Evening star., 1928-03-24

p 1NhA1 & sloSt WAS IespoiiSipie AoA
/ old Man" IenSen'S moral ref
ormation everybody in the little
L isolated Missouri mountain COM
munity knew.
I The ghosts appearance had done
more than merely put Max Jensen on
the water wagon" 1t caused Jensen
10 cancel his mortgage on the Widow
Nears' farm 1t resulted III the old
Mans" hating further objections to
the marriage of his son. Max, 1r., TO
the widows only daughter, Elsie.
There are only two people in the
community who have never taken the
ghost story seriously. They are young
Max and his mother.
"You can take your choice of marry
in the MearS girl and going somewhere
else to make your livin' or you can
Quit her and stay home"
That was the "Old Mans" ultima
tum to his son one Friday afternoon IN
early Spring.
Young Max didn't argue the question
or protest. He knew it was useless. IN
wardly he resolved he'd marry the girl
and still keep on friendly relations with
his father.
Il can't see why wou should despiSe
Elsie lust because her mother Is poor,
said the young man. Max, lr,, Just
back from three years at an agricultural
college. was the pride of an illiterate
an superstitious. but wealthy. father.
Before / met your mother / was
courtin' Mrs. MearS and she turned me
down when she knowed I'd be the rich
est man in the township. She married
MearS .'hat got ME. Mears and me
used TO be pals and we broke up. TOO.
Don't know as I missed much. Your
De 1,zst
Mears was But it Just made me mad,
I got a chance now TO show the
old girl where she slipped. I've held
a mortgage on the Mears place some
five wears now The old woman has
been sellin' her animals and farm ma
chinery TO keep UP the interest. Shes
got nothing left to sell and she can't
raise any money for the principal.
The mortgage falls due Monday,
and Monday I get the Mears farm and
the widow and her daughter will be
paupers. can't have my son mar
ryin' a pauper or her mother gloatin
over what a good catch the girl made"
Young Max knew he would have TO
act quickly. Borrowing money TO give
the girl was cut of the question. The
widow would never accept a gift. Mrs.
Afears and her daughter had farmed
their little plot near the Jensen place
these 10 years since Mears died. They
grew constantly poorer. but they had
great deal of pride.
The son changed the subject.
Pop. want 10 run down TO the
county Seat over Sunday" he declared
All right" said the "Oid Man" know
/ ing he would be better of not to have
1 the boy around when he made the con-
/ templated foreclosure on the Mears
! farm Monday.
I'm sure glad that pop didn't want
/ 70 know what was going to do," said
Max 70 himself that afternoon as he
sat in the coach Of a passenger train
that carried him 70 the city.
Max vas the only member of the
/ family or the community that was not
suDergtitious. The rest Of the people
! still fondlg clung 10 their love Of calling
/ supernatural everything they didn't un-
/ dergtand.
Often this had been provoking TO the
rather sophisticated young man. This
time he was glad that superstition still
! abounded.
In the city Max visited friend who
owned an airplane.
He told his plans
Monty Perkins. owner Of the plane,
listened with interest
Sure I'll help YOU with the scheme
II you're positive the landing places
are good"
1T will take us only a little while
Saturday night. You can get back By
midnight. But we'd better fly out to-
night when no one can see iis. know
an old sned In an unused pasture on
the Mears place where we can put the
plane until tomorrow evening. Nobody
ever goes there. Wen spend the eve-
ming fishing and sleep most OF the day
tomorrow"
That night Perkins and young Max
returned 70 the iattef's community by
air. The machine was put into the
shed and the door closed and the young
men began their wait.
They had scheduled their perform
aface for dusk the next night. Mean
while they fisl1ed. smoked and played
cards. talking over the contemplated
adventure.
For once I'm glad pop has all his
old-fangled ideas about ghosts" said
Maz
Then We ought 10 get by II he
doesn't try 10 shoot at u.s." said Per-
kins
Don't worry. These fellows here onig
shoot when they think the guy is )
special Government agent" replied Max
Late the next day Old Man Jen.
sen. CRYING rather dilapidated au.
bomobiie of the common garden va.
Iie1ys started from his farm 10 the vii
lage 10 miles distant The two youDa
men saw him leave.
Let's get ready" Max suggested
There Was small strip Of woodland
along the road the "Old Man" had tf
trayei The grove, like the pastlr.
just behind il. Was on the Mears prom
eFtY miles from the Jensen place.
Opening large bundle young MAJ
bS1k out ~ IL a complete OUTFIT o
ca9lheS. with The aid u mirror hs
ofeasfn himself until he looked jIe
tAs paftbfe ot man ile haa placed
. before fAe mirror.
III bet I'm "A dead ringer for OLD
, mar NeaFa nov" he commented AS h,
: toDfied some phosphorus paint over hi,
ia3s hild hands and applied d nlustaeh.
aIln KoStee.
IaklAg Dickax IN his hand h.
ting va" '''
IN going oyer through the groy
: ~ tfif roadside. Pop win be eomi,
: ga<k nome nov. It's almost dark an,
! 1iie moon Is coming up. Hen see M
. ~ "ofk ahd stop and talk. Thei
~ probably try quick getawas
= 6ls pld buggy can't make over tel
miles up the 3lll III run right bac
/ mere Then. You De Ia the machine an,
I "t II be ready W hop Of the minut
: you see me, said MAX
- Just ~ long as he doesn't hea
Z | oar n1ot9r" said Perkins
Rot . chance his bus viii dFoWl
oar solnd and after be sees ne hei
Only be thinking of getaRag"
Might had affan S(YlA Aan