Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-14
The Ranch
at the
Wolverine
By B. M. BOWER
scopyrisht By Little. Brown and Company

"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 if Miss Macdonald
will also sign, as an indorser. / think
I can safely do away with any mort
gage or other legal security"
Billy Louise stood up and gave him
one look-which Seabeck did not ap-
preciate. because he did not see it.
It'd ruther give mortgage" Marthy
said uneasily, sitting up suddenly and
looking from one to the other. Il 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 hos
pital n doctors bill bigger'n this cat
tie note, to be paid. don't want to
pile Oh"
snow, Marthy, You be still. I'm per-
fectly willing to sign this note with
you. II 1t 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.
''Well, 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.
we'll pay It; 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. II 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
read the paper laboriously, her lips
forming the letters Of every word
which contained more than one syl-
liable. Marthy, remember, was plains
woman born and bred.
II guess that'll d." she pronounced
at last, pushing the spectacles up on
her lined forehead. "You read 1t, Billy
Louise, n see what yuh think"
II think it's all right, Marthy," said
Billy Louise. after she had read the
document twice. TITS q bill Of sale;
and 1t also wipes the slate clean Of any
possible think Mr.. Seabeck Is very
c-clever."
Whereupon Marthy signed the note,
with spluttering of the abused pen in
her stiffened old fingers and a great
twisting Of her grim mouth as she
formed the capitals. Then Billy Louise
wrote her name with fine, schoolgirl
ease and little curl on the end Of the
last d. Seabeck took the paper from
the tips of Billy Loulse's supercillous
fingers, returned with it to the desk
for a blotter, hunted an envelope,
folded the note carefully, and laid 1t
away inside.
II believe that is all. Mrs. Meilke. I
hope you will suffer no further uneasi-
ness on account of your-nephew."
"I'm liable T. suffer some gittin' that
Eve hundred dollars paid up" Marthy
returned with some acerbity. I'm
much obleeged to yuh, Mr.. Seabeck,
fer bein' SO easy on US. II yuh hadn't
drug Billy Louise into 1t, I'd say yer
too good to be human"
'Hmmm-mm-not at ALL" Seabeck
stammered deprecatingly and left the
room with what haste his natural dig
nifty would permit.
The. ended the seaheck part of the
whole sordid affair, except that he re-
manned for another hour, doing chores
and making everything snug for the
night. Also he filled the kitchen wood.
box as high as he could pile the sticks
and brought water to last overnight
since Charles plan to pipe water into
the cabin had remained beautiful
plan and nothing more. Billy Louise
thanked Seabeck, when he was ready
to go.
II know you were square, and you're
really big,soulcd, too. I'll remember 1t
always, Mr.. Seabeck."
evil your, Seabeck looked down
mt her, with his hand upon the latch.
"Even If you are put in position
where you must pay that note-you
vii stlll-Hm-mm! see. BeforelI
go, Miss Macdonald, ! should like your
permission to send man down here to
look after things"
mo, you mustn't" Billy Louise
spoke with prompt decision. "Marthy
might think you were-you see. 1t