A Daughter of the Land

"What was he worth, anyway?" he shouted.

"Oh, millions and millions," said Kate, sweetly, "at least I THINK

so. It was scarcely a time to discuss finances, in the face of

that horrible accident."

George laughed. "Oh, you're a good one!" he cried. "Think you

can keep a thing like that still? The cats, and the dogs, and the

chickens of the whole county know about the deeds the old Land

King had made for his sons; and how he got left on it. Served him

right, too! We could here Andrew swear, and see Adam beat his

horse, clear over here! That's right! Go ahead! Put on airs!

Tell us something we don't KNOW, will you? Maybe you think I

wasn't hanging pretty close around that neighbourhood, myself!"

"Spying?" cried Kate.

"Looking for timber," he sneered. "And never in all my life have

I seen anything to beat it. Sixteen hundred and fifty acres of

the best land in the world. Your share of land and money together

will be every cent of twelve thousand. Oh, I guess I know what

you've got up your sleeve, my lady. Come on, shell out! Let's

all go celebrate. What did you bring the children?"

Kate was rapidly losing patience in spite of her resolves.

"Myself," she said. "From their appearance and actions, goodness

knows they needed me. I have been to my father's funeral, George;

not to a circus."

"Humph!" said George. "And home for the first time in seven

years. You needn't tell me it wasn't the biggest picnic you ever

had! And say, about those deeds burning up -- wasn't that too

grand?"

"Even if my father burned with them?" she asked. "George, you

make me completely disgusted."

"Big hypocrite!" he scoffed. "You know you're tickled silly.

Why, you will get ten times as much as you would if those deeds

hadn't burned. I know what that estate amounts to. I know what

that land is worth. I'll see that you get your share to the last

penny that can be wrung out of it. You bet I will! Things are

coming our way at last. Now we can build the mill, and do

everything we planned. I don't know as we will build a mill.

With your fifteen thousand we could start a store in Hartley, and

do bigger things."

"The thing for you to do right now is to hitch up and take Aunt

Ollie and your mother home," said Kate. "I'll talk to you after

supper and tell you all there is to know. I'm dusty and tired

now."

"Well, you needn't try to fix up any shenanigan for me," he said.

"I know to within five hundred dollars of what your share of that

estate is worth, and I'll see that you get it."