The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-06-29

THE u
spry and animated Tor years. Hs was
glad to note her interest In triaes and
the household cares Of years wear
Ing away from her. All the same he
did this with a suppression of sad
ness she never penetrated. It was
with an aching heart, and that heart
beating next to a certain letter he had
received and kept secret from her,
that the old man smiled at her simple
joyousness.t - 49, =.
"Just think of it, john. she said,
"only two weeks more and we start
for the boys farm Did / show you
the photograph he sent me Of the dear
place, with himself and his wife,
Laura, and the two little tots on the
pretty porch? Isn't it delightful to
think Of you and me passing our last
days among such lovely surroundings,
after just negotiating in this ram
shackly old ruin ready to fall to
pieces after a century's user"
1t was indeed a veritable ruin. 1t
had answered the needs of two gen.
erations, however.
Don't worry" Sarah Hayden had
smiled brightly. "It will last our time.
Only a few days and we will bid it
goodby; we are going to make our
home with the dear boy, David, out
west"
The small patch Of ground around
the house had no value whatever, even
for average garden purposes. AS to
the house, a millwright had offered
$50, intending to tear it down and use
the old lumber to build sheds on his
own place. 1t was this that the Hay
dens had depended on to pay their
way to '"the boys farm" out west.
ut WILL kill her when she knows the
truth" groaned John Hayden as he
moved away on his crutches from the
house.
Then the old Ia sought a secluded
spot near the river and for the hun
dredth time took out the secret let
ter and pored over it's contents.
David Hayden had met with dire
misfortune. The yeay before a scamp
Of a travelling swindler had induced
him to specialize on a new grain. The
crop was a total failure.
"Worst Of ALL" wrote David, II had
borrowed $500 to try the experiment,
and I gave the little farm as security.
They have f%oreclosed, for $500 Is a lot
Of money out here. Unless I pay that
and a penalty of $50 inside Of a month
py farm will be taken away from me
the dear little place Laura and
have worked so many years to Sc
cure"
No wonder, therefore, with this
dread secret on his mind, that John
Hayden took little interest in the gay,
careless, gifted group Of men and WON
en-actors. and actresses they called
themselves-who daily posed and ma.
neuvered before the Gamer to supply
city dime shows with attractive mo-
ton picture films.
Mrs. Hayden did some extra cook.
ing for them. The man In charge OF
the movies, nj Rupert Dale, appreci
ated all these little courtesies. Twice
when he needed an old couple in the
scenarios he paid husband and wife
a substantial sum-. Mrs. Hayden was
as pleased as a child.
II am going to tell her-I must tel
her." John Hayden said n day, af
ter a long spell Of deep thought In hi:
favorite solitude by the river side.
Yes, the blow could not be avertei
longer. His wife must know the truth
About to take up his clutches ant
proceed on his cherries mission JohI
Hayden paused. Some one had halted
just beyond them, engaged in CONVEX
sation. He recognized the tones OF
one Of the speakers as that of the
rollicking, good-natured leader of thu
movies, Rupert Dale:
Eyes" he was saying, we're ready
to report in now, almost. There's two
more scenarios and then were
through"
How about the finish up of that big
feature flm?"
"We've got to burn up a house t.
act that out"
swell, why don't you find one Il
burn?" demanded Dale's companion.
II haven't run acros an empt!
house in u travels just suited t
u purpose" replied Dale.
staggered into view and from yer!
joy and gratitude fell a senseless heal
at the feet Of the two astonished mo
ton picture e
In graphic, sensational style the oh
house went up in smoke the next day
Following a secret telegram John Hay
den sent to his son, a happy old couple
took the train for that little farm on
west. Sarah Hayden was never t,
know how narrowly the Joy of living
had escaped the bleakness of despair
And all the way Of that rapt trail
journey, the heart Of the happy oil
man was singing u glad strain o
gratitude and perfect happiness ant
a ! TX. =