Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-12-07
The Marble
Quarry
Bv LESTER PETELLE.
@. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

the breath came hard between her
lips. She read his message In his
eyes before he uttered it.
"The Mercury doesn't want you any
longer, Jim," she said. rs that it?'
Jim nodded miserably, and they sat
down side by side upon the lounge
and looked at each other mutely. For
months they had felt the blow COM
ing. Jim had been reporter on the
Mercury for five years.
Presently Lucy rose and began to
prepare the evening meal.
Lets get an abandoned farm In
New England, DEAR" she said. you
know one can pick them up for very
small first payment. You can write,
and, bit by bit, we can pull things to-
gether. 1 can raise chickens and we'll
have q garden, and"
Lucy's parents had had "a farm in
New Hampshire and had abandoned 1t
when she was year old.
They talked the scheme over all
that evening, and it ended in their
closing UP the house and taking a
trip into New Hampshire to look
around. And then it was that they
came upon their ideal village.
It was tiny, struggling place in a
sheltered valley, with high mountains
all round, and at the end Of the long
street was the dearest listle place
about II acres, with a brook at the
foot and a little cottage, falling into
decay, but still weather-proof, with
old-fashioned freplaces and dormer
windows-just the place for them.
I'VE just have it, Lucy" said Jim.
Lucys own spirits rose.
But was 1t for rent or sale? 1t had
lain vacant for more than 20 years,
the neighbors said. Only one man
knew-Ezra Powell, the boss of the lit
tie community, the village banker, the
landowner, whose property adjoined
their own. AS for the title deeds
the registrars office had been burned
out - years before and there was no
record remaining.
They went to Ezra Powell and found
grim, red-faced, domineering man.
who listened to their request for in
formation with stolid malignity.
That place amt to rent or SELL" he
said, when jim had ended rs it
mine? Young man, don't talk about
my private affairs. l say you can't
have It,"
UNLESS that place is yours we are
going to take It," said jim, defiantly.
Powell stormed and threatened and
the interview terminated with vague
on the other.
They moved out to. Clearwater a
week later, and by the end of May
the house was in order and the ground
broken up and planted. A motherly
hen and brood of chickens laid the
foundation of what promised to be-
come fourshing industry. And soon
they discovered the cause of Powell's
hostility.
1t was the neighbors who told them,
under pledges of secrecy and with
every appearance of fear. There was
a rich marble quarry on Powel's
land. and the indications were that
the vein ran obliquely under their OWN
little farm. He could not put them
out, but they could not have put him
out. They had only the right of prior
possession.
Powell could, however, make life
ulomst impossible, and did. He In
augurated boycott, and the village
tradesmen dared not serve Jim, who
was compelled to go to Evesham for
his supplies. On his return, loaded
down, he found two rough-looking men
at the door. Inside was Lucy. crying.
"They tried to get me to come out"
she said. But knew that If once I
session. Jim, we are like prisoners"
1t was true; they were prisoners.
Jim dared not leave his land.
1t was late in August when Powell
visited them. How long are you two
fools going to hold out?" he asked.
You'll have to give up afore winter
Come, I'll give you couple Of hundred
to quit"
"I'll 60" said Jim, "for seven hun
bred and fifty dollars"
"Done!" shouted Powell with a We
hemence which amazed the house
holders. He pulled out bullying
pocketboOk, which he had brought
with him for the purpose. and peeled
Off eight one hundred dollar bills.
"Got changer" he sneered.
Jim walked over to loose board
and raised 1t. Inside of case was q
legal document. Jim took 1t to the
light.
whats that?" shouted Powell, sus-
piciously.
1T looks" said Jim, deliberately,
like the legal title to this property"
1.-THE legal owner of this place
seems to be one Timothy Brand" said
Jim. THAT sounds like your fathers
name, Lucy"
"Why-then this was my fathers