Arizona republican., 1921-11-27
A POSITIVE CURE
THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY STORY
A COMPLETE NOVELETTE,

five was amusing them.
 I've come" Jo began, ito inquire about your sign.''
 Yes hope lighted the woman.s face. Step in, please. and take seat.'
 As she sat down she glanced at the room. It was pitifully bare and neat. Almost it's only ornament was a big crayon portrait of young man in soldiers uniform.
 The woman sat down and looked at her hands as she turned them in her lap. You're the first person who in- quired." she said, though I put up the sign a week ago. Property isn't selling very good around here, and I'd almost given up." One of the babies crawled up to her side and she lifted him up.
 .sueh beautiful twin boys!" Jo ex- claimed.
 'Yes, aren't they7 That's my little daughter, too. I've another girl of eight and a boy of ten. They're at school. I've five children. And my husband" She lifted her eyes to the protrait. That finished the story. He was brave soldier; couldn't help being. His father and grandfather fought before him. So when he got restless and I saw that he was want ing to go I never said word. But of course it makes it hard for the chil- dren and me. I've this little place and nothing else in the world. l suppose if I was stronger and the children older I'd get along, or if I had folks to help me. But I'm stranger Tn these parts. You see we'd just got nicely settled here when he went away. To sell seems the only way. IL tll lv 70, of us all until have got to working. Of course I couldn't leave the babies just yet. It's good little place" she said. I'm sure you'd like it.
 I'm sure I would,' Jo replied. Now, let me take one of those babies while we talk it over"
 One June afternoon Jo was admir- ing a new hutch and pen that the hired man had just finished making for quartet of handsome brown rabbits, the property of Bobby Starr. who stood beside her, looking down at his safely housed pets. Elinor and Katherine were there. too. They usually were all three as close to Jo as they could get. and she found url- failing delight and satsfacuon Tn their presence.
  of lettuce for them" she was saying when she heard the souno or a car and turned to see a heavy roadster pause at her gate. She recognized Colin first, then with .- flush she per ceived Dr. Kerrigan. Detaching her self from the children. she moved forward to meet him.
 seWhat's this? What's this?' he demanded, smiling. as they shook hands What are you doing here, may I ask?',
 aoh, I'm farming Jo answered gayly. Don't you like my placer I'm growing more in love with 1t every minute"
 "So that's why you left townl' Perhaps you don't recall you made me a certain promise. I'm here to see why you haven't kept it?"
 "I deserve scolding." Jo laughed. But when you've get c farm and a whole new adopted family or five and two pure bred Jersey cows and a nig and a flock of chickens and a hired man to boss and crops to su- perintend-' She paused, rather breathless.
 @Well." said the doctor. '.you seem to have taken my advice with a vengeance and got a big new interest in life" m,
 He might have said as he did ,ater that she had helped him to find & new interest in life. But he kept that for a later time, when 10 should be more ready to hear him.