The Dermott news., 1919-03-13

dies and high oven and the shiny edge on its hearth IL rivaled. in it's nov city and charm, any tin peddler's cart that ever came tn our door John ANtell and bis wife. who had seen it pass their house. hurried over for look at it. Every hand was on the stove as We tenderly earried it into the house. piece by piece, and set 1t up. Then they cut hole in the up per floor and the stone chimney and fitted the pipe. How keenly We watched the building of the fire. How quickly il roared and began to heat the room
 When the AxtellS had gone away Aunt peel said
 "Its grand! II is sartin--but I'm 'fraid We can't afford it-ayeS l be-"
 We can't afford to freeze any longer. l made up my mind that we couldn't Se through another winter as We have" was my uncle's answer.
 How much did il cost9a she asked.
 Not much difTer'nt from thirty four dollars in sheep and grain" he answered.
 Rodney Barnes stayed to supper and spent part of the evening with Us.
 Like other settlers there. MT. Barnes was cheerful optimIst. Every thing looked good to him until 1t turned out badly.
 He told how he had heard that It was growing country near the great water highway of the St. Lawrence. Prosperous towns were building up In It. There were going to be great cities in Northern New York. There were rich stores of lead and iron in the rocks Mir Barnes had bought two hundred acres at ten dollars an acre. He had 10 pay n fee of five per cent. to Grimshaw's lawyer for the survey .and the papers. This left him owing fourteen hundred dollars on his farm-much more than 1t was worth.
 Our cousin twisted the poker In his great hands until il squoaked aS he stood before my uncle and said
 My wife and I have chopped and burnt and pried and hauled rocks an shoveled dung an milked mn ehurncd until Wa are worn out. For almost twenty years we've been workin' days an nights nm Sundays. My mortgage was overdue, l owed six hundred dol- lars on it. I thought it all ever one day an went up Ia GrimshuU'S an took him by the back ot the neck and shook hiln. He said he would drive me out Q the country. He gave me six months to pay up. l had to pay or lose The land. l got tho money on the note that you signed over in potSdam. Nobody in CIu- ten would 'a dared to lend 1t tp me"
 Why" my uncle asked.
 'Fraid o' Grlmsh9W He didn't want me to be able to pay it. The place Is worth more than six b-adred dollars noW-that'S the reason. 1 in- tended to cut some timber an haul it to the village this winter so l could pay a part a the note an git more time aS told ye. but the roads have been so bad l couldn't do any haul in"
 My uncle went and took drink at the water pail. l saw by his face that he was unusually wrought up.
 My heavens an earthi" he ex- claimed as he sat down again.
 It's the brain colic," l said to myself as l looked at him.
 Mir. Barnes seemed to have 1t also.
 "foo much note l whispered.
 I'm awful sorry. but I've done everything l eould.@ said Mir. Barnes.
 "Ain.t there somebody thatM take another mortgage9-it ought to be safe now" my uncle suggested.
 Money is so tight f can't be done. The bank has got all the money an Grimshaw owns the bank. I've tried and tried, but I'll make you safe. I'll give you a mortgage until can turn round"
 Sc l saw how Rodney Barnes. like other settlers in LickItysplit, had gone into bondage to the landlord.
 How much do you owe on this placer Barnes asked.
 Seven hundred an fifty dollars" said my uncle.
 ''Is 1t duef"
 Its been due year an if have | to pay that note I'll be short my in- 1 terest."