The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-11
little BLUE EYES.

"Certalnly, ST.
uNice weather z"
usnlendid, indeed"
.Crops growing finely ?"
.yes-couldn't do better
was sitting in 3 car on a Wisconsin rail-
uood one day, years ago, when a cookbook
mo pleasant-spoken man come along, stop
nod at my seat, and the above conversation
took Mace, the latter part Of it after he had
taken part of my seat.
mid YOU ever meet a man who, though a
stranger to you ten minutes before, could
nrest from you secrets which you had sworn
n Yourself never to reveal? Well, he was
c,,ch O man. It was not long before he com-
menced asking me questions. He did no
eoom trying to quiz or draw me out, but he
asked me questions in such 8 sly, roundabout
wav. that before 7 knew it was giving him
my history.
was at that time just on the point of
being admitted to the bar Of Wisconsin as a
student Of Law 8 Law Of Briefville. The
firm were old lawyers with o lucrative prac-
tice, and it had been talked over that in about
month I should be the GEO." Of the firm
A year before, a. farmer named Preston,
down about Grafton, died, and his matters
had been put into the hands Of Law & Law
for settlement. Preston had died rich. he
had money in banks, railroad stocks, mort
cages, ETC., and everything was settlediup to
the satisfaction of the relict and the father
less.
About O year before his death, being
pinched for money, and not wishing to sci
ANYTHING at a sacrifice, Preston had given a
mortgage on his own farm for three thous-
and dollars. While the papers read from
lone wear from date" there was q verba
agreement thatit should be lifted any day
that Preston desired. A month after, when
having the funds to clear off the paper, the
old money bags" holding it refused to dis
charge. wishing to secure his interest for a
year. f..
Twas on my way to learn the date of ex-
~piration. A fire among our office papers had
destroyed this memoranda. We got to
Grafton at 1850, and to my great surprise
he announced that he was going to stop in
the town on business for q few days. | had
not asked his business or vocation, while he
knew everything about me.
We went to the hotel, had dinner and then
| secured S livery team and drove out, get
through with business so that I was back il
time to take the $50 express east. My friend
was on the porch of the hotel as I drove up,
carrying the same honest dignifed face.
"Well, did you find out ~ he inquired in
his pleasant way.
eyes, it was the 18th, as I expected ]
replied
We had lunch together and when We
shook hands and parted I had no more Idea
of ever meeting him again than / had OF
knowing you. In fact he told me that he
should sail for England within a week or ten
days, and should not return to America. Al
parting he gave me his card. It was a modest
piece Of pasteboard and bore the name OF
George Raleigh in Old English script.
Everything at the Office went on as usual,
and the 18th came at length. Law & Law
had arranged with me to go down with the
money, and I looked upon it as q business OF
no special importance.
"We know you are right" remarked the
senior partner as | was about to GO, ''but
want to give you o word of warning, never.
theless. Don't take any stranger into YOU
confidence until you have passed out the
money, and look out who sits next to YOU
It was something new for him to caution
me, and 7 could not but wonder at it but II
the hustle of getting aboard the train forgo
what he said. Ordinary prudence had IN
duced me to place the money, which was al
in bank bills and divided into three packages
under my shirt and next to my skin, where
the deft hand Of d p~ick-pocket could no
reach it.
Interested in a newspaper, time flew BY Of
the train flew west, and at length the hoarst
voice OF the brakeman warned me that ! hac
reached Grafton. I had leaped down, anc
making for the livery stable when ! heard 9
familiar voice, and looked up to see Raleigh.
He was seated in q buggy and had seemingly
waited for me to com in.
Don't express ycur surprise" be began
as I stopped at the wheel. II did intend te
60 away, but I changed my mind, and like
this section so well that am going out to-day
10 look at q farm with q view Of purchasing.
Come ride up to the hotel
We rode up, ordered lunch, and while VIC