The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-02

I" No. said Mrs. Crofton, shaking her
head. "Three was always Uncle Mala-
-chi's favorite number. He put of all
business until the third day of the
month If he wanted special good luck !,
he was born on the Sd of January,
and"
" And he died on the Sd of May"
said Doctor Drew. Well, it is rather
u curious coincidence. However you
had better keep this old memorandum,
Mrs. Croftop; 1t can do no harm; and
now we'll go to business.
1t was the day after Uncle Malachi's
funeral, and Doctor Drew had come to
prescribe for Mrs. Crofton's periodical
attack of ague.
Z" It's very strange" said the young
medical man. There must he bad
drainage somewhere. We can't attrib-
ute it all to the old swamp in the mead
ow"
I" There's no fault about the drainage
that l know Of, said Mrs Crofton, in
the drawling, listless tone that had be-
come habitual to her of late.
Mother" said Nettie, perhaps it's
the sunken we'll"
Doctor Drew pricked up his ears
What sunken well 2" said he.
There was an old well close to the
house," said Mrs. Crofton. ''It never
was much used and it was dry most of
the year. So, when they built on the
south wing, they just paved it over and
dug 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. "It's very
possible, then, that we may be able to
account for this malarial Affection
Have you a crowbar about the prem
ses ?"
g You amt going to uncover the old
well ~ said Zebedee Crofton, who wrap
ped in blankets, was enduring his regu-
lar "chill."
Yes, am said Doctor Drew.
Out they all three went-Doctor Drew,
Mrs. Crofton and Nettie. Neighbor
ItIheuS WIS SUN uuuOueu W dSSisU Will
the crowbar.
&C l 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.
Hellol" said Doctor Drew; "there
are nine paving stones, aren't there ?"
"Three each way" said neighbor
Larkens land the old well was direct
ly under the center stun. Land o.
Goshen II recollect coverin' it up as
well as if it were yesterday !"
Three times three" said Doctor
Drew. Perhaps that accounts for the
old gentleman's partiality to it,"
Nettie started.
6 never though of that !" she said.
Heave yo !" sang Neighbor Larkens
who had sailed on Greenland whaler
once; and impelled by the strong arms
of the two men, the central stone came
up, revealing the black and hollow
mouth of the disused well.
=" Pah !" said Doctor Drew; there's
enough bad air and foul gas here to in
feet a regiment"
"There's something else here" quiet
ly added Nettie, who had stopped to
look down. {" A leather bag, suspended
from "a spike driven in between the
stones"
Neighbor Larkens who was long in
the arms made dive at it.
Land o. liberty !" cried he it's full
O. gold pieces-eagles, by Georgel Miss
Nettie, declare fort you've come into
your fortunel"
1t was only five thousand dollars but
to Nettie Crofton it presented a fortune
indeed. Here, upon the central stone OF
the diverging Hrees, old Uncle Malachi
had kept guard until it was too late to
give any one the clue to his secret.
The old well was filled up and proper
ly drained. Farmer Crofton got rid O
his ague, Nettie and her lover were
married, and although Doctor Drew
was not superstitious man, he has
ever since owned to partiality for the
figure 49,"
An Extraordinary Occurrence.