:

"Before the United States Land Office at Fairplay, Chico
County, on August 30th, 18--, will appear, viz.: Ralph C.
Gordon, who enters Homestead claim, No. 4571, for the W. 1-2,
W. 1-4, Section 34, and S. 1-2 Section 33, Township 22 S.,
Range 68 W.

"Ralph C. Gordon names the following witnesses to prove his
continuous residence upon, and cultivation of said land,
viz.:

"W. H. Wright, S. H. Stearns, C. L. Wilson, all of Chico
County.

"W. W. BAYARD, Register."

We all listened to the reading with breathless interest. When it was
concluded Mrs. Horton observed: "Wright, Stearns, and Wilson, they're
your witnesses, are they?"

"Yes; father selected them, you know," Jessie replied.

"They're good men, all of them, but, I declare, I wish that your pa
had thought to put Jake on, too! It would have given me a good excuse
to go down with you when the day comes. Not but what I mean to go
anyhow, for that matter. Well, now, your date is set. It wasn't set
before, was it?"

"No; the other notices read: 'On a day to be hereinafter named, etc.'"

"August 30th," Mrs. Horton repeated, musingly; "let's see, this is the
15th. You've got two weeks and a day yet to wait. It don't give a
great amount of time to get money in, but it's a relief to know when
it's coming off, isn't it?"

Joe had been sitting in his corner, saying nothing, but, just at this
point, I saw him roll his eyes scornfully at our neighbor, and
wondered if it could be that the old man was jealous of her openly
expressed interest in the little family to which he laid prior claim.
"Yes," Jessie said, replying to Mrs. Horton's question: "It is a great
relief, and, after all, we've done about all that we can to make ready
for it."

"I'm not doubting that, still, I wish, now that we've thought of it,
that you did have time to earn a little more by sewing. How much are
the witnesses' fees?"

"Six dollars each; it will take eighteen dollars for that alone,"
Jessie told her.

"Eighteen dollars! and I don't suppose you can have much more than
that on hand!" Mrs. Horton's face lengthened. "I wish I had it to lend
you," she remarked, at last. "You could pay me in sewing; but Jake--"

We had heard of Mr. Horton's views on the money question. He always
ran bills at the store because, he said, a woman couldn't be trusted
with ready cash. "Give a woman her head and she'll spend all a man has
on knick-