Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-22
M m.m.m-huh."
Mrs Suracg sighed deeply.

Mrs Sprags sighed deeply.
who is she? And why do you
call her poor thing'?"
Her? | dunno. They call her
Alexandra, but | cal'late that ain'i her
name. Who she is or where she come
from, Lord knows! Foreign, ! guess,
or some outlandish thing. She aims
plain. honest United States, nohow,
no more than them two.
But you are Mint YOU, deary?
Bless The Lord for that"
Don't mind about that said |.
What want to know is why You pity
herr"
why? Well callate she wunt
never come through ii, though far be
il from me TO predict evil The way
She PLAYS them tum-tum.tum pieces.
without no tune nor music to EN-,
gives me to think she's low in her
mind, and"
she won't come through what" l
demanded eagerly, my suspicious
suddenly aroused by the old woman
chatter. What do YOU mean?'
Il dunno for sure she answered,
twisting her apron in those scrawneI
fingers. "iiut got a risht TO my owl
opinions. Amt |? You can stay or
not. jest as you see fit amt got
nothin' to say
~ OH mean there's something wrong
about this work.
"Well-they claim its honest, all
right; hui think It's as far from be
in square as lroS is from feathers.
NV son Joel--he cuts the wood Tor
EN- here, amt quite right in his head,
| reckon bu. he has idees TOO, joel
has he says, says he-Bless my soul,
there's my potatoes h'iln' on now.
Mrs. Spragg turned and deported
hastily toward unknown regions be
low stairs,
Left alone, / pondcred while made
ready for the meal. The Old woman
innuendoes had done little TO reassurt
me. Ny instructive uneasiness was
growing fast.
Bv The time | was ready to go dow
had quite discredited Ergazy'S state
menls, and had made up my mind 10
The most unsayory developments
That would abandon the job an
leave next day was firmly fixed in M
mind. As | descended the stairs
had fully decided to have a PLAIN tau
with both men. demand payment a'
cording 10 the agreement, and r.
turn to New York.
In this frame Of mind | reached IN
. bottom of the stairs. saw Ereaz
. standing in front of the fireplace, leg
, spread. smoking one Of those elorni
cigarettes as with crossed arms an
how ed head he stared into the itam'
AT sound of my footsteps he turned
, and with rather a sinister smile on hi
bearded face advanced to meet me
a "Ah doctor Ready" asked h
Were all starving Let Ms dine
@ once. sans ceremonie Plain fare, do
+ tor. but Hospitality offered
Involuntary | shuddered at sigi
l. and sound Of him. | was on the pom
d of demandn& eXplanalions-bu, lu
d then Brodcur appeared at doe
S down the han. smiled, bowed, al
e beckoned Before his suave courtc'
| found myself powelless.
r Obeying their viii, in silence pas
ed down the hall to the dinng'rool
p Ergazy followed me, ana bfode
e stood aside to let me enter,
c. Thus entered, and for the lll
III time saw the woman known as Al'
e. andra standing by the table Waitl]
" to greet me.
Of Entered, and from that nome
at was involved in the whole tragic ~
alton and sequence of events new
III more to free my heart or SOU lr'
70 It's farreaching consequences.
Entered "a las that room liz
s. infinitely better had turned and II
~ before my foot had as yet so much
nj touched its ,hrice-accurscd ihresho'