Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-05-26


fall, the old man was curSing his
fate, the woman crying, there came
knock at the door.
The old woman answered it with
a "come in" and the old man ut
tered a curse upon prying neigh
hors; but when the door opened
they saw standing within it a
bearded man whom they did not
know.
Friends" said the stranger, 81
am traveller, aud have come from
a long distance. Can you give me
supper and shelter for the nightf
1--WE do not keep an inn!' cried
the old man.
"Nor does any one hereabouts,'
said the traveller. "All | ask is
something to eat and bed of any
sort. am tired out. can so no
farther and he walked in.
"People shall not take my house
by storm in this wayP said the
old man.
wndeed, sir" cried the woman,
"vou must excuse my husband.
He would be hospitable if he could.
To be sure we have bed, but
there is nothing to eat in the house.
NV husband has been very i'll.
We are very poor. 1t spoils ones
temper to be poor, | think bnt |
would give you supper if | had
any myself"
The Young man walked farther
into the room, bringing a heavy
bag with him.
"If that is ALL" said he, "per-
haps You can buy me some supper
and share it with me. With money
You can get food here as elsewhere,
| suppose"
eyes, yes" said the old woman.
The man sat down and took n
wallet from his bosom and opened
it. 1t was full of notes and gold
and silver. He gave handful to
the old woman, who ran at once to
the little shop hard by. Soon a
fire hlazed on the hearth, and cof-
fee and sausages and a loaf of
white bread were on the table,
The candle light fell upon the
faces of the bearded man and the
two old people. On that of the
master of the house rested astrange
expression. Since the traveller had
produced his wallet, he had quite
altered his manner; he was even
civil and flattering. The old wom-
an did not know what to make
of the change. However, she said
to herself that it was pleasant
one, and that it might be the good
food. Her husband himself pour
ed out the last cup of coffee which
the stranger drank, and as he grew
suddenly sleepy soon afterward,
conducted him to his room.
When the old man returned it
was with a yet more strange eX-
preston on his face, and as he sat
down beside the old woman, she
saw that he was trembling from
head to foot. lie evidently had
something Of Importance to say.
"Well 2" she said, eXpectantly.
"Well," he answered; "the cof-
fee was good, the fire, the food
We were comfortable
Eyes" she said, 1--WE were"
"And if it could last-if We
could be comfortable all our lives
1t only needs money. Wife
there is money enough in thai
mans wallet to make us well of
/ for life. have seen it"
"Have you ?" she questioned
shuddering, she knew not why.
"Yes," he answered. 81 put tn,
rest of the opiate the doctor CAV
me when my knee was so bad, in
to his cup. He is very soun'
asleep. Look, wife"
He suddenly drew something
from his pocket. 1t was the strang
er's wallet.
ooh, good heavens! You hav
not turned robberl" shrieked tn
woman. "You will be arrested
put in prison !"
NO." said he. "Wife, there
! no danger of that"
"What do you mean ?" cried tn
woman.
t She put her hand on his arr
: and drew it back hastily. TT