The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-03

needed bein' done most
You think he'd be real handy to
have round the place then, Cathy,"
said Aunt 'Lizbeth, rather wistfully.
1t did SEINE nice to have an outside
worker, even for few hours, remov-
ing some of the eyesore neglects that
she and Cathy couldn't do or get to.
Cathy's wrath famed. Him" she
scoffed, handy round the place! The
poor tramp He amt said a decent
word to me since he's been here. If
'twa'n't for you, Mis- 'Lizbeth, 1 would
mt have a thing for supper 'cept cold
bites. An still 1 will uphold him for
that pipe an my unstopped sink
drain.''
They waited supper for him a half
hour before he slipped in, tired. but
bright-eyed
Don't you ever hold back a meal
one minute for me- he rebuked, yet
with a sniff of appreciation at the
odor of the coffee. I'm considerable
of q fruit-eatin man, an can pick up
a satisfyin' Twin off a farm like this
pretty easy. I was finishin' up some
needed tinkerin' an stayed out later,
not thinkin' you'd hold supper. Well"
helping himself literally to fried eggs
and ham. Il guess I've left my foot
prints pretty well over the sands am
loans of this farm. 1 got it all plan
ned out
I'm afraid I sha'n't be able To-
began Aunt 'LiZbeth, when he went
on calmly:
Its that big twenty-acre lot south
of the house. It's fine, level, rich
ground. but amt been cropped in
three years, l should judge by the
weeds
at amt" agreed Aunt 'Lizbeth
Couldn't seem to get to it. somehow"
Then it amt no use to you. Here's
the way figger it. I got the farmin
bee in my bonnet, hard. I want to do
some of it by myself. You have a
horse an tools an seed corn an taters
an all the rest an good stable ma
nure for fertilizer. So there amt a
cent to put out that way. I'll take the
big lot an farm it on sheers, half an
half. | know city places to sell stuff
to- It'll put considerable ready money
into your pocket. l guess. I'll spend
half my time on the lot. an the other
half workin' for you round the place,
croppin', tnkerin' an maxim a good
garden. I'll have my meals in the
house with you, but sleep out in the
barn. There's a good lounge in the
tool room. Suit? -
"I-gueSS so. But I been tryin to
sell that twenty acres to Mr.. Bush, of
the farm beyond. 1 asked $1,000, an
he offers only $500. That's the way
we stand now. A thousand would clear
off my mortgage an leave me little
to work on. I'd hate for you to get
in a crop, an then SELL
SpOse you give me a thirty days
option" considered Tick. Il think
mebhe I know man who d like to buy
the lot. but he'd want a few weeks
to think it over
"All right" acceded Aunt 'Lizbeth.
GO ahead, but you t>ke the risk in
plantin.''
Thirty days later, Tick entered Aunt
Lizbeth's room with brisk, business
like air. Cathy followed him to the
door with an embarrassed self-con-
seriousness she had never shown before
Why. Cathy," Aunt 'Lizabeth called
at sight of her, where have you been
all the afternoon? I amt seen you
since dinner
She drove n into town with me-" an
ried, an got the money"
Got married-you." echoed Aunt
Lizbeth feebly. why, you've hated
each other
Has seemed that way" assented
Tick. But I been lynn to you right
along, in a concealin' way. Mis- Liz
beth. What 1 really come in here for
was to study Cathy-though she
didn't know My grand-dad was her
grand-dadtin-law or something but
with us not KNOWN each other nor
related in any way Grand-dad was
an umbrella member, an felt himself
awful rich. with a whole thousand
dollars in bank. He didn't want it
to go out of the family, SO left it to
US if we'd get married. 1 sneered
at the thought, then felt I'd better run
down an look her over. Cathy's got
some good points
AN you. Cathy," asked Aunt Lis
beth. How do you feel about it ?''
Tick has some good points, too
guardedly. Il do hold up for a man
who eats hearty. an that's Tick. But
you needn't feel flustered, Mis- Liz
beth. for we're goin to stay on just
the same, 'cept payin' the thousand
dollars for the Lott Copyright, 1916.
by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.1