The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-01-25
The Luck of
the Lanes
% lsal. b. Mcclure Nsw.papsr syndicats.)
By ELLA 5. LARoucHE

% 1871. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
"Marthy, Marthyi" beloved the
masculine summons.
Then In cyclonic fashion open few
the kitchen door and five feet six inch
es Of masculine whirlwind burst into
the room. Flourishing aloft the local
weekly newspaper the excited little
man jerkily exploded:
"Rich-rich. my girl! Now wen
have everything we want. an'-an'-
I'll be Square Lane. oh, Marthy !"
and. making a sudden leap. he pulled
the astonished middle-aged matron
away from her bread dough and pre-
sented her with two celebration
smacks.
"Nate Lanei Be you crazy?"
"Gee, Marthy! Guess be-almost.
Looki" And again he waved the pa
per-this time before her face. Were
rich!" he shouted. "Recollect that
knickknack peddler we gave free
board to for few days last winter7
He. said he'd pay US some time. Well,
he's dead. He was really miser,
Marthy, and he's willed us"-he paus-
ed for emphasis and then slowly add
ed-"fifteen thousand dollars"
Gone was Mrs. Mates composure.
Tremblingly she retreated into the
depths of the nearest rocker.
"Set down, Nathan, set down. You'd
make a dead cow nervous topping
about like hungry grasshopper. Wed
best decide on what to do right off and
we must use-er- efficiency"
Industrious tongues worked over
time. Their fortune expanded with
each retelling, until the couple them
selves had vague belief in the exag-
geratjons, and multi-millionaire spir-
it pervaded their systems.
The church committee paid an early
visit and incidentally called their at
tention to the condition of the shingles
on the meeting house.
"Wal, Square," drawled Deacon
Saunders, you'll be one of our lead
ing citizens now, and we know you'll
show the right spirit A leetle con-
tribution just at the beginning, SO to
speak, would naturally give the peo-
pie feeling of confidence in you. No
reason why you shouldn't be church
treasurer now, Deacon Grimes is SO
poorly now, and you'll be Sc
lectman and on the school board next
year, Of course.
Square Lane beamed.
"H'm, er"-he hesitated and glanced
surreptitiously at Martha, who appear
ed unimpressed by the Square" "Er
wal, I'll give you somethin', Of
course. Marthy and I'll talk it over
and let you know, soon."
The next morning the couple decided
to go to Fitzwel and draw out their
entire savings for immediate use pend
ing the arrival Of the fifteen thousand
"We'n go shopping" breezily an
nounced the jubilant Martha. "I'm
going to the Ladies' Aid Wednesday
afternoon in the best silk dress this
town ever saw. You've got to quit
chewing tobacco, Nathan, and buy
some cigars, and I'm going to get my
fingernails shampooed."
That night weary, heavily laden
couple returned to a cold house and
were almost Immediately forced to ad-
nit interested and envious neighbors.
At eleven o'clock they were again
alone. Martha CHANGED to glance to-
ward Nathan just as he was in the
act of biting Off a generous mouthful
of his favorite tobacco. That bite was
never consummated.
"Mr. Lane, tobacco chewing is a
filthy habit. I'll have no spittoons
when I get my new carpets"
aye don't say?" sneered the new
made Croesus. "If I spile carpet
can buy new one. Maybe when ye
git them new gewgaws on you'll be
casting about for another man,
Mrs. Croesus retaliated with force
and venom, and no peace treaty on
earth would have had any influence
on that domestic battle.
In the early morning hours, exhaust
tion triumphed and they retired-to
separate bedrooms.
Mr.. Lane in the cold discomfort of
the spare bedroom started to remove
his clothes. The latest edition of the
city daily newspaper fell from one of
his pockets.
His mind reverted to his inheritance
and with the idea of obtaining more
information concerning his eccentric
benefactor he glazed over the head
fngs. Sure enough, there it was
He sat down on the edge of the
bed, and, regardless of the cold. vi
sipned the glorious future. Martha
was always beside him, of course. He
felt vaguely troubled. Why had they
quarreled? Really, it was his duty to
give her chance to apologize.
His wife stood before HMM tears.
"Narthy-M -Marthy II he suffered in
a tone Of deep contritlon.
"Confound the money anyway" he
exploded. eve never quarreled like
that before. Let's make up, Marthy."
Confused rnnantnrt Ia f,,r,Iini