Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-05-17
'sQyde, the
Clever
ByESTER VANCE RDCEBY
Copyright, 1913. Western Newspaper unio,

"Yes," said John Burt with q half
sigh, and then a decidedly humorous
twinkle in his eye succeeding, Clyde
has been a disappointment, but he
knows how to make people laugh and
he's the life Of the house."
Nobody could think of Clyde Burt
without smiling. He had gone away
to try his luck in the big city. He
had come back year later just as
buoyant as ever, but with repertoire
Apparently Clyde had spent his wasted
year and money learning the ropes and
picking up all kinds of keen sayings
and doings.
IF you've come home to buckle down
to practical work, his father told him,
there's plenty Of it to do. If you've
no idea but wasting time hanging
around and amusing people, you'd bet
ter join a circus"
But to the prodigal a return to the
comforts of home after husks and
friendliness was most acceptable. He
cheerfully worked about the place. Be-
sides that, Clyde found the girl he had
courted in the past, Nance Gordon,
more lovely and attract than ever.
Robert Gordon, the father of Nance,
did not look with entire favor upon the
resumption Of the old companionship
of Nance and Clyde, but Mr.. Burt and
he were close friends, and that and
Nance's gentle ways prevented Mr..
Gordon from cutting off the frequent
calls of Clyde.
One morning early Clyde was wa
tering the cattle and his father was
filing the feed trough, when both Gen.
tered attentions on the road down
which a flying figure was coming.
'Why, bless me! If it isn't Nance ="
exclaimed Clyde.
Eyes, and she seems In q hurry"
appended his father. II hope Gordon
hasn't had a bad spell. You know he's
been ailing off and on for week"
"Oh, my-oh, dear!" painted Nance,
coming up to them breathless. 'tFather
sent me, Mr.. Burt. There's great
hurry needed, and he hopes you can
-
''What's the trouble, Nance?'
They've stolen a march on father.
Just this morning constable drove
up and served him with papers tell
ing that the Cosgrove place at Fair
field is to be sold under foreclosure.
You know that skinflint, Mr. Darrow,
at Fairfield, held first mortgage. Fa-
Their has a second, and they've got
snap judgment and are going to bid
it in cheap, and grab the property, and
shut out fathers claim. Father told
the constable he could raise any
amount during the day, and clear up
the whole business, but the constable
said the auction would begin at ten
o'clock sharp"
'You 60 home" said Mr.. Burt, after
a moments thought, 'sand tell your IA
ther that I will 60 over to the bank at
Milton and raise all the cash that is
needed. Clyde, you take old Oliver
| and reach Fairfield as quickly as you
can. In some way delay, or keep up
the bidding, till I come"
ooh, you good people!" cried the
grateful Nance, and she threw hel
arms around the old mans neck and
| kissed him, and gave Clyde an arch
look, promising a later reward fol
| himself if he saved the situation.
Mr.. Burt started one, way for town
| and the bank. His son reached Fair.
| field at half-past nine o'clock. A
| crowd had already gathered about the
| old Cosgrove place, abandoned by its
original owner. Old barrow, a no
torious high-rate money lender, was
| there greedily viewing his prospective
| prey. Clyde engaged the auctioneel
| in conversation, and managed to delay
the bidding quarter of an hour.
Clyde noted the proceedings with q
watchful eye. DarrOw started the
| ball rolling with a thousand-dollar Ct
! fer. Some one raised it to fifteen
| hundred. It slowly raised to sixteen
| seventeen fifty
''Two thousand dollars"
"Once, twice, do hear any higher?'
! sang out the auchoneer, hammer sus
pended.
.'Twenty-one hundred,' seemed tt
proceed from the lips Of an old mar
at the rear of the crowd. Darrov
scowled. He raised the bid a hundred
| dollars.
''Twenty-three," pronounced young
! man.
''Twenty-four snapped Darrow.
twenty-five" came in another voice
from the rear. Darrow was evident
ly through.
"Once, twice, thrice" sang out thu
auctioner, ''and sold to-name
! please?"
'Mean me?" drawled the young man
"Sure-you bid last"
81 fancy not" dissented the young
man vigorously, and in turn the ole
| man declared he had never opened
his lips. There was a vast squabble
Fully an hour was consumed in bick
| ering and arranging to begin the pro
eeedings all over again.
And just at tha. .uncture, upon 8
steaming steed John Burt drove up
and after one or two nominal bids the