Lincoln County leader., May 29, 1908, Image 7

BY MISADVENTURE
:BY
FRANK BARRETT
CHAPTER XV. (Continued.)
It was for Lynn, not for himself, be
wanted the farm. I saw now why he
had pitched upon that particular one ; he
was also aware that It was side by aide
with the Dingle. If anything could pro
mote the union of Lynn Yeames and Miss
, Dalrymple, it was this propinquity ; for
here, he must have reflected, the young
man would be urged to do his best, that
she might see he had the good qualities
the energy, the resolution which be pre
tended to possess.
In the evening I went over to the doc
tor's house to see if I could pick up any
news, and by a happy chance he was at
home. lie welcomed me heartily.
"I have seen the captain's farm. It
will do admirably. I will get you to ar
range the terms with him as early as
possible," be said.
I nodded gloomily. My want of enthu
siasm now, contrasting wJth my warmth
In the morning, was too noticeable to es
cape him. Like all good fellows, he was
keenly alive to the humorous aspect of
things, and I saw a twinkle in his eye
as he turned to poke the fire.
"You don't seem so eager about it as
you were, Kecnc," he said, w'.th a smile.
"No; I was fool enough to think you
were going to take it for yourself."
"And you have found out that the fu
ture tenant is to be be Lynn Yeames?"
"Well, let me hear what you've got to
say," said I, turning round, with a re
solve to be as impartial in my dealings
with Yeames as if he were unknown to
me.
"I have no right to any of this money
virtually," he said.
"I won't admit that, to begin witV I
replied. "Fleimore willed the money to
you, and signed his will when he was In
health, and had the ability to reason the
matter out ; the will he did not sign was
decided upon when be was sick and
unable to reason upon it."
"You will admit that In either case
he Intended this money to go to the man
Hiss Dalrymple should marry."
I assented to this proposition, and he
continued : "It is no longer a question
whether I shall marry her that la set
tled forever."
"Well, if he will only work heart and
soul for his own sake, it's as much as I
can expect of him. Let him begin with
that; we shall see about the rest. You
have spoken to him on this subject 7
"Yes; we went together to look at the
farm this afternoon. He Is delighted with
it, is confident of success, and eager to
begin."
I was not surprised to hear this. Every
one thinks he has the wit to make a farm
pay by Just riding about on a cob and
giving orders; and to be a "gentleman
farmer" la the desire of a good many
lazy young gentlemen especially when
there's good shooting in the neighborhood,
and a comfortable house, with an excel
lent billiard table In It.
"If you are still resolved on parting
with your money, I think I see how it
may be done without too much risk,
aid I. "We will start with the idea
that when Flexmore House is sold, the
Dingle Cottage paid for, and everything
squared -up, you hare two thousand a year
to dispose of for nine years from this
date. Half of that must be put away as
a reserve fund. Out of the other half
you must pay Miss Dalrymple's salary
and the expenses of Laure and the Cot
tage say, roughly, four hundred a
year. That leaves six hundred to meet
the losses on the' farm and pay interest
on the capital invested on going in. If
Yeames makes farming pay, so much the
better for him ; he can pocket the profit,
and the six hundred can be added to the
reserve fund."
"And what Is to be done with the re
serve fund?"
"I'm coming to that. At the end of
nine years, when Miss Dalrymple ceases
to be Laure s guardian, the reserve sum
ball be drawn out and paid over In a
lump to Miss Dalrymple if she is single,
or to her husband if she is married. Here
la an inducement for Yeames to develop
his fine qualities, to work hard and win
Miss Dalrymple, for then he will come
In for the whole amount arising from the
bequest. Now, there's an arrangement ad
vantageous enough for Yeames in all con
science.' It does not benefit you one
penny piece, and so ought to be accept
able; and it carries out Flexmore's last
wishes to a tittle."
"That seems a capital arrangement,"
aid Awdrey cheerfully. "I should think
Yeames would be pleased with it."
"He ought to be," said I.
But I was very doubtful whether he
would be; for a greedy man would not
be satisfied with ten thousand a year, if
he thinks he may by hook or by crook
get twenty.
However, be had the grace to express
entire satisfaction with the arrangement
when Awdrey explained It to bim, and the
doctor bade me conclude negotiations with
Captain Hanger as quickly as possible.
CHAPTER XVI.
The following week Miss Dalrymple
moved into her new home, with all her
household; and one morning when I had
been to settle affairs with Captain Ran
ger, I walked across the meadow, climbed
over the fence that separated It from
the Dingle paddock, and made my way
to the Cottage. 1 found everything In
Its place, and the whole house as .neat and
comfortable as If the tenants had been
there a year.
It seemed to me that I had never seen
Nurse Gertrude to such advantage. Black
was certainly becoming to ber, ' and her
dress was, to my eyes, the perfection of
?race and elegance, giving fullness to her
figure which, as I have said before, was,
in my opinion, a trifle too slight. Her
carriage was never wanting In dignity,
but I thought she bore herself with the
air of one conscious of being mistress of
the house. Yet there was no stiffness or
formality in her manner: little Laure
herself did not welcome me with sweeter
smiles.
I sat down by the fire and we fell to
talking about the neighbors. I learned
that they had already received visitors,
though it was scarcely time to expect
them, and I was glad to hear this, not
only because it would be good for Laure
to find companions of her own age, but
for Miss Dalrymple's sake also.( Mixing
among people who must appreciate her
excellent qualities, It was ten to one that
some decent young fellow would fall in
love with her, and good might come of it.
One thing I had made up my mind upon ;
if Dr. Awdrey wouldn't have her, Mr.
Lynn Yeames shouldn't. Although the
ruijiiliig at reseat looted favorable for
Lynn, the race was not won yet by many
a length, and I had a strong belief that
he would be found nowhere when the mar
riage bell rang.
"And who else has called upon you.
Miss Dalrymple?" I asked, when Laure
left the room. "Has Mr. Yeames paid
you another visit since we last met?" "
I wondered whether the little frown
with which she replied in the negative
implied tbat she was hurt by bis neglect,
or vexed at the thought of his calling
upon her again.
"I was told that he intends to redeem
his character before he again presents
himself," said I.
"I am very glad to hear It," she re
plied, taking up her work.
"However, you will be able to see him,
for he is to be a near neighbor." I fan
cied that she did not look particularly
pleased at this intimation. "He Is go
ing to live In the house over there, and
from this window you will be able to
see him, if you get up early, mowing
his fields, following bis team, throwing
heart and soul and money into the noble
endeavor to become a worthy member of
society and a model farmer."
"But I understood that Mr. Yeames
was In difficulties."
"What does that matter? He has found
a friend who's a bigger fool than he in
some respects, willing to pay his debts,
and spend a thousand a year besides to
make a worthy gentleman ot nun. uo
you think he will succeed?"
She did not reply to my question, but
sat absorbed In thought. Watching her
face keenly, I thought there was an ex
pression of tender sadness in It. Was
she mourning in ber heart for the fall of
one whom no effort could raise up? or
was she grieving to think of that other
friend's disappointment when he should
find that all be had done was of no
avail?
'The friend is Dr. Awdrey?" said Miss
Dalrymple, after we had sat in silence
for some moments.
"Yes," I replied; "that is not difficult
to discover; for I believe there's not an
other man in the whole world who would
bepgar himself for others as he will."
She sat with idle bands and musing
eyes, still and silent as one sits at times
awed by the beauty of a starry night.
"And I have not told you all that he
will do to make Yeames a gentleman
he will give him two thousand a year
when he wins you. If that does not en
courage him to make himself a fit subject
for matrimony, I don't know what will."
"He must have n great ruxpust for Mr.
Yeames," she said.
"A very strong belief in his latent good
ness, undoubtedly," I said. "Dr. Aw
drey is as simple and confiding as a
girl. In that category he Is not the only
one who has had a great respect for Mr.
Yeames."
"How am I to reply to that thrust?"
she asked, with a smile..
"By telling me that if Dr. Awdrey had
as intimate an acquaintance with Mr.
Yeames as you have, his respect would
have evaporated,"
"But still his faith in' latent good
qualities might exist," said she.
"I know his love would remain unal
tered ; and while he thinks Yeames capa
ble of goodness, and you capable of lov
ing him, he will endeavor to bring about
your marriage."
"His love?" she repeated questloningly,
with a little emphasis.
"His love," I said again; "and greater
love hath no man than this that he lay
down bis life for his friend."
"Do you think he loves Mr. Yeames to
such an extent as that?"
"I was not thinking of Mr. Yeames,"
said I ; "he is not the only frfend con
cerned ; It is a friend better known, more
highly prized In his heart, for whom that
brave man would lay down his life."
The malicious smile provoked by our
little passage of arms faded from her
Hps, the color left her cheek, her dark
eyes deepened as she looked at me with
Intense earnestness, to read In my face
what I had yet left untold.
I believe she realized at that moment
for the first time that Dr. Awdrey loved
her with a love that Is deeper than
friendship.
"If I have not put a considerable lone
spoke In Mr. Lynn's wheel, I'm a Dutch
an," raid I to myself, as 1 went away
from Dingle Cottage.
CHAPTER XVII.
Lynn Yeames bad the sagacity to leave
Coneyford, and keep out of sight, know-'
ng that he could do nothing to re-establish
his character until be had got into
be farm where he was to work such
wonders, or finding the bad weather that
woceeded the frost Intolerable, or society
dull, or for some other reason that may
be clearer later on.
He had made himself very popular at
Coneyford with his charities, his reckless
riding, bis agreeable manners, and his as
sumption of bluff,' outspoken honesty.
People were inclined to think even better
of him In bis absence than when he was
amongst them, remembering the pleasant
side of his character and forgetting the
little slips which occasionally awakened
suspicion. He was spoken of as a fine
type of muscular Christianity. Miss Dal
rymple was constantly with these people,
and as it was generally understood that
a tacit engagement existed between her
and Yeames, they thought to please ber by
talking about him, and sounding his
praises. Then that dear, stupid old doc
tor, whenever he got a letter from Lynn,
must needs show it to her and dilate on
the fine prospect extending before a young
fellow with such manly feeling and high
aim.
It was the end of the second week In
March, and people were speculating on
the day when Lynn Yeames would make
his appearance, when something occurred
which upset everything; it was nothing
less than a moral cataclysm altering the
entire aspect of affairs.
Coming home that particular afternoon,
T fonnij s visitor In my office who had
been waiting there three parts of an hour
to see me. He was a little pudgy man,
with a short throat, a puffy face, and
eyes as like a pig's as ever I saw. He
breathed with difficulty, and gasped be
fore each sentence, and in the middle also
if it was a long one. He bad not much
hair; what there was of It had a dirty,
sandy tint ; his whiskers were hardly
distinguishable, they were so thinly )
planted, and like his complexion. He
was dressed in a tightly-buttoned frock
coat that formed deep ridges in his waist,
and seemed to increase the difficulty of
breathing. In one hand he held his hat,
In the other a pair of gloves, and both
rested on his' knees, which, by reason of
their shortness and pudginess, were wide
ly separated.
"Afterneen, Mr. Keene; afternoon,
sir,' he gasped,, turning his little blue
eyes in the corner before he could screw
himself up on his legs to face me. "Come
to talk with you on a matter of busi
ness. My name's Bax Smithson Bax ;"
with this he sank down on his chair and
gasped again.
"Not the pleasure of knowing you, Mr.
Bax," said I, sitting down in front ot
bim.
'Thought you might have heard of me
from Lynn Yeames or Mrs. Yeames. I
am friend of the family." , ,
"A professional friend?" I asked, for
I detected the look of a pettifogger in
him.
"You may call me professional friend
If you like not a lawyer exactly know
something about It." He gave me a glance
that was not to be mistaken, and contin
ued : "To begin with, you must under
stand that I acting on behalf of the fam
ily Lynn Yeames nothing at all to do
with it better keep out of it."
"He does not wish to take the respon
sibility of anything you do?"
"That's it. Too generous too careless
of his own interests altogether too"
be gasped and filled up the break with a
wave of his gloves.
"I understand his character perfect
ly, Mr. Bax ; let us come to the point"
"We'll go straight at it begin in the
middle save breath. Dr. Awdrey is a
scoundrel biggest hypocrite and rascal
that ever imposed credulous humanity !"
"Be good enough to show how you ar
rive at this conclusion," said I.
"I will. Flexmore's will. He knew
of the conditions in the first one. He
knew also the conditions in the second.
He knew that if that were uot signed he
would come into two thousand a year."
"He did."
"Good. Tell me, please, Mr. Keene,
why that second will was not signed."
"1 was thrown out of a trap ; that and
the fog "
"Thrown out of a trap. How? An
swer me that, if you please."
"By a rope stretched from one side of
the road to the other."
"Good. I can produce a witness to
prove that he was engaged by 'Dr. Aw
drey to stretch that rope and throw you
over !"
(To be continued.)
No Further Need.
"I hooked a Bsh yesterday," said the
amateur angler, "that weighed all of
teu 'pounds but It got -off the hook.
"Will you swear to that?" asked the
one-ninn nudlenca.
"No," answered the a. a. "I swore
enough when I lost the fish."
To Judge from Appearances.
Elderly Spinster You know, doctoi,
I'm always thinking that a man Is fal
lowing me. Do ycu think I suffer from
hallucinations?
Doctor (sizing her up) Absolutely
certain you do, ma'am. Sketch.
An Old Htorr.
"Did you ever experience a change of
heflrt?" asked the kind old lady.
"Well, I should say!" laughed the
girl. "I've been engaged four time I"
Detroit Free Press.
There are eighty State, private and
saviugs banks and trust companies, and
thirty national banka in Idaho,
Lampvrlck Hook.
Considerable diliiculty Is frequently
experienced In applying a new wlck to
lamp burner, owing to the fact that
the material of
which the wlck Is
formed Is not suffi
ciently stiff to en
able It to be read
ily passed through
the burner tube. To
obviate this dilii
culty a Wyoming
man has designed
an implement for
drawing the wlck
through the tube.
LAMP WICK.
as shown In the accompanying Illus
tration. At one end la a finger piece,
nnd at the other, prongs for engaging
the wlck. In using the device the
pronged end of the Implement Is thrust
through the tube of the burner nnd the
end of the wlck nttnehed to the prongs.
A pull on the handle draws the wlck
Into the tube, nfter which It can be
readily pulled through.
Soor Milk Corn Bread.
Sift together one cup of graham flour
and three cups of Indian meal. Into
three cups of sour milk stir a table
Bpoonful of melted butter, a teaspoonful
of salt and a tnblespoonful of sugar.
Add this gradually to the tneal-nnd-flour
mixture, then fold In three we.l
benten eggs and a teaspoonful of bakln?
soda that has been dissolved in a gill
of boiling water. Beat hard for five
minutes, pour Into a well-greased
Turk's head tin and bake In a steady
oven until a straw comes out clean from
the thickest part of the loaf.
Staffed Ham.
Freshen the ham, If necessary, by
soaking over night In cold water. When
ready to cook, cover with fresh, cold
water, ana heat slowly to the boiling
point. Simmer until tender, remove
from the fire nnd cool In the water In
which it was cooked. When sufficiently
cool to handle, remove the skin and
the bone and fill the cavity with stuff
ing. Tie securely and sprinkle the fat
witn line cracker crumbs and sugar,
Bake for one hour In a hot oven. Serve
either hot or cold.
Caramel.
One quarter of a pound of chocolate,
one and a half pounds of brown sugai',
one-quarter of a pound or butter, one
tumblerful of milk or crenm. Put all
together and let them melt. Boll for
twenty minutes, pour on buttered
dishes and before quite cold cut In
small squares with a sharp knife. After
taking off the saucepan add naif a tea
spoonful of essence of vanilla. Be care
ful not to take the caramels off the tiro
until they are cooked. Test by drop
ping u little In cold water.
Kindling- Material.
Melt one pound of resin, add two
ounces of tallow, and, while all are
hot, stir thick with pine sawdust.
While still warm sprend about one
Inch thick upon boards thickly covered
with sawdust to prevent sticking. When
cold break Into pieces about an Inch
square. One of these pieces will eusl
ly Ignite with a match and burn long
enough and with a strong blaze to Ig
nite any wood fit to burn.
Chocolate Blane Manse.
Put one pint of milk In a double
ooller. When hot add two ounces of
grated chocolate or two heaping tea
spoonfuls of cocoa. Add half a cup
ful of sugar. Moisten three level
tablespoonfuls of corn starch with a
little cold milk; add them to the hot
milk and chocolate, stir until thick and
smooth, turn Into the mold and stand
aside to harden. Serve cold with
cream.
Meat Delicacy.
For a veal ronst with rnlsins take
three pounds, ronst a nice brown In
butter, add hot water and suit, and
cook. Within one hour of serving add
one and oue-balf cups vinegar sweet
ened with sugar, three-quarters cup
washed raisins, about ten flowers of
cloves. When done, remove meat,
thicken gravy with a little cornstarch
dissolved In water and serve.
Fifteen-Minute Soap.
Put a quurt ciui of tomatoes, a slice
of onion, a level teaspoonful of salt,
a bay leaf, a blade of umce and n pint
of water or stock In a saucepan, bring
to boiling point and end two level teu
spoonfuls of butter rubbed with four
tablespoonfuls of flour, stir constantly
until boiling, press through a sieve, re
heat and serve with croutons.
Some people niuite lue mistake of
thinking they are sure just because
they are slow.
Stella The Columbia boys won't de
bate with a co-ed. Bella Wait till
they marry. New York Sun.
Dyer Do you think the time will
come when we shall have universal
peace? Ryer Not unless we adopt
trial marriages. Town Topics.
"Please give me two bills for my hat,
one for ten dollars to show my hus
band, and one for twenty to show my
lady friends." Meggendorfer Blaetter.
"Do you really love me, John?" "Oh,
no. I wear these summer pants and
this tramp overcoat merely to appear
eccentric, that's all." Washington Her
ald. "Do you believe that men and wom
en should have equal rights?" "Well
I used to, but since I've been married
I don't dare to say so." Cleveland
Lender.
Mrs. Houlihan (sobbing) I never
saw ye till th' dny before me unforch-
nlt marriage. Mr. Houlihan An' I
often wlsht ye hadn't seeu me till th
day after! Puck.
Phoebe-'-You would hnrdly know
Freddy since he got bnck from Monto
Curio. He lost all his money there,
and Evelyu Hardly know him!
Why, I shan't know. him at all! Illus
trated Bits..
"Officer," said the police magistrate,
what Is the charge against the pris
oner?" "Having an infernal machine
in his possession, your honor," replied
the policeman. "Anarchist 'or chauf
feur?" queried the magistrate. Chica
go Dally News,
Father If you marry my daughter,
are you sure you will be able to take
care ot her In the style to which she
hus always been accustomed? ' ' Suitor
(who Is In the wholesale business)'
I'll guarantee it, sir, or or return th
goods. Plck-Me-Up.
"You said that If 1 bought this sub
urban house I couid live like a prince.
With malaria and automobiles, I'm In
fear for my life!" "Well," answered
the agent, soothingly, "think of the
princes who live In feur of their lives."
Washington Star.
Mr. Stubb (with Illustrated weekly)
Martha, here Is a picture entitled
"Docking an Ocean Greyhound." Mrs.
Stubb (flaring up) I Just don't want
to see It. I think there should be a
law against clipping off a poor dog'r
tail. Chicago News.
"Would you send a man who uses
profanity to Congress?" "I dunuo,"
answered Farmer Corntossel. "Of
course, I don't approve of profanity;
but I'd want him to be uble to hold hla
own hi any of them arguments thut
come tip." Washington Stnr.
Mrs. Gndsby (hugging dog) I don't
know whut we're going to do about
poor, darling Fldo! Mr. Gudsby
Humph! What alls him? Mrs. Guds
by (in surprise) Why, hnveu't you no
ticed how Irritated he becomes when
ever the baby cries? Puck.
Mrs. Spenders I wonder how you'd
like It if I ever got "uew-womanlsh"
nnd Insisted upon wenrlng men's
clothes? Mr. Spenders Oh, I haven't
any fear of you ever doing that Men'e
clothes are never very expensive.
Catholic Standard and Times.
"Do you mean to tell me you have
lived In this out-of-the-way place for
twenty years?" "That's right, stran
ger; twenty years." "But I don't see
what you find to keep you busy."
"Nothing, stranger. That's the reason
I like It." Louisville Herald.
"Yes," said Miss Jlltbam. "he was ah
old flame of mine. And when you told
hlra I was to be married next week,
did he seem sorry?" "Yes, he admit
ted that he felt sorry," replied Miss
Gabble. "Did he, really?" "Yes, al
though he said he didn't know your
fiance personally." Catholic Standard
and Times.
Mr. Ryley Why are yes decoratln',
Mrs. Murphy? Mrs. Murphy Me b'y
Denny Is comln' home the day. Mr. Ry
ley I fought It wuz for folve years he
wuz Bint up? Mrs. Murphy Me wua;
but he got a year off for good behay
vure. Mr. Uyley An' sure It must be
a grout comfort for ye to have a good
b'y like that. London Tlt-Blts.
Vicar John, do you er ever use.
itrong language? John (guardedly)
Well, sir, I I may be a little bit keer-
less like In my speech at times. ' Vicar
Ah, I'm sorry, John. But we will
converse about that some other time.
Just now 1 wunt you to go to the
plumber's and settle this bill for four
pounds ten for thawing out a water
pipe. And you might Just talk to the
man In a careless sort of wuy, us If If
were your own bill I Punch.
i