The Nevada County picayune., 1918-03-21

we'll pay it; and we want some per lection from you, fer Charlie"
 "Hmmm-mm-I seel" He turned and went back to the filtered desk and wrote carefully again upon another sheet of paper. q 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- lable. Marthy, remember, was plains woman born and bred.
 Il guess that'll do," she pronounced at last, pushing the spectacles up on her lined forehead. "You read it, Billy Louise, n see what yuh think"
 "1 think it's all right, Marthy," said Billy Louise, after she had read the document twice. Its a bill of sale i; and 1t also wipes the slate clean of any possible I think MT. 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 a 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 fingers, returned with it to the desk for a blotter, hunted an envelope, folded the note carefully, and laid it away inside.
 '1 believe that is all, Mrs. Meilke. l 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, Mir. Seabeck, fer bein' so easy on us. If yuh hadn't drug Billy Louise into 1t, I'd say yer too good to be human"
 ''Hmmm-mm-not at a1l," 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 Charlie's 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.
 T know you were square, and you're really big-souled, too. I'll remember il always, Mir. Seabeck"
 twill you?" Seabeck looked down at her, with his hand upon the latch 'Even if you are put in q position where you must pay that note-you will still-Hm-mm l see. Before go, Miss Macdonald, I should like your permission to send a man down here to look after things"
 "No, you mustn't" Billy Louise spoke with prompt decision. "Marthy might think you were-you see, it wouldn't do. I'll see about getting q man. If you will take this note up and leave it in the mailbOx for me, John Pringle will come up tomorrow. We'll manage all right"
 "You're quite right. But, Miss Mac Donald. there is something else. Ter should like to give you a little-wed- ding gift, since you honored me with the news of your approaching-mm-m marriage. As an old neighbor, and one of your most sincere admirers, who would feel greatly honored by your friendship, I-should like to have you accept this" He held something out to Billy Louise and pulled open the door for instant escape. Good night Miss Macdonald. I think 1t will storm" Then he was gone, hurrying down the narrow path with long strides. his tall figure bent to the wind his coat Tapping around his lean legs.
 Billy Louise closed the door and her half-open mouth and let down her lifted eyelids. Standing with her back against the wall, she turned that some thing-an envelope-over twice, then tore off the end and pulled out the contents. It was the note she and Mar thy had signed no longer than an hour ago. and written large across the race of 1t were the words: "Paid, Samuel Seabeck."
 he-old-darling said Billy Lou ise under her breath and went straight in to show it to Marthy.
 CHAPTER XVIII.