The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-03-09

mouthful, when he grew suddenly pale,
his lower-jaw dropped, and he remain
ed gazing fxedly ct the jam-pot, AZ il
spell.bound.
"Good gracious, Tom p said Bessie !;
whatever is the matteri Are you in 2"
"Don't say it's black beetle" said
Mrs. Moyse, peering anxiously into the
jam-pot. But there was nothing there
to cause Toms emotion.
"No, don't; it's nothing; shall be
all right directlyr' gasped Tom. ..It's
-it's-the five hundred pounds r.
Mrs. Moyse and Bessie looked at him
"a il be had. .takan- lAaxe.o ule Se1fses:
Uncle Keckwidge mnrmured incoherent-
ly "Five hundred terrier dogs with
one eye, answers To- the name of Bob;"
and relspsed into vacancy.
But Tom did NOT long continue3in his
momentary condition Of bewilderment.
He pulled out the rough draft Of the ad-
vertisement, which was still in his pock-
ct, and began to compare the names Of
the parties to the deed, as there men.
toned, with the piece Of parchment
which had covered the jam pot, and
which now lay upside down upon the
table.
"Ralph Howard and Frederick Pol.
lock. Thomas Burt and Sidney Forrest
Dysart. William Henry Austin. Yes,
the very names! Mrs. Moyse, I've
found the missing deed, or at least a
piece of it.; and now, II We can trace
the rest, our fortunes made!'
"You don't mean that dirty old piece
Of sheepskin that lay about here for ever
so long, and that / took to cover my
jam-pots! Good graciousr'
"Mrs. Moyse, that dirty old piece OF
parchmentis worth FIVE hundred pounds
But where's the rest Of it3 For heaven's &
sake, don't say it's destroyed"
"Its all cut up. at any rate" said Mrs
Moyse, fiinging open her cupboard
"There's two dozen pots there, and
they've each got piece Of it. That
pot was the first we've opened. And
rather think"-rummaging in the cup
board-"yes, here it is! l rather think
THIS Is all tne rest Oh IL.
1t was an anxious moment. The mu-
tilated parchment was spread out, the
pots uncovered, and the circular frag,
ments restored, though with some diff
Guilty, each TO it's proper place. At las,
the task was finished. A few of the and
whereases and provided alsoes wert
slightly sticky, but not the smallest par
was mis- sing.
Mrs. MoYse's possession of the deco
was very easily accounted for. Wher
Messrs. Sharpe b Floyd had removed
from Chancery Lane, q quantity Of ole
papers which were regarded as out o.
date and useless, had been swept into {
corner for the dustman. The deed in
question had, by some accident, GO
among them, and Mrs. Moyse, observ
flag taassit Nas.perehmeDts and ~beine~t
carNul housekeeper, picked it up and
laid it aside for the purpose for which
she afterward used it.
/ These particulars we're communicated
to Tom while Bessie brushed his hat and
generally got him ready flor excitemen
had made him quite helpless) to go of
to Mr.. Sharpe's private house at ono,
to claim the reward. Everybody ap
peared to have vague kind OF impres
sion that it was all q dream, and thal
they had better secure the reward be,
fore they woke up. With the deed care
fully wrapped in paper and in the breasl
pocket of his closely -buttoned coat, Ton
hurried to Mr.. Sharpe's, snd, hot and
painting, began to tell his story. NJ
! sooner, however, bad Mr.. Sharpe com
pretended the main fact that the deco
was found, and assured himself OF 1t.
| identity, than he stopped Tom short il
his narrative.
"That'll do for the present." said be
"you shall tell me the rest as we 60 te
Mr.. Morpeth's."
A hanson was called, and the pail
was quickly at Mr.. Morpeth's house.
els your master IMP" inquired Mr.
Sharpe.
"Yes, SIR" said the footman; "but b,
Is just sitting down to dinner"
81 must see him, Notwithstanding
said Mr.. Sharpe. "Kindly take him my
card; tell him my business is urgent.
The man complied and q moment
later Mr.. Morpeth threw open the din.
ing room door.
"Walk in, Mr.. Sharpe Alb, you have
good news! see il In your face! The
] deed is found!"
"Yes, sir; am happy to say it is
and ! congratulate you with all mJ
heart; and you, too, my dear Mrs Nor
peth," addressing fair-faced. gentle
looking lady, who was seated at tht
head Of the table.
sit is really found at last, Is itf" sale
she. so, what relief! Then there
will be no need for me to appear in thai
dreadful court7"
"Not the slightest need; indeed,
may almost say that the fuding of the
deed puts an end to the suit. The
plaintiffs haven't leg to stand upon.
"But where-when-heW was II
found p inquired Mr.. Morpeth.
"Here is the fortunate finder. He
had better tell his own story" said Mr.
Sharpe; "for 40 soon as realized that
the deed was actually found, I brought
him herelat once, and I scarcely know
the particulars myself"
Tom told his story and produced tht
deed, receiving the heartiest commenda
ton for his intelligence and acuteness.
Excuse me one moment" said Mr.
Morpeth; and leaving the room he re.
turned with check still wet, requesting
Messrs. Coutts b Co. to pay to Mr
Thomas Halliday or order the sum ol
Eve hundred pounds.
sAnd now, my friends" be said, "sit
down and join us at dinner, which you
have 90 agreeably interrupted. For my
Town part, I feel more inclined to enjoy
my dinner than ] have for q twelve.
month past, though I'm afraid the sour
/ has got cold. Sit down Sharpe. Will
1 you cit there, Mr.. Halliday, and make
yourself at home? ,"
i Tom blushed and stammered -.
thank you kindly, sir; but, II you re
member, I've partakep of tea ant
shrimps already, sir. And II you1
j kindly excuse me, think there's SOM
] one might feel hurt; / mean-the trutl
ls-my young lady is waiting for me