The circle banner., 1918-03-08

'1f men Billy Louise signs this not,
lection from you, fer Charlie"
i "Hmmm- -mm-I seew He turned an
, went back to the Uttered desk an
wrote carefully again upon anothe
sheet of paper. 81 think this will b
, quite satisfactory" he said, and hand
ed the paper to Marthy.
"Git my specs, Billy Louise-off'l
the shelf over there" she said, ant
read the paper laboriously, her lip
forming the letters of every wore
which contained more than one syl
liable. Marthy, remember, was plains
woman born and bred.
II guess that'll do" she pronounced
at last, pushing the spectacles up or
her lined forehead. "You read 1t, Billy
Louise, n see what yuh think"
81 think it's all right, Marthy," said
Billy Louise, after she had read the
document twice. "It's a bill Of sale
and it also wipes the slate clean of any
possible think Mr.. Seabeck is very
c-clever."
Whereupon Marthy signed the note,
with a spluttering Of the abused pen in
her stiffened old fingers and great
twisting of her grim mouth as she
formed the capitals. Then Billy Louise
wrote her name with q fine, schoolgirl
ease and little curl on the end Of the
last d. Seabeck took the paper from
the tips of Billy Louise's supercilious
a L. 4 Il.
for blotter, hunted an envelope.
folded the note carefully, and laid 1t
away inside.
81 believe that is ALL Mrs. Meilke.
hope you will suffer no further uneasi-
ness on account of your-nephew."
"I'm liable t. suffer some gittin' that
five hundred dollars paid up," Marthy
returned with some acerbity. I'm
much obleeged to yuh, Mr.. Seabeck,
fer bein' SO easy on US. If yuh hadn't
drug Billy Louise into it, 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.
That ended the Seabeck part of the
whole sordid affair, except that he re-
mained 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 a beautiful
plan and nothing more. Billy Louise
thanked Seabeck, when he was ready
to go.
Il know you were square, and you're |
really big-souled, too. I'll remember 1t |
always, Mr.. Seabeck."
"Will you?" Seabeck looked down |
1T her, with his hand upon the latch. !
Even if you are put in a position
where you must pay that note-you
will still-Hm-mm / see. Before 1
20, Miss Macdonald, I should like your
to send man down here to
ook after things"
"No, you mustn't" Billy Louise
poke with prompt decision. "Marthy
night think you were-you see, 1t
do. I'll see about getting a
nan. If you will take this note up and
cave it in the mailbox for me, John
'ringle will come up tomorrow. Well
manage all right"
you're quite right. But, Miss Mac
Donald, there is something else. Ter
should like to give you little-wed-
ing gift, since you honored me with
ne news Of your pproachiDg-mm-m ,
marriage. AS an old neighbor, and |,
ne of your most sincere admirers, who
ould feel greatly honored by your
I-should like to have you
ccept this" He held something cut 9
, Billy Louise and pulled open the |.
Dor for instant escape. "Good night, :
iss Macdonald. / think 1t will
orm." Then he was gone, hurrying !,
own the narrow path with long !.
rides, his tall figure bent to the wind,
s coat Tapping around his lean legs.
Billy Louise closed the door and her
alf-open mouth and let down her
tied eyelIds. Standing with her back =
.ainst the wall. she turned that some =,
ing-an envelope-over twice, then
re of the cad and pulled out the
ntents. i was the note she and Mar :
v had signed no longer than an hour =
%. and written large across the face :
1t were the words: paid, Samuel y
.abeck."
The-old-darlingT - said Billy Lou 3
: under her breath and went straight J.
to show 1t to Marthy. :