The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-06-28
EARNING AFEE.
A DEACON PLOT.

60 about as he wanted them to 20. Not
an overbearing man by any means, and
certainly not violently one, but with
wonderfully cute and quite subtle ways
OF his own, by which he brought matters
about without letting other folks know
how the thing was done. When man
is accustomed to have his own way, he
makes up his mind pretty easily; but there
was one point Of all others upon which
Pilsey had been set and fixed for years,
and the care OF which lay heavy on his
mind, for the time had come when, in his
judgment, something deep required to be
planned and al his skill exercised in car
rying it out. To mind like his that had
taken perfect measure Of every other in
the village, and for miles around il, there
could be little difficulty in selecting his
tools and assistance, and he had no need
OF councillors That was how he came to
be talking 30 confidential with Joe Gaines,
as the two stood by the yard gate.
why, Deacon" said Joe; al always
thought you liked Bob Humphrey. He's
tip top fellow, and good match for any
girl know Of"
80 he is, so he IT," said the deacon
"Can't say a word agin him. Knew
him from boy. Can't forbid him the
house, or any Of that sort of nonsense; but
then he can't have Irene wyer."
vi don't see how you'll help il, deacon
You're only her guardian, and she's about
OF age
mot for a year yet, that's how the will
reads-and she's IN my house, you know.
guess can fix some things, specially il
you'll turn IN and help me. You're law
yer, Joe Gaines, but you're young one
yet, and I'll give you the latest fee you
ever dreamed OF, il you'll only hitch teams
with me, and see that Bob Humphrey don't
get the upper hand
"Well if that's what you're after, so its
all right and square, Id as lief earn fee
one way as an other What's your pro-
grsmme2'
well, you know there's nigh on to thir
ty thousand dollars coming to Irene Wyer,
IN her own right, and I've took the best
kind fkeer Of il. It's been a mighty
sight OF trouble, and all along I've thought
ofmy son Scott"
Scott Pilseyr' interrupted Joe "why
he's in California"
"lie won't be long. He's coming home
insiie Of six months, and want to keep
irene safe for him They used to be won
derful thick. and he writ to her regular
ever so long after he went away, and so
she did to him
DO they correspond cow" asked Joe.
"No, not now There's the rub. That's
one reason I'm looking 80 sharp after Bob
Now, ! want yon to just take hold and try
and keep Bob off till Scott gets back
'Twont be long, aud Irene amt such bad
company nohow."
81 don't know said Joe There's Mag.
gle and her mother. couldn't b. partic-
ularly attentive to Irene without their
knowing it. And Bob Humphrey will be
round most Of the time, and it won't be
long before have the whole village talk
ing the matter up
Never mind that Joe, never mind that
I'LL be all right when Scott gets home.
I'll give you the biggest kind OF fee.
We'll, Deacon, coolly replied the young
lawyer, its pretty tough case, but III
take ii on condition
whats that"
why, 80 long as it's only fun and all
that, I'll go ahead, but if It seems a. III
was doing harm, anything real bad you
know, I'm to be At liberty to back out
"Well don, mind, 30 long as you let me
know in time
And 80 the deacon and the lawyer dis
cussed their plot to their satisfaction, and
when al was settled, the latics took bis
way down the broad and green growing
street Of the Vi llage
"Ths old shark" he muttered. a. he
strolled leisurely along What on earth
put it into his piouing old head to pitch on
me iov a tool2 lie never was more n.
half decent to me before reckon I'll earn
my Zee, bat IN be fair and square with
Bob Humphrey What would Irene say IL
-he knew shat Vas n.y. Wouldn't those
black eyes Of hers strike freY'
Nov it happened that Of late, unknown.
perhaps 70 the deacon. there bad been