The Dolores star., 1918-04-05

1 IF men Billy Louise signs this note
wen pay It; and We want some Per
lection from you. fer Charlie"
sAmmm-mm-Io rec I" He turned and
went back 10 the Uttered desk and
wrote carefully again upon anothel
shest Of paper. Fl think this will BE-
quite satiGfaetoFy." he said, and hand.
ed the paper to Narthy.
~0it my specs, BILLY Louise-ofrn
The shelf over there" she said, and
read the paper laboriousiy, her lips
forming the letters Of every word
which contained more than one syl-
liable. Narthy, remember, was Q plains.
woman born and bred.
Il guess that1l do" she pronounced
ut last. pushing the spectacles up on
her lined forehead. You read Il, Billy
Louise, n see what yuh think"
II think it's all right. Marthy." said
Billy Louise. after she had read the
document twice. Its bill of sole
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 q 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 Louise's supercillous
fingers, returned with 1t to the desk
for a blotter, hunted an envelope,
folded the note carefully. and laid 1t
away inside. a.......
II believe that IL all, Mrs. Meilke.
hope you will suffer no further uneasi-
ness on account Of your-nephew."
am 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. 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. ...
That ended the Seabeck part of the
whole sordid affair. except that he re-
NAMED for another hour, doing chores
and making everything snug for the
nigh. Also he filed the kitchen wood
boz MS 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 60.
II know you were square, and you're
really big-souled, too. I'll remember It
always. Mr.. Seabeck."
'Will your" Seabeck looked down
at her. with his hand upon the latch.
"Even II you are put in q position
where you must pay that note-you
will still-Hm-mml I see. Before I
60. Miss Macdonald, I should like your
permission to send q man down here to
look after things"
"No, You mustn't" Billy Louise
spoke with prompt decision. "Marthy
might think you were-you see. 1T
wouldn't do. I'll see about getting a
man. II you will take this note up and
leave It In the mailbox for me, John
Pringle will come up tomorrow. Wen
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 of 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 face
Of 1t were the words: "Paid, Samuel
Seabeck.",
'The-old-darlingl" said Billy Lou
Use under her breath and went straight
in to show It to Marthy.
CHAPTER XVIII.