The Lilac Girl | Page 8

rumor was vague and indefinite. But before
bedtime even that point was definitely settled, Zenas Prout 2nd having
kept the store open a full half-hour later than usual to accommodate
delayed seekers after knowledge.
It was a rather stirring afternoon for Wade, too. First there was a visit to
the store in the carryall for the purchase of supplies. Mr. Prout, who
combined the duties of merchant with those of postmaster and express
agent, was filling out a requisition for postal supplies when Wade

entered. Poking his pen behind his ear, he stepped out from behind the
narrow screen of lock-boxes and greeted the visitor.
"Afternoon, sir. You found the house all right?"
"Yes, thanks." Wade drew forth a pencil and tore off a piece of
wrapping paper.
"Sort of out of repairs, of course, seem' it ain't been lived in for most
ten years, not since Mrs. Craig died. Was you considerin' purchasin',
sir?"
"Er--no." Wade was writing rapidly on the brown paper. "The fact is,
Mr. Prout, I own the Craig house now."
"You don't say?" exclaimed the store-keeper in genuine surprise. "You
ain't--surely you ain't Ed Craig?"
"No, my name's Herrick. Ed was a good friend of mine. We were
partners in a mining enterprise in Colorado. Ed died almost a year ago
now; typhoid."
"I want to know! Well, well! So Ed Craig's gone, has he? I remember
him when he was 'bout so high. Used to come down here an' I'd set him
up on the counter right where you be now, Mr. Herring, and give him a
stick of candy. I recollect he always wanted the kind with the pink
stripes on it. An' he's dead, you say? We often wondered what had
become of Ed. Folks thought it kind of queer he didn't come home the
time his mother died."
"He was away and didn't learn of her illness until it was too late," said
Wade. "He felt mighty badly about that, Mr. Prout, and I wish you'd let
the people here know how it happened. Not that it matters much to Ed
now, but he was the best friend I ever had, and I don't want folks who
used to know him to think he deliberately stayed away that time."
"That's so, sir. An' I'm glad to hear the truth of it. Ed didn't seem to me
when I knew him the sort of feller to do a thing like that. Folks'll be

glad to know about it, Mr. Herring."
"Herrick, please. Now just look over that list and check off what you
can let me have, will you? I'm going to stay awhile, and so I will have
to get in a few provisions."
Mr. Prout ran his eye down the list dubiously, checking now and then.
When he laid it down and pushed it across the counter his tone was
apologetic.
"Ain't a great deal there I can sell you, Mr. Herrick. I'm kind of out of
some things. I guess I can get most of 'em for you, though, if you ain't
got to have 'em right away."
Wade looked at the slip.
"You put up what you've got," he said, "and I'll send over to
Tottingham Center for the rest."
"Don't believe you'll get 'em all there," commented Mr. Prout. "Things
like bacon in jars an' canned mushrooms there ain't much call for
around here."
But Wade was busy revising his list, and made no comment. Presently
he went out and despatched the boy to the Center. When he returned to
the store Mr. Prout was weighing out sugar.
"So you come into the Craig place, Mr. Herrick. I suppose you bought
it."
"No, Ed left it to me in his will. Wanted me to come on here and have a
look at it and see that it was all right. He was very fond of that place.
So I came. And--well, it's a pleasant place, Mr. Prout, and it's a pretty
country you have around here, and so I reckon I'll stay awhile and camp
out in the cottage."
"Going to do your own cooking?" asked Mr. Prout.
"Have to, I reckon. It won't be the first time, though."

"Guess you wouldn't have any trouble findin' some one to come in an'
do for you, if you wanted they should," said Mr. Prout. "There's my gal,
now. She's only fifteen, but she's capable an' can cook pretty tolerable
well. Course you know your business best, Mr. Herrick, but--"
"Send her over in the morning," said Wade, promptly. "Is there a mail
out of here to-night?"
"Five o'clock."
"Then let me have a sheet of paper and a stamped envelope, if you
please. I'll write down to Boston and have them send my trunk up."
He met but few persons on