The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-11-04
A Bluff
That Told
By SADIE OLCOTT

III hSp 'eS tHaatS
n possessed a fine farm. He was a
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 about the place. Mrs. Grifiths the
housekeeperI is getting Did. and it's
all she can do to keep the house in or
der and get my meals. ! wish you'd
get married. Tot could have the cot
tage free of rent. Then If anything
turns up that requires a woman to dc
therell be some M to do it
Il wouldn't mind. Mr.. Pearson" re-
piled sam. IF | could get "a nice gal.
Is there any one about here o think
would nave me-"
Lots of 'em. Old Sawyer has three
daughters and nothing to leave EN-.
| could chuck you in for bait. and all
three would swim for it, The most
likely of the lot is Amanda. She'd
make any man a good wife"
Thu last words were said as much
to himself as TO Sam. but Sam did
not notice the musing tone in which
they were spoken.
We'll. Mr.. Pearson" he said. I'll
think the matter over. and If ] find
there's any chance of gettin' a gal to
ill the bin 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 1t a fixture. II
was not likely that he would be turn
ed out of Il 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-
ia. Sam was a good man. but as for
making n proposition of marriage he
was like Il bull in a china shop Since
he had asked especially for Amanda
he was given the living room md 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, Grilliths. his house
keeper. is gittin' old and they'd oughter
he another woman on the place"
Miss Sawyer had been thinking on
that same line. She was not surprised
that Pearson had come to it. ana jump
ed at the conclusion that he bad 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 thai 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 a 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 it and there was no way to back
out. or If there was he was o com
petent to avail himself of ii.
Il asked him if he thought there
was any gal around here that would
suit him mean that would fiji the
bill, and he said he thought YOU
BY this time the Scowl on Amanda's
fac< had so far deepened that Sam
dare not go any further. Amanda sat
ike a stone. The quiet was so i'm
pressive that those who were listening
AT keyholes wondered If the couple had
left vbe room by way of the chimney.
Finally Amanda. appearing To soften
somewhat, said:
I'm much obleeeed To you. Mr.,
Slack. for your proposition. The only
thing ! don't like about il is thar Mr.,
Pearson has mixed himself up in 1t.
II you're prepared to give me Il HON
that doesn't come through him I'm
ready to marry You tomorrow. But as
to Twin In one q Nj pcarSon'S out
houses. I'm not thinkin that way M
all"
San stammered something about be-
ing taken fiat aback as to the cOndi-
ton and went away, saying that If be
found a way out of the matter he
wOuld let her know,
Pearson, who had his eye III Sam
as well as on Amanda. knew of the
visit and the next morning reopened
the subject of Sans marriage and the
cottage. San 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,
whats going TO be the reSult?"
Il dunno" replied sam Seems to
me that the plan a. pittin' another WO-