The Press., 1920-03-18
731e Kindly Heart
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
 paper Union.)
By JESSIE E. SHERWIN

"There goes a fine woman, Martin. She'd make a good wife for somebody.
 Saul Espy and Martin Bross were conversing when the lady designated by the former passed down the road Martin laoked after her with certain fond and longing expression ln his eyes. but he sighed deeply.
 "Yes, she's very superior lady, he acceded. I have often thought how she would grace and deserve pleas ant home, but good fortune has not come her way. She just manages to eke out a living for herself and her little child. Winifred. AS to myself, you know father left the property here only. and that is badly mortgaged.'
 Queer about that, Martin. You know your father certainly had some money and securities before he died,
 for borrowed and paid him S3,OOO on
 a mortgage"
 "Wel. towards the last he acted
 very strangely, as you know, and seems to have lost what he had.' Saul Espy passed on his way and Martin entered the ramShackly old house where he had been born. It had been lonely home tO him. His moth CT had died when he was child and at twenty-twO he had found himself saddled with a badly rundown little farm. heavily encountered. His near est neighbor Mrs. Mary Reeves. wid- ow and her little child were about all the company he had or sought. Mrs. Reeves was about his own age and they had become true friends. Martin went into the house to pause, listen and smile. A whirring sound directed him to a corner of the Kitchen where mouse caught in trap was speeding round and round in the tread mill wheel attached to the cage. "MoSt people would drown you, lit tie fellow" observed Martin taking up the cage and eyeing indulgently the sleek little frightened captive within, '.but haven't the heart to. There you are-nOw run for it.'
 The kindly Martin carried the trap | to the open doorway and shook out the tiny prisoner who at once Scampered for cover. There was slight scream and Mrs. Reeves stood ten feet away shaking her finger playfuly. "Is that the way you greet neigh bor bent on bringing you fresh pan of bScuits?' she cried. "Why, are you that timid?' smiled Martin. taking the mild Scolding geni- ally. "It was the smallest mouse pos sible and if you had looked into it's in- nocent. pleading eyes as l did you would have let it go, too.' "To come back into the house and bother you again. retorted Mrs. Reeves "Well. I suppose you cant | help being tender-hearted. It's the talk | of the town that you sat up nursing | old Carlo two nights before he died?' | "What. neglect the faithful guardian
 of the home, almost as old as myself?'' | spoke Martin Stanchly. "AS to the
 mouse tribe, Mrs. Reeves. one night
 when was playing my flute two of
 them came creeping cautiously across
 the floor and stood there almost human
 until I ceased playing"
 l Martin accepted the covered dish | proffered "Wait until get cake of
 honey for you," he said. and as Mrs l Reeves departed he stood gazing after l her with a quickened gleam in his eyes. l He stopped outside his pretty neigh | bOr's gate the next morning and nod
 ded cheerily to Mrs. Reeves and little | Winifred "I shall be gone all day and l over night at Riverton,' he said. II
 wonder if you would fake the key to | the house and step over and feed my | canarieS?"
 And let out any stray mouse there
 may be in the trap?" intmated Mrs
 Reeves. with twinkling eyes.
 "Yes. that too, if you please" replied
 Martin.
 He got back home the next after
 noon to find desultOry crowd view
 ing heap of ruins.
 Ut burned down yesterday" lisre(
 little Winifred "and mama says you
 are to come over to our house till you
 build a new one"
 Tt was your friends the mice who
 are accountable for the fire" the wid
 ow declared "When l went into the l
 tered ail around. I gathered up all could. but the mice probably carried some away to their nests and ignitet , them.
 Did you ever see that before, Mir BrOss?" She had led the way to the l, sitting room. There lying on the fool
 was black-ned old tin box. |, In; IT,, h. i; old bread box that my father used to keep his papers in. haven't seen i , since he died"
 "No, for he had it hidden away il in the attic and found it among th' ashes after the fire. Mir. BroSs, th' only ore I've told is your lawyer. It. full of gold. He says it must be tn, missing fortune your father hid ava, and it holds over five thousand dol lars in gold and silver"
 "Then the mice have proven my bcS
 friends" cried Martin. reused out o himself. He gaZed raptly at the wid ow. His eyes Sparklcd. Then h picked up little Winifred and kisse, her.
 "NrS. Reeves. ne S;ilfi. Wnen DulIt my new house I want you to pr0lniS to let this sweet little friend come t live with me-"
 ooh, dear! ShoI!d miss h""-' "And you with her," added Na..i' with ycarnng eyes.
 ! JEWS NOT EASILY CONVERTED