The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-19
CHAPTER XIII.

tHAHItIS AlIl.
 While the spirits of Happiness and good fortune seemed to have taken up their abode in one house in Vim bleton, in another home on the other side of the city they were certainly wanting. Albert Wheeler was wor- ried. He had hardly spoken to Esther at breakfast and when she had asked him for money for some little pur- chases she intended making, he raved about her extravaganza.
 That night when he came upstairs and flung himself down in a chair Esther demanded to know what the trouble was.
 "One of those beastly milk inspec- tors has been making trouble, again." he replied. They sent a little boy the other day and tested the milk I gave him.
 What a shame" exclaimed Esther. who saw that he expected her to sympathize with him. But that is
 no great crime if it did not come up to the standard, is it?' ''Well. I've got a summons to court about it and will be fined; it's that much harm. And think what that does to the reputation of the store! And that isn't the only thing, tllhtE OuI lONely pullST SChciIlS has got me in worse than bad. It was you idea, mixing oleo and butter together and making it into prints and selling 1t as fresh butter. I wish you'd keep your bright ideas to your self after this. I just wish I knew | who has been setting those inspectors l onto us. They never bothered us l before. I wonder if your mother has anything to do with it. ''Oh, no, I don't think so. Mother | believes in Vengeance is mine, said the Lord" She wouldn't do anything l like that" answered Esther. "I don't see why they don't let a
 man alone who is trying to earn a | living. It isn't right for them to
 badger me so. They're just down on me, that's all, and it's pretty hard,' ,'' | whined her husband.
 l Esther now began to be alarmed | for she saw that Albert was wor- | ried. You don't mean they might
 put you in Jail, do you?'' she cried. l No" he said, falteringly, but l there will be trouble about it anyway | and we might Just as well shut up the
 store. It will get all around the neighborhood, in fact, I guess it is 1 already. I saw the Livingston's maid | go into the grocery store across the street this morning and you know they were our very best customers.
 "Oh, surely, 1t isn't as bad as that,'' | walled Esther.
 "Yes, it is. Nobody will come
 near the shop once it gets out.
 know because the same thing happen
 ed to me once before years ago and
 when that comes out in court the fine
 they will give me will be simply
 enormous. They don't show any l
 victed before
 Esther clasped her hands across her knees and stared before her. Ther
 she exclaimed, Why don't you sell i, the business?'
 ,E 'Twho do you think would buy i when they know what has happen. ed 2" Your idea is all right, only i won't work" Albert answered sar castically.
 Well, let's try. It's the only thins left that we can do to get out of the hole. Don't tell anyone about tn, summons. Just pay your fine ant say nothing"
 "I suppose it is worth trying Al bert reluctantly admitted. II gues
 will see about 1t right away. Per , haps there may be some suckers wan
 dering around loose and if there ar, we might as well get their money a
 anyone. They say there's one bor, [ every minute"
 { Though Albert Wheeler had litt1 7 faith in the possibility of selling hi 2 store to good advantage, he inserted | an advertisement In the papers O ? Wimbledon and the nearby cities even sending on to a New York daily l but he did not put up any sbgs on tn 5 store itself. He felt that the les , that was known about his plans tn l better it would be and he knew tha l the only one to whom he could hop l to make a sale would be an entir t stranger.
 t How does this sound, Esther | Listen." and he read: ] Grocery Business for Sale. Splen-
 did connection. Well situated in Q best neighborhood. Large and D certain trade. Present proprie- r tor only selling because of H. l health of wife which necessi-
 .' tates his removing to Colorado. V Selling price $500. Open for l offer.
 q You have worded that sp1endid1y t You seem to have gift for writing II I really believe you should go int F some other business, something a lit
 tie higher class than the grocery line I We'll think it over after we get ri | of the store.''
 S So they spun their web and almos g k before they had thought possibI r | along came fly two of them. il
 fact, and fell in.
 A----