South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-11-11

l iSStuA.iit
'Recruitin'! never heard of
man or boy recruited from this town.
said Solomon, positively.
'Recrutin' of his health, as he said.
You must remember that he left here
III mighty sudden and inaccountable
way, and to my knowledge never
was heard of agin.'
'To-be-sure, to-be-sure 2 assented
Slocum, his eyes sparkling rs he found
himself possessed of this valuable
clue. 'Drewry was his name. a
jolly young chap he seemed to be.
Plenty o money, too, rs I ricollict.
And now it's for me to find out ex-
actly the date of his being here
lie hurried away home, and speedi-
~ returned with certain massive and
wel-worn volumes, which proved to
be the ledgers and account books of
his late father, while landlord of the
inn.
The present proprietor of the es-
adjustment, Captain Grasty, leaned
over his shoulder and watched with in
terest as he ran his finger down GER
tain pages, stopping occasionally to
read.
Here it is exclaimed Slocum,
with ring of triumph in his tone ;
here it is: 'Allan'-'August Is,
1SiS.' The cellar was built in forty
five, he added, significantly looking
around.
why. Lor' ! exclaimed Mrs
Grasty, advancing from the kitchen,
whence she had been an interested
observer OF these proceedings-'why,
Lor'! remember Mr.. Allan Drewry.
was gal ut that time, and he
sort o made up to me, though he
knew John Bowan-that's Jessie's fl.
ther-was keepin' my company
What! exclaimed Solomon, excl.
tediy, 'you don't mean to say Bowan
was jealous?'
There was some folks said so, if |
didn't replied Mrs. Grasty, mo.
destly.
Solomon locked slowly around the
circle, and solennly shook his head.
Look here, S!ocum, said Captain
Grasty, still running his eye down the
page, what's this? Paid John Bow
an five dollars first quarters rent of
his cellar!' Why, what had Chris
Slocum TO do with that cellar p
Slocum's eyes expanded. lie rub
bed his spectacles, and stared intent
~ at the fatal words.
II don't believe twas that CELLAR
he gasped.
Couldn't have been any other. Just
across the back yard here, with door
in the wall between. Convenient to
the house, you see. Never thought
OF it before
do You mean to ihsineate, said
Solomon, turning upon him with a
white face, that that my father had
anything to do with that-that af,
tair?"
i don't insinuate anything m.
swered the captain, with Il shrug {;
though | doa't see how Chris Slocum
was any better than old Womble or
John Bowan.'
Mr.. Michael LafFerty, a sort of loaf
ing character of TwiddIeton, here
turned around from the bar, where he
was ndniglng in a dhrap, and placing
his finger on the side of his horid nose.
deliberately said:
see here, capn, yez best not mix
NJ the ouId mans name with them
dhry bones beyant. lie was my friend
ne was, an I'll stan by him an lis TO
the ind. An if it comes to suspi
clonln' him OF murther, see here, it's
better to let ont the truth. The ould
man wanted that cellar for storage,
We see."
What kind of storage?'
whist, thin don't We moind when
the revenue officers was down here.
} and couldn't fad dhrap of the stuff
that wasn't 'straight?' But, bcdad 1!
they niyir looked in the cellar be.
} yant.'
Il don't believe it! cried Slocum,
savagely.
But lie saw that every one around
) him did credit the mans statement.
and gradually the conviction forced
itself upon his unwilling mind.
IL was q great shock 10 solomon.
who had always made a boast of the
honor and honesty OF himself and
family.
( Ills respected father dealing in ILL
/ eit whisky and cheating the revenue (!
I Solomon, with his neighbors' ewes
/ bent upon bin, seemed to be shrink
! ing to half bis natural size.
i remember when the revenue Of.
/ tcsrs used To- hang round here in dis
glsc, said one man, in low tone.
AN idoar strikes me- said another
excitedly. What ifthat young Teller
D.. -Drewry. you call hjm-was one OF
/ cm-and'-kceping one eve half fear
fully iiXeduTon Slocum-'ferreted out
that cellar, aud never come ont aliveY
~. q NIL. Z. e. IL. - - =