The Meeker herald., 1917-04-21
A Bluff
That Told
BY SADIE oLaoT1

James teArSOn was tulTtS years o'u
and possessed tine farm. He was
bachelor. and an nld woman who had
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 his man Slack:
sam. there should be another wom-
an about the place. Mrs. Griffiths (the
housekeeperD 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 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. ''if could get a nice gal.
10 there any one about here You think
would have me7'
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 1t. The most
likely of the lot ID Amanda. She'd
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 were spoken.
"Well Mr.. Pearson" he said. "l'll
hn ttAr Q avI
there's any chance Of gettin' gal to
|. all the bill mebbe I'll try for her.
Sans reply was based on the fac.
TINT since Pearson had proposed the
plan he must consider the man to
whom he had proposed 1t a fixture. II
wns not likely that he would be turn
ed out Of job so long ms he did his
work and kept the peace with his en-
ployer. The very next evening he
went to Sawyers and asked for Aman
da. Sam was a good man. but as for
making proposition of marriage hr
wns like u bull In china shop. Since
he had asked especially for Amanda
he was given the living room and she
was notified that he WIS waiting for
her there When she entered he got
up out Of the chair lie was sitting in.
said good evening"" sat down again
before she had seated herself. arose
again. remarked that 1t was a finr
evening and when both were seated
plunged into his subject
Miss Sawyer" he began, mfr. Pear
son says that Mrs. Griffiths. his house.
keeper, is gittin' old and they'd oughter
be another woman on the place"
Miss Sawyer had been thinking on
that snme line. She was not surprised
that Pearson had come to 1t. and jump
ed at the conclusion that he had sent
Sam to her with some sort Of a prop
osltion. But marriage was the only
proposition she would listen to. and
surely Pearson would not send his
hired man to make a declaratio for
him.
'Jes' So she said. and waited for
further Development.
HE told me that II I'd git married
l 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 Sawyer's rigidity
Of 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 buck
out. or n there was he wns not com
petept 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 lie 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 so i'm
pressfve that those who were listening
at keyholcs wondered II the couple had
left the room by way Of the chimney
Finally Amanda. appearing to soften
somewhat. said:
I'm much OblceGed to you. Mr.
Slack. for your proposition. The only
thing ] dan't like about It Is that Mr
Pearson has mixed himself up In It.
If you're prepared to give me home
that doesn't come through him I'm
ready to marry you tomorrow. But as
10 Iivin' In one o MIR Pearson.s out
houses. I'm not thinkin' that way at
ali."
Sam stnmmered something about be-
ing taken fiat aback as to the condi-
tion and went away. saying that II he
found way out Of the matter he
wonld let her know.
Pearson. who had his eye on Sam
as well as on Amanda. knew of the
visit and the next morning reopened
Z Tho suhtoct ,f 60 m. n, a rrto In m, ond Tho
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 resuIt?"
II dunno" replied Sam. Seems to
me that the plan o gittin another wo-
man ON the nlace has broke down"