The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-09-10
In The Family"
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BY CENEVlEVE ULMAR
1919. western Newspaper un,ons

Business rivals, but that's the spice
Of the game. Now this little incident
Of that piece of property we; both claim
to own has come up. Are we going to
take off our coats and pound each 9th
err? Not much! Our side is in pos
session-you've got only an old tax
title. Litigation? Don't do tex
pense-hard feeling. Honest, Hassett,
l don't care rap for the old broken
down farmhouse and miserable patch
of land that won't raise anything but
thistles. Only it's sort of old-time
relic and In all honor l want to keep it
in the family" - -
"And ! simply wish to abide by the
business rules my father has inculcat-
ed-to hold on to what seems to be
mine by right" ;.
"Well, let it rest Tor a bit, and see
what time Develops
To,this Ned Bassett," bright, system
attic young man Of business, did not
reply, for he had made up his mind
to bring the matter to decisive focus.
AS Pierson, shrewd and enterprising,
had secretly formed the same conclu-
sion, 1t was question Of who got
there first. "There" was Nlayville,
near which little hamlet the property
In contest was located. Dyke Pferson
fancied he had stolen a march on Bas-
sett when he quietly left the city to
find out what the Mayville lawyers
said about his case. Bassett had ar.
rived in Mayville four hours earlier.
AS he was turning a tree-shaded cor
ner he drew back quickly. Out Of view
sounded a familiar voice, that Of Pier
son, and 1T spoke Questioningly:
"What's the trouble, Sonnie?" Bas-
sett peered past tree. Seated on the
edge Of the sidewalk was Pierson. An
urchln Of six was digging his fingers
in his eyes and weeping copiously. '''
II. wanted to 60 to the movies and
Ben Leyner promised to buy my bag
Of marbles for a dime, and he amt
here" ,
Lets see your marbles" spoke
Pierson, and the boy poured forth a
full array Of "mibs," glass alleys,
"glassies" boilers and comedians. Pier.
son paved them over with grin, pow.
erfully reminded of his long past
youthful days.
"1'll buy the outfit" he said. '"rhere's
a : quarter" and the delighted lad
bounded off in high spirits. Then Pier
son chuckled as he logged his memory
to classify the marbles by names that
came back to him like Whit of early
boyhood. Suddenly Bassett stepped
into view.
"Hello!" he hailed. "What are you
doing here at Mayville?"
Pierson looked up, bored and flush
ing. "Oh, WE'LL" he stammered, II
came down here to play marbles. What
fetched you here?"
"Oh, to watch you play them," re,
torted Bassett. "Trying to steal a
march on Inc, eh?'
"Well, you're here, too, aren't you 7
Say. ever play these things?'
'Ill play you a. game of plunpins,"
suggested Bassett-"ten marbles in
the ring, with Dollars for shooters. IF
win, that lands mine. If you win,
I'll never trouble you about it again"
"Done!' shouted Pierson, who had
good deal of sporting spirit in his
makeup-and lost.
A curious crowd had gathered
around to witness the strange sight OF
two full.grOwn men playing marbles
In dead earnest. Winner and loser
fastened to get beyond the gaping vii
layers. "
"Now don't look so grouchy because
luck went against you," spoke Bassett.
Truth is, don't want the old farm,
and when 1 come to reckon up just
what taxes we have paid and inter.
est amounts to I may turn it back to
you on new DEAL"
Hope you WILL" replied Pierson,
somewhat Modified. "Well, anyway.
Well keep it out of the devouring NAV
Of the law. I say, are you putting up
at the hotel? Yes? So am I, but I'm
going to run down by auto to see my
folks. Come along with me-"
So Bassett went. Strange freak of
In his impressiOnable mind that colored
all his life! It was at the Pierson
home that he met Madge, the sister of
Pierson.
"How such perfect angel comes
to be the sister Of a man of such CON-
mon clay as you are made Of" he
rallied at Pierson, II can't understand"
AHA You have got soul for some
thing besides dollar grubbing, ehT'
PiersOn abused him in turn
Pierson went back to the city next
morning. "See here" observed Bas-
sett, II like this little town. I need q
rest and I'm going to take weeks va
cation"
It was fully two weeks before Bas-
sett returned to the city. "Got back,
eh?" hailed Pierson, meeting him on
the street. by the way, you sort Of
limited at some possible arrangement
about that old farm land"
"Why, yes" nodded Bassett. You're
thinking of asking it back, are your