The All-Story, March 1914 — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE DEVIL AND DR. FOSTER. gigut of the treasure-hunt. When all was said it was only Uncle Peter's town charge, Ike, offering to bargain with him. Sai felt that 1t was the first piece pf real good luck he had enjoyed since 4 atfair of the magical bath-tub, and ne proposed to make the most of it. He flattered himself that. there were fer in the whole county who could pet ahead of him in a matter of trade. Certainly, Ike Jackson was not to be included among those doubtful few. He might not have spoken of the matter to Huldah at all had it not been for a sniggling and_ persistent fear that by accepting Ike's offer he would be letting himself in for some- thing he could not foresee. If this were so, he wanted to be in a position to throw the responsibility on luis wife. like any other man. So he opened up the subject as they sat on the piazza after supper. ; *Sam, I should think you were old enough to get sensible,” remarked Hrldah to his story of the treasure- hunt. “ Trapesing round the country by moonlight with a half-grown little boy! I declare, it puts me out of pa- tierce ! ” ' There was a twinkle in her eves, however, which belied her words. for Sam's boyishness and credulity were part of the charm he held for her. ' “But I tell you there was a treas- wre-chest,”’ Sam insisted. “ And wed fave had it only -for Bucyrus spilling the lantern.” “Yes, and there was a magical bath- tub, only you never could make me be- lieve it,” she replied. » © Well,” her husband sighed. ap- preciating that he was tace to face with hard common sense. “do you think I'd better do as Ike says?” “Make him show you, Sam.” his wile advised. “Ii he can do the things you've been telling me he could he can do anything.” “And tell the parson he cant have the sprtce? ”’ “\What time of vear is this to be 695 cutting spruce-timber., anyway?” she answered. *“‘ 1 should think that could wait a while. with everybody in Ox- ville busy planting crops, and then comes haying, and after that harvest- ing and such and making cider, and then winter wheat and rye to be sowed before theres any let-up for lumbering.” “Thats so, spouse. “Now, what [ would say is, make Ike earn everything you give him. If he’s such a wonder as you tell, put hin to clearing the ten-acre lot of stumps and draining the crick mead- ow, or something usetul like that. Make him help round the farm-work. You could afford to buy his time off Uncle Peter 1f he’s so wonderful.” “And have him Hve here, Tul- dah?” asked Sam, almost eagerly. “Land, I wouldn’t have the imp in the house!” she declared. ‘ Mrs. Jackson’s cooking’s good enough for him yet a while, I guess.” “That's one thing she could do— cook,” said Sam, with a reminiscent smack of the lps. “It’s too bad you didn’t marry Mrs. Jackson and have done with it before ever Uncle Peter came home,” his wife replied dryly. “ But, Sam, if this Ike Jackson knows as much as he clains—" “Well?” “Why don't vou get him to catch the fellow that set the old church afire? Now, that would be something usefuller than ramming round over the hills after midnight.” “ By cricky, Huldah, Pll do it!” cried Sam. bringing his fist down with a thump on the arm of his chair. “I hadn’t thought of it. You're a cute one, Huldah.” She warded off his attempted caress with a pretense of coyness. “ Now, Sain, don’t get foolish,” she protested. Ike remained invisible to dwellers on the Tupper farm during the entire week IHuldah,” agreed her following the ,advantseccato