Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-06


heed of the outer world.
When Mr.. Crofton came in to get his
dinner, he went for Uncle Malachi.
Hes been settin' out there long
enough, y said he; he's dreadful trial,
but we mustn't let him get the rheuma-
tiz."
But when they went together to the
sunny, stone-paved yard, the old man
sat there dead, with his glazed eyes
staring straight before him, and his jaw
dropped on his breast.
"Dead, Ell 7" the neighbors comment
ed, in chorus. "Well, l s'pose you'll
come into the property now, Mrs. Croft
ton?'
II suppose we should" said Mrs.
Crofton, feebly; "only nobody knows
where it is"
It was true. The wrinkled, little, old
human maybe had kept his secret to
the last, and his niece and her daughter
were as poor as ever.
"Never mind, mother" said Nettie,
bravely. "We've done our duty, and
that's all that can be expected of any of
u.s."
In Uncle Malachi's old leather-strap-
ped memorandum book there was only
a yellow bit of paper on which was
marked the figure 49,"
Couldn't we make some sort Of a
clue out Of that 2" said young Or. Drew
the village Esculapius, who was to
marry pretty Nettie when they had
scraped together money enough to keep
them out Of the Poor House.
"No, said Mrs. Crofton, shaking her
head. Three was always Uncle Ma
lachi's favorite number. He bought a
lottery ticket once-number three-and
drew d prize Of a hundred dollars; he
put OF all business until the third day
of the month, if be wanted especial
good luck he was born on the Sd of
January, and"
"And he died on the Sd Of May said
DR.. Drew. "Weli, it is rather curious
coincidence. However, you had better
keep this old memorandum, Mrs. Croft
ton-it can do no harm: and now We'll
90 to business.
1t was the day after Uncle Malachi's
funeral, and Or. Drew had come to
prescribe for Mrs. Crofton's periodical
attack Of ague.
Its very strange" said the young
medical man. "There must be bad
draining somewhere. We can't attrib-
ute it all to the swamp in the meadow"
"There's no fault about the drainage
that know Of" said Mrs. Crofton, in
the drawing listless tone that had be-
come habitual to her of late.
Mother" said Nettie, perhaps it's
the sunken we'll"
DR.. Drew pricked up his ears.
what sunken we'll ?" said he.
''There was an old well close to the
house," said Mrs. Crofton. at never
was much used, and it was dry most Of
the time. So, when they built on the
other wing, they just paved it over and
built q new one by the garden wall.
That's the very stone pavement where
Uncle Malachi used to take so much
comfort in the sunshine, poor old man"
"Ah !" said the doctor, Its very pos
sible then, that we may be able to &C.
count for this malarial affection. Have
you a crowbar about the premises"
'You amt gong to uncover the old
well ?" said Zebedee Crofton, who,
wrapped in blankets, was enduring his
regular chill.
eyes, ] ann" said DR.. Drew.
Out they all three went-Doctor Drew
Mrs. Crofton and Nettie. Neighbor
Larkens was summoned to assist with
the crowbar.
II declare " said Mrs. Crofton, "it
does most seem as if Uncle Malachi
would rise out of his grave to prevent
US. He was dreadful partial to this
spot"
"Well, it can't be of any more use to
him now" said Nettie.
"Hellow said DR.. Drew, there are
nine paving stones, aren't there"
Three each way" said Neighbor Lar
kens; land the old well was directly I'M
derneath the centre stone. Land o. Go
shen7 Irecollect coverin' it up as we'll
as if it were yesterday"
Three times three" said DR.. Drew.
Perhaps that accounts for the old gen.
tleman's partialty to it,
Nettie started.
II never thought of thatm she said.
"Heve YOU sang Neighbor Larkens,