Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-11-07
ing with the Lavacca teamsters and hat
forgotten to dress.-

forgotten to dress
"Lavacca teamsters, indeed, l dom
see what makes you run after every
drover that comes in town."
II was getting their votes for my
side, uncle; and making friends agains
the day 1 want their votes for myself. >
A flash of keen pleasure shot into tn,
old mans eyes; but he was too full OF
fight to abandon the dispute. He frs
attacked Dicks politics, then his persona
appearance and abilities, without being
conscious how provoking he was.
One bitter word followed another. til
all three men were on their feet, and
Lyman, with little scream, had rushed
in between his uncle and cousin. Dicl
laughed uproarously at the interven.
tion, and kicking him out of his way
said:
Goodbye, uncle; I'm not going to
quarrel any more with you. The world
is big enough, l reckon, for both of us
and our opinions"
He went straight to Ike, who was
| sitting just where he had left him. and
said:
like, tell uncle in a couple of days
that I've gone West, and that there s
no ill blood between us-and, Ike,
watch Mona for me until / come after
her."
"Tou are bound to go, then"
'Ies, the old mad is fire, and am
gunpowder; We are better apart
that's ALL
''Go long, then; I'll watch what
you leave behind.''
''Dick felt unhappy enough at leav-
ing Mona. She lived alone with her
father, and he was not always the best
of protectors. Dick spent the rest of
the day by her side, and left town in
the cool of the evening in no very
despOndent mood. Mona had promised
everything he asked of her, and all the
rest seemed possible.
He had some land and cattle on the
San Marcos, and he purposed putting
up a pretty house there gradually,
mainly with his own hands. In two
years he would sell some of his increase,
furnish it, marry Mona, turn grazier,
and run for the Legislature. When he
went back he would put 'all right
with his uncle, and, being so far apart,
they could keep right; and if not, and
ha lost his share Of Ianl- Rur =
estate, made money was better than
given money anyway.
For week after Dicks departure
the old man hoped against hope, but
one day, when Ike Brennan carelessly
asked, ''When is Dick coming back
from the West?" then he knew that
the lad had gone to shift for himself,
and, lonely as it left him, he thoroughly
liked Dick for doing it. After this Ike
and the Judge spent much time to-
gether. They kept up perpetual
quarrel, but they were well matched,
and, after years disputing, the vic
tory on every single point was dis
puted one. Sometimes, at the end of a
long argument, and long silence, the
Judge would say, ''Have you heard
anything?" and then Ike, shaking his
head, and shaking the ashes from his
pipe, would rise and go away.
Early in the second year the Judge
had an accident that completely inva-
lided him, and, after some months de-
cline he quietly passed away. Singu-
larly enough there was no will found,
and Lyman Sneed took possession of
everything. No Dick appeared to dis
pute his claim. Ike smoked away in his
old shady corner, and smiled queerly to
himself when he saw how diligently
Lyman began to improve the city lots,
and how cleverly he collected and in
vested the outstanding accounts of the
estate.
In all but one way Lyman's fortune
prospered-Nona still refused all his
attentions. But as soon as the Judge
was dead he began to use stronger
means of persuasion. Nona's father
owed him large sum, and their home
was mortgaged for its payment. Lyman
soon let father and daughter see on
what terms only the Duval place could
be saved. and the father cared too much
for his own indulgence not TO press
with all his power so desirable method
of clearing off his liabilities.
Nothing of this plan, however, came
to Ike's knowledge, until one night,
old Duval, in fit of intoxication, re-
yealed il. Then he went home full of
anxiety, He had no money that would
touch Nona's needs, and he had not yet
heard anything from Dick. I'D give
twenty of my best cows to know if the
fellow was alive or dead" he said, as
he pushed open the latchless door of
his log cabin. A man was sitting in his
own chair fast asleep.
"Dick at last.''
Ore soul opened another, and Dick
opened his eyes and answered:
'Here | am, Ike"
You tormenting yOungster, where
have you been?"
Everywhere, Ike, and precious
little got, either. At last l went to
Yuba and Nevada, and tried hard to
make my pile. Two months ago Jim
Harrison strayed up there and told me
uncle was dead and Mona going to
marry Lyman Sneed. l couldn't stand
that. and so | came along with what l
had"
sHow much? 2"
"Only ss000."
ssThat's enough. guess you'll find
Yourself richer than you think"
The next morning Mona Duval com
pletely amazed Lyman Sneed by enter
ing his office, accompanied by Ike
Brennan, and paying in full every
claim which he had upon the Duval
place, but he was still more amazed by
an official notice to meet next day the
heirs of Jack Burleson, and hear his
will read. He found at the place ap-