Evening star., 1928-04-01

all was good for was holdin' the
lantern"
so" unused Big stickney, with a
tender smile that was strange on his
face. you held the lantern"
why, yes, sir Why not?"
Il was merely wondering how many
successful men. scattered across Amer
lea, have owed their beginnings to some
faithful woman who held the
lantern!"
Well" the wife went on huskily, we
finally got the house up SOS Teddy
could be born in one of the bedrooms.
And the next year Mart and painted
it together. We got stuck on the paint,
though. 1t was awful poor quality.
It's peelin already"
Il didn't notice it."
Didn't you?" she cried In delight.
"Whered the two Of you live while
the house was goin up?"
I'VE had one-room sod shack that
Mart uses now for tools and grain. You
see, when two folks have worked along
together like that and got ahead, little
by little, they grow to think a heap of
each other. That's why / think so
much o Mart"
Isn't 1t fearfully lonesome at times
especially in the Winter-off here under
the SKYE"
1T does get pretty tough in the Win
ter We went back into the old sod
house last February. cause 1t was really
warmer for Teddy. But Mart's differ
ent than most men. He don't care so
much about runnin' around with folks.
Yes. he's even queer that way. Likes
to keep off by himself with the baby
and me. I don't spose we'd even got
to Chicago last month If he hadn't had
to. go there on business. It's good
thing I. amt strong for society myself
It'd bother lots o women far more'n 1t
does me"
Then. on the whole. you're maxim
out fairly well?" suggested Seavers.
we amt got cause to complain; lots
O. folks has made out worse"
II suppose you stand the chance of
laying up quite a bank account" said
the officer ''if nothing happens?"
We'll, next year we wanner clap
board the barn, SOS to make 1t warmer
for the stock And Mart wants to start
another flock round the other side o.
Big Peak. With Teddy comm along,
and havin' to go to college. sooner or
later, guess we can use all we make
Then again. mighty soon / gotta have
new Sewin machine The bobbins
don't work on the old one any more"
she confided to them.
But what would you do If anything
did happen to your husband?" the mar
shall asked curiously.
Her face grew aShy. You m-m-mean
d. E.. il he died? l s'pose I'd try to go
on somehow"
"Alone?"
"Teddy'll be man some day I'd
try to work the place and keep 1t pros
porous as / could till he got big enough
TO lift it off my shoulders But don't
wanner think about It, l can'ti It'd
be like goin on livin' only half alive
You see" she added softly. Mart and
mes just more'n husband and wife.
We're partners"
II see" said Stickney Partners"
| Ether one o. you married?"
NO" said Bill SeaverS, for himself.
Il have BEEN" Stickney assented.
| Then you know how It could be-"
| Il can only imagine" the officer said
| Listen! Don't hear hoofs? Yes,
| do! Here's Martin. He's comm up
/ by the lower corral
| stickney got to his feet. To his COM
| panion he said stiffiy;
Stay here With Mrs. Asheley."
| # Il
! A ROAM pony picked its way nimbly
| between the distant sheep pens II
| cantered up into the yard The marshal
! strode toward the door and the porch.
| Wheeling his mount stocky. sun
! burned fellow rode to the steps and
/ swung off. Reaching the ground. he
| whacked the pony's rump with his hat.
/ saw II canter in circle and head into
| an adjacent shed. Drawing out blue
/ handanna the man wiped his forehead.
| He did not notice Big Stickney until he
+ had climbed two steps.
Hello. Martin" the marshal said
/ whimSically "How's every little thing?"
/ 1t was deathly quiet about those
/ premises in that moment ensuing
/ At the foot OF the steps the man with
! hat in one hand snd bandanna in the
/ other. had been taken deathly sick.
| There was small doubt about it. The
| blood faded slowly out Of his features.
About his mouth came greenish
/ tinge,
| "You!" he choked But. he did not
move. And neither did the marshal.
How are you, Martin? Looks like
| you'd prospered. I've been talking with
| the wife"
What do you want9"
Happened 10 be passing through this
| part OF the country with a friend, Mar