The Meeker herald., 1917-06-23
A Bluff
That Told
3, SADIE oLcoT1


been his nurse kept house for him.
Sam Slack was his right hand man.
and OH 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 Ills man Slack:
"Sam. there should be another wom-
an about the place. Mrs. Griff1ths (the
housekeeper, Is getting old. aud It's
NIL 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 II anything
turns up that requires woman to do
there'll be some one to do it."
II wouldn't mind, Mr.. Pearson" re-
piled Sam. III could get nice gal.
Is there any one about here you think
would have me?"
Lots Of EN-. Old Sawyer has three
daughters md pothing to leave EN-.
could chuck you In for bait, and oil
three would swim for 1t. The most
likely Of the lot Is Amanda. She'd
make my man a 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 were spoken.
well. Mr.. Pearson" he said. "lll
think the matter over. and II ind
there's any chance Of gettin' gal to
oil the bill 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. 1t
was not likely that he would be turn
ed out of job SO long as he did his
work and kept the peace with bis en-
ployer. The very next evening he
went to sawyer's and asked for Aman-
da. Sam was good man. but az for
making a 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 thnt 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 1t was a fine
evening and when both were seated
plunged into his subject.
Miss Sawyer" he began. "Mr Pear
son says that Mrs. Griffiths. his house
keeper. Is gittln' 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 be 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 a declaration for
him.
"Jes' So" she said. and waited for
further development.
He told me that II I'd sit married
I 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
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 II there was he was not com.
petent to avail himself of 1t.
II asked him II he thought there
was any gal around here that would
suit him-I mean that would all 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 stone. The quiet was 30 i'm
pressive that those who were listening
at keyholes wondered II the couple had
left 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 I don't like about 1t is that Mr..
Pearson has mixed himself up in 1t.
II you're prepared to give me home
that doesn't come through him I'm
ready to marry you tomorrow. But Is
to livin' In one o Mr.. PearsOn's out.
houses. I'm not thinkin' that way at
ALL"
Sam stammered something about be-
Ing taken fiat aback as to the condi-
ton and went away. saying that II he
found 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.
well. SAM" he said when he had
recovered something of his equanimity
whats going to be the result?"
Il dunno" replied Sam. Seems ia
me that the plan O gittin' another NO
man on the place has broke down."
Reckon" replied Pearson. And b
|