The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-28
CHAPTER XIII

fast that with their departure only
two days away. the time had come
TO tackle the saEgIug gate posts.
you can't put me OF another
hour" be insisted twhen the old
lady said: Bother those posts.
Jack Don't waste your strength
on 'em"l. I'm two pounds heavier
than before The blizzard. Cousin
Columblne. thanks TO these lazy
days and Aurora's cooking: and
these posts give me the heeble-
jeebles II there were time I'd
paint the house for you. too
"You may have that to look for
ward 10 when you come again =" she
responded. endeavorlnE to speak
brlskly. Il hope your father viii
consider John Adams offer OF a job
for the winter. Jack. and send you
hack 10 Us As FOR Nancy don't
dare think how still the house viii
seem without her. felt like a lost
soul the days you stayed at Prairie
ranch
For the visit 10 "Uncie Toms"
was over--threc days that had soft
ened the memory of those crue
wiud-swept plains. leaving instead
a vision OF Gower-siappled prairie
III II weren't for this stack OF
newspapers and letters Nancy con.
fessed the day she slowed them in
her trunk. that whole ghasily ex.
perieuee would seem a dream"
"a nightmare. I'd call g." cor.
rected Aurora. Victor Tubbs says
! lost ten pounds durln' that BLK
gard and as for Miss Columblne
she'll never be the same woman
again IT'S my opinion that ~ Eve
and John Adam hadn't took their
lives In their hands aud drove down
here 10 keep her company. she'd
have lost her mind
And It's my opinion" retor;ed
Miss Columblne. who had come In
unobserved. that you were In n
lot more danger OF losing yours
Don't talk nonsense. Anrora Tubbs +"
Nance laughed az the time. even
though something told Der that In a
measure Aurora was right one
pays toll FOR hours IKE those and
Cousin Columblnc had not escaped
The old lady was a shade less brisk.
less energetic. and Nance hated 10
think how lonely she would be
when left with only Aurora Tubbs
FOR company.
The days passed with Cousin Col
umblne looking a bit grim when she
thought no one noticed. and Mat
thew Adam losing his appetite 10
an extent that alarmed his troubled
mother. And now tickets and res.
ervations were ordered Mary Tay.
lor had promised with l.uke's as
sisiance y 20 watch over the Alad-
din library: and Nancy was con.
scious of a new sensation. some
thing she described 10 herself as
"A sinking feeling down inside. E"
each time she caught a glimpse OF
the uuasked question lowering mute
~. hopelessly. In Mathews expires.
slve eyes.
So she was relieved when Jack
mentioned the neglected gate posts.
The task would occupy both time
and thoughts til afternoon. when
they were TO have a farewell sup
per AZ the Adam ranch.
Don't worry about Jack" she
said 10 Cousin ColumbIne. "ril help
with the digging. Let's get to work
before the suns too hot"
The girl rather enjoyed the nov
city of the task for q little while.
but al last she paused. complaining
I've struck rock. Jack"
In this place. More likely It's
a bone some dog has buried"
Nancy laughed.
1T was an energetic dog then. or
a prehistoric one Perhaps there S
enough OF a hole here now; bur |
want TO see what this thing is. She
lifted the spade. digging for a mo-
ment vIciOusly. 1T certainly feels
like a rock. but"
Nance ceased abruptly. and drop
ping fat onto the ground. reached
into the new-made hole while her
brother watched. a smile OF amuse-
ment lighting his eyes.
For the lands sake what are
you doIn' fat on your stummick in
all that dirt?" cried out Aurora.
who had drawn near TO superintend
the work.
Hunting for buried treasure, :.
Jack answered. grinning. Pieces OF
eight. you know. She thinks she's
found"
Il haye!" cried Nancy. scrambling
up in great excitement. Give me
that crowbAr, Jack. | have!"
whats all this commotlon?" de-
manded Cousin Columbine. who,
hearing Nancy's elated voice, had
hurried out Mercy child have you
been digging that hole with your
two handsT'
Napce laughed. and answered :
It'll all come out in the wash
| Cousin Columbinel You see. I've