Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-09-14


shall know where am or what am
doiDg.u
| Thus. while riding toward the
quiet farm house OF the Quaker the
whole thing was arranged When
they reached the farm the horse was
Put Ia the stable, and they entered
the house. IA they seated them
selves by the inviting fire. the Qua
ker said TO his wife:
Amy, thee car put on another
plate. Daniel will stop with US a
few days, and then he is going to
California. The good Quaker felt
confident that Daniel would keep his
word thi. time. AT the end Of few
days everything was In readiness.
The old horse was harnessed, and
before daylight Daniel Aiken was on
his way to the railroad station. He
had not been In the village since the
night the words mot drop more.
Daniel, were uttered. He was mis-
sed from bis customary haunts; but IL
was supposed that he had gone on a
spree, and so nothing was thought Of
hisabsence. No inquiries were made
for all were glad of his absence and
cared nothing for his return.
He had been gone something more
than a year, when the Quaker was.in
the store OF Hoekins and wished 10
hire pasture for the coming season.
II have one ! will let you have
free, II you will put up the fences on
the place, said Haskins.
Where Ii it?n asked the Quaker.
ITS on the Aiken farm, " was The
reply.
"If thee would let IL at that rate,
thee must have let II got on. of re-
pair said the Quaker.
.Itis, indeed. / cannot leave the
store to look after IL. The house Is
poor, and the family thar lived In II
last were too shiftless 10 buy wood, SO
they burnt up all the fences; in fact,
would rather cell than rent"
"Wha, will thee take for it?" In
quired the Quaker
1T cost me 81 800"
YES; but thee paid In goods, and
charged thine own price for them"
ITO be sure | did. Aiken could
not get trusted anywhere else, and
felt that l was running II great risk
In letting him have goods, 50
charged accordingly; just az any
body else would have done under the
circumstances
But thee hasInot told sme what
thee will take for tho place. / will
give the $500 for 10 if that IL any oh
ject to thee.n
Hoskins thought long enough over
the matter TO conclude that the inter.
est Of $500 was far better for him than
farm for the use OF which he real.
lied scarcely anything, and at last
said. "You can have ii"
Every well, Hoskins, thee can
make out the deed tomorrow, and
thee shall have the money. Blythe
by, does thee know what has become
OF Daniel Aiken? ~
"No; no has not been In the village
for more than year; at any rate /
have not seen HIM"
We may hero tell the reader some.
thing that Hoskins did not know
The Quaker had that day received a
letter from Daniel Aiken, stating
that he is Mt the mines hard at work
and sticking 10 his motto. mot a
drop more, Daniel;" that ho had laid
up a few hundred dollars, and de-
sired him 10 inquire what the place
he once owned could be bought for.
Mr.. Edgerton had taken the meth
cd above mentioned TO find out the
views OF Hoskins respecting tlr
place; so confident was he that
Daniel Aiken would come home
sober man, with money In bis pocket,
that he ventured to purchase tho
place to keep for him till his return.
IIo wrote to Aiken informing him
what he had done, and about three
months after no received letter
from him stating that he had sent by
express $500 In gold TO Il banker In
New York, with orders TO sell IL and
remit tho proceeds TO him 10 go to-
ward the money on tho farm.
Gold at the time commanded a
high premium, and the 900 became
$500 before they reached the hands
OF Edgerton. Aiken requested him
TO draw up decd giving the whole
property 10 his wife Mary, 20 have II
duly recorded and left with the reg.
lister Of deeds.
In his letter he said, al, perchanco,
/ should ever break my resolution, !
shali have secured a home for my
wife and children. ] prefer. how
ever, that they should not know any.
thing Of this for the present. II
1.-Two TO come home, ! viii give Mary
the deeds with my own hands; II not,
you can do IL. Now that the farm IL
bought you had better stock IL, for
shall stick TO my motto, Not a drop
more, Daniel"
Another year passed away. BY
thIs time friend Edgerion had stocked
the farm with young cattle and sheep,
the fences were put in repair, aud