the log and
with the head of his ak struck re-
sounding blow. He did not see whether
the rabbit ran out or not His ear
caught a jingling sound, and in the ex-
element the presence of bunny was
entirely forgotten. 1t was a Jingle OF
greenbacks. but solid coin.
Five minutes later he was splitting
the old log wide open and his eyes
were bulging 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
rer treasure. He carried each capful |
70 the sled and emptied its contents
upon the horse blanket When all the |
money had been gathered he tied up |
he blanket. When he finally mounted |
he sled he gave the old horse three or
our sharp cuts with the whip. They |
we're the first blows the old nag had
'ver received at his hands, and they
tarted him out at numbering gallop.
Horse and driver appeared at home
n sweat. They did not stop at the
itchen door. though Mrs Thurston was
here TO ask what had happened.
Ssh. You go right into the house.
Judith. and | will be there in min
te."
In five minutes he followed after her
nd laid the bundle OF coin on the
itchen table with cIink that made
err exclaim:
"oh, deacon, have you picked up a
It of horseshoesT S
"Horseshoes nothing,"' he whispered |
) he united the blanket and folded IL
lck.
why. it's silyer-it's money!
"Of course it is. and didn't rob any ]
ody to get it either. l found 1t In Z
)ller log" !,
Deacon. we are richw whispered the !
ife as she locked the Kitchen door
I'd pulled down the shades. a
'Tou bet we are" replied the deacon. i
aelpgne count the money"
They counted it. 1t took them a full
our, but 1t was over ut last, and there
as just 5000. =
ve allus wanted to go to Niagara Falls
I'd see the water wasting itself, but
NJ could never spare the money. We
Iii go now, won't we?'
The deacon was silent, but there was
oh a look ON his face as she had
'ver seen before. 1t was a look Of 4
aIice and seIfishness combined, and A
was not good to see. She had to re- 4
ut her question before he replied.
Judith. | want you TO understand" :"
Id the deacon as he walked back v
ird and forward, there Is to be no ii
nsenSe about this money. l may !,
We to go to Niagara Falls on busi- :,
IS, but you will stay at home and ~
re for the house. shall have to u
We a new suit Sf clothes, but you 3,
n get along with your old ones" a,
But l have not had new bonnet in
lrteen years" she walled.
Your old one is all right pi
md that treasure from the hollow al
|; bred disSension almost within the RI
lr it was found Husband and wife -.
* opposite stands. and things were
ting ripe for separation when the le
'con passed one OF the coins at the b;
,cery. The grocer found it counter rt
t. and the whole pile Of silver was 60
.rhauled. to find that every coin was
rus. 1t had been hidden In the log NJ
those who made 1t. When the. sad CC
til stood revealed and the deacon
funed and fretted and his wife u,
shed few tears he stood before