The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-20
CHAPTER I-con;lnued

Phrouie had gone on washing the
separator. she struggled 10 thrust
back her memories o. Jim. 60 recall
only bis uufairness. his selashncss
bet II was no good D-n him
D-n him Why couldn't be have
come back. Just oncel she had
wheeled him through the potato
patch IN hi- Eo-cart when be was
a year old. and had been spanked
for II afterwards She. Eve years
his senior. had taught him 10 play
mumblefy.peg and 20 skin slippery
elm And be hadn't come back
Now this young Anna Grenoble-
silver. Phronie amended with
snln-would probably sell her share
~ the land Immediately 20 one %
those concerns Ia the clty. tha, was
buying up SECTIONS around here FOR
plitance. against the time when
the land would be worth something
araln. silver Grenohie would have
no use Tor a dreary existeuce on
northern farm. where taxes were
nightmare that continued through
thc day. through every hour of nier
ciless toiL NJ doubt Jim had Jeff
her weii provided for. and u would
mean only the turn 81 wrist. pen
Ia hand for her 10 dispose % q
negligible property.
To young Roidy. twenty seven
now. Nth agricultural college be-
Bind him. q would BE- a staggering
blow. iie had never given up hope
- one day owning the entire farm
II was Ike Roddy that yesterday
Ne should have gone OF 20 Ballan.
Fyue In his car. saying only that he
had % 80. Sophronla bad her own
ideas as-to why be had gone. but
she dld not press bis confidence
she thought nneasliy Of the letters
that had come 20 him from Ballan-
tyue In the past week or 80. and of
his nlEEardly disclosure ~ their
contents. n was no secret % any.
one that the Ballaniyne bank bad
failed that sumner. but that Co.
rlnne Meader. the presidents daugh-
ter. should be writing so persist.
ently TO Roddy Willard was a curious
thing.
A few summers ago, when the
girl was a house guest nj a cottage
on Twin Deer lake. 10 the north. she
had driven over and spent the az,
ernoon az the farm. and Sophronia
had learned then who IL was that
had become Roddy's ideal az col.
lese. She was a vivaclous creature.
PhrOnle recalled. very smartly
dressed. with curly brown hair and
brown eyes that had a way OF
widening innocently up az Roddy-a
way that had made Phronle grimly
sick while she stalked through the
barnyard showing the young thing
from the city how old "Stumpy. E"
the hen with one foot. was rear.
Ing brood OF turkey chicks. Cor.
inne had pouted prettily over her
own Ignorance concerning all farm
lore. and Roddy. tickled. indulgent.
had laughed.
The neIghbors did not know
where Roddy had gone. II was Just
IS well They talked too much, any
how.
But had he been here now he
might have prepared himself for
Silver's arrival. IL would 20 hard
with Roddy II she meant to sell her
land Tor cash. But II she could
be persuaded 10 accept a fair
rental Sophronia resolved 10
take the bun by the horns and sug-
gest 1t to her before Roddy got
home.
Tie train came To- a stop In
Heron River. People crowded for
ward looking eagerly along the line
% coaches. Perhaps for the most
part they did not know Just what
they expected TO see when Silver
Grenoble stepped down upon the
platform.
What they did see was a taIlIsh
thin girl in a tailored suit OF dove.
gray silk and felt hat OF the same
eolor-a hat that showed beneath
II q white. immObile face and enor-
nous dark eyes. and plainly dressed
hair that seemed colorless. For a
moment she stood looking uncer.
tainly about. and then Sophronia
Willard advanced upon her with her
blaek-gloved hand outstretched.
Shad Finney. craning a little
saw an unmistakable tear glide
down the elder woman's veathered
cheek