The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-20
A Bluff
That Told
BY SADIE OLCOTI

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 WON
an about the place. Mrs. Grifiiths (the
housekeeper, Is getting old and it's
all she can do to keep the house in or
der and get my meals. ! wish you'd
get married. You could have the cot
tage free of rent. Then il anything
turns up that requires "a woman to do
therell be some one to do it.
81 wouldn't mind. Mr.. Pearson re
piled Sam. IF | could get nice gal.
Is there any one about here you think
would have me?'
Lots of 'em. Old Sawyer has three
daughters and nothing to leave EN-.
l could chuck you in for bait, and all
three would swim for it. The most
likely of the lot is Amanda Shed
make any man 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 We're spoken.
well, Mr.. Pearson" he said, 'Tl
think the matter over and if | find
there's any chance Of gettin' gal to
fill the bill mebbe III 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. It
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 proposition Of marriage he
was like bull IN china shop Since
he had asked especially for Amanda
he 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 a fine
evening and when both were seated
plunged into his subject.
Miss Sawyer" he began. Mr. Pear,
son says that Mrs. Griff1ths, 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 it. and Jump
ed at the conclusion that he had sent
Sam to her with some sort of prop
osition. But marriage was the only
proposition she would listen to, and
surely Pearson would not send his
hired man to make declaration for
him.
"Jes' So" she said, and waited for
further development.
He told me that If I'd git married
| 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 Sawyer's rigidity
or 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.
II 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 go any further. Amanda sat
like a stone. The quiet was so i'm
pressive that those who were listening
at keyholes wondered If the couple had
lett 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 ! don't like about it is that Mr..
Pearson has mixed himself I'D in II
III you're prepared to give me a home
that doesn't come through him I'm
ready to marry You tomorrow. But as
10 Twin in one o Mr.. Pearson's out
houses. I'm not thinkin' that way at
, all"
/ Sam stammered something about be.
ing taken fat aback as to the condi.
ton and went away, saying that if he
found a way out of the matter be
would let her know.
Pearson, who had his eye on Sam
as well 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.
We'll. SAM" he said when he had
recovered something of his equanimity.
what's going to be the result?"
Il dunno, replied Sam. Seems 10
me that the plan o. gittin' another wo-
man on the place has broke down"
Reckon" replied Pearson. And he
| turned away.
The same evening he went to see
Amanda Sawyer and apologized for
what be called interfering in her love
affairs. Ii was NOT long after that that
| Amanda cunnIioI ~