American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-17

and went over TO kneel cOmfOrtingly
beside Marthy, and Seabeck looked at
the two and sighed again, though his
eyes were no longer stern. He
pulled a sheet OF paper toward him
and wrote steadily in "A prim, upright
~chlrography that had never a flourish
anywhere, but carefully crossed is and
carefully dotted rs and punctuation
marks Of beautiful exactness.
"You will pleace sign here, Mrs.
Meilke," he said calmly, coming over
to them with the sheet Of paper laid
smoothly upon a last-year's best-seller
and with Charles fountain pen In his
other hand. "And II Miss Macdonald
will also sign, as an indorser, l think
I can safely do away with any mort
gage or other legal security"
Billy Louise stood up and gave him
one look-whlch Seabeck did not APP
preciate, because he did not see It.
I'D ruther give a mortgage" Marthy
said uneasily, sitting up suddenly and
looking from one to the other. 81 don't
want Billy Louise to git tangled up In
my troubles. She's got plenty Of her
own. Her maw's just died, Mr.. Sea-
beck. And I'll bet there was a hos
pital n doctors bin bigger'n this cat
tie note, TO be paid. l don't want to
pile on"
"Now. Marthy, you be still. I'm per-
fectly willing TO sign this note with
you. II It will satisfy Mr.. seabeck,
I'm sure it's the very best we can do
or-expect." Billy Louise, bless her
heart, was trying very hard to be CRATE
full TO Seabeck In spite of the slump
he had suffered In her estimation.
swell, I'll want your written word
that yuh won't prosecute Charlie nor
help nobody else prosecute him." stipu-
lated Marthy, with sudden shrewdness.
IF men Billy Louise signs this note,
Wen pay 1t; and we want some per-
lection from you, fer Charlie"
"Hmmm-mm-I see - He turned and
went back to the Uttered desk and
wrote carefully again upon another
sheet OF paper. 81 think this will be
quite satisfactory" he said, and hand
ed the paper to Marthy.
/, "Git my specs, Billy Louise-off'n
the shelf over there" she said. and
r read the paper laboriously, her lips
I forming the letters Of every word
q which contained more than one syl-
D liable. Marthy, remember, was a plains
woman born and bred. N.
II guess that'll do" she pronounced
at last, pushing the spectacles up on
n her lined forehead. "You read II, Billy
e Louise. m see what yuh think"
~ think it's all right, Marthy," said
s. Billy Louise, after she had read the
@ document twice. TITS a bill of sale
@ and IL also wipes the slate clean of any
possible l think Mr.. Seabeck is very
a c-clever."
Whereupon Marthy signed the note
q with a spluttering Of the abused pen In
g her stlrened old fingers and n great
a twisting Of her grim mouth as she
! formed the capitals. Then Billy Louise
wrote her name with "a fine, Schoolgirl
ease and a little curl on the end OF the
last d. Seabeck took the paper from
: the tips Of Billy Louise's supercilioui
fingers. returned with 1t to the desl
for a blotter. hunted an envelope
folded the note carefully, and laid 1
a away inside.
n II believe that is all. Mrs. Meilke.
d hope you will suffer no further uneasl
A. ness on account Of your-nephew."
I'm liable L suffer some gittin' tina
If Ave hundred dollars paid up" Marth,
49, returned with some acerbity. I'm
much obleeged to yuh, Mr.. Seabeck
.. fer beln' so easy on us. If yuh hadn'
Hrtrw milo 1 nftlga into a. III SOW va
too good to be human"
"Hmmm-mm-nOt at all" Seabecl
Ne stammered deprecatlngly and left tn,
IN room with what haste his natural dig
ne nifty would permit.
re- That ended the Seabeck part of tn
whole sordid affair, except that he re
ig malned for another hour. doing chore
IN and making everything snug for tn
is night. Also he filled the kitchen wood
~ box as high as he could pile the stick
IN and brought water to last overnight
since Charles plan to pipe water int
the cabin had remained n beautifU
he plan and nothing more. Billy Louis
r. thanked Seabeck, when he was read
m to go.
Il know you were square, and your
really %blg-souled. too. I'll remember
always, Mr.. Seabeck."
ST "Wm your" Seabeck looked dow
at her. with his hand upon the latcl
ng "Even II you are put in Il posltiO
)" where you must pay that note-yo
will still-Hm-mml l see. Before
re 20. Miss Macdonald, l should like you
rd permission to send a man down here I
k. look after things"
he mo. you mustn't" Billy Louis
&c spoke with prompt decision. "Marth
OF might think you were-you see,
at wouldn't do. I'll see about getting
nd man. II you will take this note up an
ar leave II Ia the mailbox for me, job
tt. Prlngle will come up tomorrow. We