Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 280, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1916 — The Good Friend [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Good Friend

By Jessie Ethel Sherwin

(Copyright, IMS, by W. G. Chapman.) Willis Strong, specious swindling land agent, thought he had turned a particularly clever trick when he Induced Mrs. Salina Burgess, two years a widow, to invest nearly all she had, some two thousand dollars, in forty acres of land. A great company Jiad been formed to develop the Pearl river district Numerous land speculators had rushed in to buy up what tracts they could, counting on the prestige of the really reputable men behind the company to sell anything and everything lining the river at any preposterous price they might charge. Salina, fair, thirty, venturesome, bought the forty acres without seeing it When she did see it she realized that she had been swindled and sat down on a rock and cried. It was enough to make angels weep! The forty acres were located on a barren stretch of rock where the river turned. There were patches of soil here and there, but in the main it was bare as a Himalayan plateau. “And I sold the small but cozy home at Riverton for this!" she sobbed desolately. “And I’ve got to live here, for I have no other possession on earth!”

“Then, too, Mr. Royd,” she added, “why have I thrown my chance away?”

A memory of Bernard Royd was a tender spot with Salina. She had been forced by a scheming mother, now dead, to marry Robert Burgess,

when her heart longed for Bernard Boyd. After she had become a widow the old friendly acquaintance was resumed. Salina made no denial to close friends that she loved her oldtime suitor. She had sold the home because Pearl River investments were reported doubling qp, and she liked to anticipate a goodly dower she could bring to Boyd, in case he proposed. There was nothing to. do but to build a small house on the forty acres and she and an old man servant of the family try to wrest a living from the unfruitful soil. Boyd did not see Salina before she moved. He tvas a civil engineer and, she learned, employed by the development Company. She took heart of hope. He could not have entirely forgotten her, and in his business duties would be likely to be at times In the neighborhood and come to see her. Salina heard from him Indirectly. An old neighbor visited her, who had met Boyd down the valley. "He asked about you, Mrs. Burgess,” the informant told her. "He was surprised when I informed him of your grand move. He looked serious. ‘Bobbed her, eh? and she is quite poor. I’m going to call on her when I work down the valley on my surveyor’s trip!’ I say t Mrs. Burgess, that would have been a sure match for you if you had stayed at Biverton, wouldn’t it?” But Salina only blushed and looked embarrassed and tried to laugh away the matter. All the same from that day forward she set about making the rude and humble home as presentable as possible. One day Royd came to the place. He found Salina neat and trim of garb, sweet and glad of spirit. The house was neat as apin. She cooked him a meal that made him long for more. Barren as the land was she had raised some hardy vegetables, had four cows and milk which she sold at a, large profit to laborers working along the river, and chickens galore. “You are a smart, capable woman,” declared Royd with sincerity. “It’s a shame they sold you this wretched piece of desert land, when there are such desirable sites further up the stream.” And then a thoughtful, calculating expression came into the face of Boyd. He took quite a scientific purvey of the barren forty acres, r He crossed it to where at its inner edge the ground depressed to the bed of a purtling stream that wound in and out and ten miles farther on joined tie Pearl river. V

“She’s got it!" he cried abruptly and his eyes sparkled at the suggestion of a mighty Idea. “Mrs. Burgess," be said as he bade her adieu late that afternoon, “you would never have tumbled into this awkward land ownership if I had been by to advise you.” “I know that,” sighed Salina, convincedly. “There is a way out. Will you help me find it?" Salina fluttered. She half fancied he was going to propose then and there, but he did not. He was a slow-going, methodical man, and the time was not ripe for matrimony yet, he wisely decided. “I want you to promise not to sell this land without •consulting me.” “That isn’t difficult,” smiled Salina, “who would buy it?” “You don’t know, others may see value in it for some specific purpose. Will you make that promise?” “Why, certainly,” agreed Salina. “And if anyone asks you your price, say ten thousand dollars.” “Oh, Bernard!” cried Salina In amaze. Then in consternation she added: “I mean, Mr. Royd; yes, yes, I’ll do It, but no danger of anyone asking!" “Wait and see,” and with those mysterious words Royd went his way. Salina watched him till he was out of sight. “Dear, honest soul!" she murmured. “I am afraid I love him.” “A sweet, smart home body,” murmured Royd. “Some day, maybe, and I hope.” Three businesslike men announcing themselves as commissioners of the company tramped all over the forty acres ope day a month later. After looking at its environment critically they came to the house. “You are tile owner of this plateau land?” inquired one of the gentlemen courteously. “Yes, sir,” bowed Salina. “We can use this location in our engineering operations, we find. It is not worth much as a farm. You have your price?” “Ten thousand dollars," replied Salina sturdily. The gentleman stared. Then their spokesman smiled. “I see you have been advised,” he observed. “Very well, we will consider the offer.” A few days later Salina received a letter from the office of the development company. The ten thousand dollars was ready for her. In the course of a week the money was paid. She marveled, but held her counsel, returned to Riverton, placed the money in bank and went toXtay with a lady friend until she could decide what to do with all this suddenly acquired wealth. She wondered why Mr. Royd had not come to see her. She knew, one evening. He made an explanation. The company owned nearly a mile back from Pearl river. Royd had made a suggestion to blow away the hill on the forty acres, divide the river, have it flow into the little creek and this diversion, or rather distribution, of water would bring the creek land at once Into the»market fully irrigated. “I did not compromise with honor or duty,” he said, “for your forty acres was the only spot where the break could be made.” “Don’t go,” she said wistfully as he bade her adieu at the garden gate, and then she shrank back, overcome at her impulsive temerity. “Why not?” he insisted. “I —I shall miss you as I have missed you. I won’t know what to do with my money. Won’t you take charge of It?” “And you in the bargain?” “Yes, if you only, will.” And Jie did.

"You Are a Smart, Capable Woman.”