The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-03-03

afford Them" Melitta said desperately.
Then to the tree man, Angus Mcclure
by name: II didn't mean q straight
order when l wrote about prices and
things. II can't pay for anything
until I sell my wheat in July. Can't
you-don't you think maybe you can
sell the trees to somebody elser"
"Mlitter, I'm shocked at you. Why,
that's positively misunderstanding
what you know you have no money
for and then throwing 1t back" Mrs.
Horne cried acridly.
Sarah interposed with a sour smile.
"We won't let that happen. Ma, draw
a check for the gentleman. An orchard
will add a bit to our security, though
/ must say l think planting it Is fool
ish extravaganza"
you needn't" said the tree man
almost brusquely. my firm amt In
the shark game; l can make 1t right
with them to wait till this young lady
is good and ready to pay"
"M'litter! Will you let a perfect
stranger do that for YOU" Mrs. Horne
demanded. Melitta nodded; speech
was beyond her. Sarah chimed in:
II thought the wheat was to put on a
new roof. l don't intend to stay under
this leaky one another winter" This
time it was Melitta who said: "You
needn't" The words were barely
spoken when there was a lusty hail
from the garden gate. Doctor Phipps
shouted from his flivver: mind, Me-
litta; men are coming after options
oil in next county they want acreage
all round about. Ask 'em five hun
bred at least for this place; they'll
pay it, but offer you, maybe, twenty
five If they think you are not wise to
their game"
Melitta glOwed into sudden beauty,
'Id give an option on my soul, doctor,
right now" she said. "for even a hope
of one day getting Free"
The Hornes lounced off in high
dudgeon. Alone with Mcclure, Melitta
felt herself suddenly un%accountably
happy. She chartered with him eager.
ly as to lbs errand and her adventure
ran to show him the orchard site she
had chosen and rejoiced to find he
approved it highly. They came back
to find the truck waiting. Willing
hands, summoned by the jowl Of the
big farm bell, quickly set the young
trees in place with due care and cere
mony. Melitta herself, happy as a child
kneeling to sift fine earth among their
roots and later treading smooth and
firm the mounds about the trees.
you're lucky-the wind is blowing
up rain-April rain, just what the
trees need" Mcclure said as they
Then very low he added: Don't you
worry about-anything. Money least Of
all. Happens I've got stock in the
company-enough to carry you till the
trees come into bearing. And Il yor
like, you can double or treble this
planting. Your land is made for sucf
use. I see you love it-and know what
to do with It,"
"You-you are-too kind. I cam
give security-there Is a mortgage
you know Melitta faltered: "Oil i.
such a long chance" stopping ant
swallowing hard. "But-but it seem!
to me I'd die two deaths to get rt
Of"
"TIl take over the mortgage
you'll come along with It," the youn,
fellow said boldly, possessing himsel
of her hand. "Never mind our beini
strangers. / think this was ordered
from the beginning"
Option money was all Melitta'
share Of the Oil boom, but she die
not mind greatly. Her orchards
stretching wider year by year, lief
her nothing to wish for in the way O
prosperity. And n Angus Mcclure
left her as little to wish for in the wa.
Of a husband.