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Show "Xfove! Wbent Why?" cried ht bewildered helpmate with a gasp. "Right away, and because our houst here Is sold." "Sold!" "That's right," smiled Ralph, and he acted and looked as If supremely satisfied with the arrangement. "Here is a little paper to sign," and the speaker produced an ofltcla! looking document. -Hut why sell It; who Is buying It?" stammered th bewildered wife. "The railroad company. If we bold back, the property will bo condemned anyway, so we had better close the barguln. Tbey are paying us & big price." "Hut to tear up, when we are bo nicely setthd here!" "As well as the Crecrs?" Inquired Ralph archly. "Yes, vn arc!" declared the staunch little woman. "It's been Just delightful, delight-ful, and we have mado It a real home." "Well, the new one may suit you better." predicted the husband. "In fact, Madge, I have decided to buy ths old homestead." "Why, where, how can you get flvs thotmand dollars?" "The railroad company are tlvlnj us twelve thousand dollars. It Is three times the, value of th's place, but they must have It That leaves us seven thousand dollars ntid what I've saved to boRin a new llf In grand tyl." The d.llRhtrd Jlttlo woman broke down and cried for ahtr Joy. About all the family did that evening eve-ning wes to scan the prospect before them and plan out the golden lifo of fered ahead. The old llavls homestead was a regal placo a roomy, comfort-able comfort-able houre with beautiful gnrdens and a iutkiU fp.rm area behind it sufficient to pay the expenses of living. Tho next mornlrg Mrs. Greer met her neighbor on the street. The lattet r ot iced that she scanned her last season's sea-son's dreKS rather keenly. Then, when she heard that the Greers were giving a large party and she was not Invited, Mrs. Pat Is realized that tho upstart Greer family were aMiamcd of their supposedly humble friends of formei times. The whole town knew of what they call.-d tin Ir good luck, one morning The salo of the little bonne on Railroad Rail-road street was the goIp of the Village. Vil-lage. Jonas Greer heard of It with a sense of Indignation, lie felt wronged. Then bo suddenly recnlled a certain scheme ending In a bribe, and kept bll conclusion to himself. Glum and sullen Mrs. Greer grew sharp voiced and thin over "the freak of chance" that had placed her de-f de-f plecd neighbor In affluence. She suf fered worse when a new humiliation faced her. Tho railroad people proceeded pro-ceeded to build their noisy, smokf f reducing shops within fifty feet ol the Greer residence. In the meantime the social strivings of the Greers had led them to mort gage their borne. Then came th crisis. They sold their equity In tht place for a song, and went to live In a rented Cat. Ralph Pavls had too good a heart tc neglect a relative and he placed the Greers again on their feet In a substantial sub-stantial way. Ills pensioners, however t.rver failed to exploit "the advantage taken of them" by the whole soulod fellow who understood how to enjoy prosperity because be had known ad Terslty. (Copyright. Wit by W.,G. Chapman.) GHOICEJDFAWAHD Old Man's Peculiar Will Develops Good and Bad Traits of Nephews. BY GEORGE ELMER COBS. "And I hereby bequeath and devise to my nephews, Ralph Pavls and Jonas Greer, the bouse on Main street and the house on Railroad street, my trustees to make the choice of awarding award-ing the same." The lawyer read this extract from tho will of old Peter Pavla In a singsong sing-song tone. Tbero was a long algh of relief from Jonas Greer, and a pleased expression on tho face of Ralph Pavls. Cood old Uucle Peter bad not forgotten forgot-ten them, even If be bad given a goodly portion of bis worldly goods to charity. "Further," the lawyer continue-) tla reading, "tho first one of said nephews making five thousand dollars, the name shall be received In full payment pay-ment for tho old homestead." There was due speculation among the gossips of llrandon for a week after aft-er that, as to which of the fortunate lit Irs of old Peter Pavls would receive the best property award. The place on Main street was the choice of the two nsldences. Th.i h'us was modern, the neighbors were of tho bent social set In the vlllago, the street was paved. The Railroad street place bold a neat but old-fashioned cottage. Main strict was a broad tree-fringed thoroughfare. Railroad Rail-road street had half of Its area taken up by tracks, sidings and fre!pht bouses. The Greers bad no chlllren. 1 hero were two pretty, curly headed tots In the Pavls family. After thinking and debating over the matter nt tho end of n week the trustees of the Pavls estate awarded the Main htreet property to the Greers. "It's a burning shame, Ralph!" said outspoken Mrs. pnvls. "There Is no right or Justice to U. Everybody knows It, everybody Is scandalized." "Oh, we're property ow ners now, and shouldn't complain," reminded her bus-band bus-band In a pleasant way. "Hut think of It the Greers have no children, and we have. It Is dangerous dan-gerous for them so near the railroad "n Jk "Here la a Little Paper to Sign." tracks. Resides that, tbls property Isn't worth half aa much as the Main afreet place." "Weill," rejoined Ralph, "I understand under-stand that John Moore, one of the trustees. Is wearing a new diamond pin, land they say that Greer presented present-ed It to him. Let It go. When I look around and see how cozy you've made the place here, I feci as If It Is a kind Of palace." "Oh, Lalph. yoj are so easily falls fled," sighed Mrs. Pavls. "That's because I've got what Greer can't scheme for and get" "What's that?" "You and the children." cried the big bearted fellow, and bis wife returned re-turned bis bouncing kiss with a proud ind happf face. "I suppose the next thing we know," he said, "Greer will scheme to get the fifty thousand dollar homestead lor that Ave thousand dollars. Hell raise It among bis friends." "No, be can't do that," dissented Ralph. "He bas to 'make IL 111 let ron Into a secret, Madge, dear: I am lolng to work and acrimp and aave to islse that money. Tbe Greers won't, rbey are going In for society In their new home. Bort of look down on us : back street folks. Bo, they spend all Lhey geL" Ralph's loyal little wife had a good leal of humiliation to subdue for a lime. Mrs. Greer began to take to berself a certain social Importance. People who were cads Ignored the i back street home. The yards of tbe i wo houses adjoined at the rear. First !r. Greer pitied her bumWer neigh- I xr. Then she was Indulgent. Final- i y sbe Ignored her. Ralph worked isrd. His life was centered In bis lonie, and bis sterling, steadfast faith 1 n the future began to Influence bis 1 Mf. One day he came some la tbe niddle of the day. This was an on-isual on-isual thing for him. His wife looked ilarmed and then curious, for her bus- i and's cheery face was wreathed with unties. -Well. ! reckoa vtU have to it or." IC tnOOTicnd. ( I |