The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-28

on, the dinner, and had leisure to "a
down. She appeared a little embar
rassed.
Freddie told me you would like 10
see me-" he commenced
"Yes. elder, / should. But 1 an
very much afraid you will think stranc
at least of what 1 have to say to You"
The elder promised very politely not
to be surprised, thsugh at the same time
his curiosity was visibly excited.
"Suppose, said the widow, casting
down her eyes-"mind, was only sup
posing case-suppose q person should
find pot of gold pieces in their cdSr,
would the law have right to touch it,
or would it belong to them?" The elder
pricked up his ears.
"a pot of gold pieces, widow? Why,
ungnestionably. the law would have
nothing to do with it,
"And the one who formerly ow1ed
+ the house couldn't come forward .snd
| Sia1na it. could ne, ellesss
No, madafn un4uestionably E0ts
When the house was disposed of, every
thing went with it, as a matter Of
course"
81 am glad to hear it, cider. You
| won't think strange of the question, but
it happened to occur in my mind, and 1
thought / would like TO have it satisfied. "
Certainly, widow, certainly said
the elder abstractedly.
And, elder, as you're here, hope
you will stop TO dinner with us. 1t will
be ready punctually at twelve"
Well, no" said the elder, rising,
Tn obliged to ye but they'll be ex-
pecting me at home"
cat any rate, elder" said the widow,
taking piece of mince pie fresh from
the oven, "you won't object to taking
piece of mince pie. You must know
that / rather pride myself on my mince
pies"
The warm pie sent forth such deli
cious odor that the elder was sorely
tempted, and, after saying, "Well,
really" with the intention of refusing,
he finished by saying, son the whole,
guess will, as it looks so nice.
The widow was really good cook,
and the elder ate with much gusto the
generous piece which the widow cutfor
him, and after a little chatting upon
unimportant subjects, withdrew in some
mental perplexity.
Was it possible, thought he, the
widow could really have found pot of
SOlO III 1ACk OClAftA DtAO AAOb -
to be sure, but why should she have
shown so much anxiety to know rs to
the proprietorship of the treasure thus
found. If she had not happened upon
some? To be sure, so far as his knowi-
edge extended, there was no one who
would be likely to lay up such an
amount of gold; but the house was l5O
years old, at the very least, and had had
many occupants of which he knew Moth
ing. 1t might be after all The widows
earnest desire to have hun think it was
only curiosity, likewise gave additional
probability to the supposition. 81 Will
wait and watch" thought the elder.
1t so happened that Elder Boyd was
one of the Directors in a savings Institu
ton situated in the next town, and ac-
cordingly used to ride over there once
or twice month to attend meetings OF
the board.
On the next occasion of this kind the
Widow Hayes sent over to kpJw II ne
would carry her with him, : she mad al a
little business to attend = there. Inc
request was readily accorded arriving
at the village, Mrs. Hayes desired TO be
set down at the bank building;
"Ha, ha r. thought the elder, that
means something"
He said nothing however, but de-
ternined to come back ana ma out, as
he could readily from the cashier, what
business she had with the bank. The
widow trigped into the Office pretending
TO look rerv nonchalant.
s.Gan You give me small bills for a
teu-dollar gold piece ?" she inquired.
With pleasure" was the reply.
"By the way" she said, "the bank is
in very hourishing condition, is it
not?"
"None in the State ON better foot
ing," was the prompt response.
"You receive deposits, do you not p
eyes, madam we receive them every
day."
"Do you receive as high as-as ten
thousand dollars ?"
"No," said the cashier, with some
surprise, cor, rather, we do not allow
interest on so large a sum. One thous-
and dollars is our limit. Did you know
of any one who"
at is of no consequence" said the
widow, hurriedly ; SO L only asked for Gu
riosity. By the way, did you say how
much interest you allowed on such de-
posits as come within your limit :"
"Five per cent, madam"
"Thank you. / only asked for curl
osity. What beautiful morning it Is, !"
and the widow tripped lightly out.
Shortly after the elder entered.
"How's business, Mr.. Cashier?" he
inquired.
"About as usual"
"Had many deposits lately?"
"None of any magnitude"
"I brought over a woman this morn
ing who seemed to have business with
you"
"The Widow Hayes?"
"Do you know" asked the cashier.
"whether she had any money left her
lately ?"
"None that know of, " said the eld-
er, pricking up his ears. "Why, did
she deposit any ?"
"No; but she inquired whether we
received deposits as high as $4,000"
Indeed !" calculated the eelder "Is
that all she came for p he inquired, a
moment afterward.
50 No. she exchanged gold piece for
bills
"Har' pondered the elder. reflect
lively. "Did she give any reason for
her inquiries ?"
"No, she said she only asked for curl
osity."
The elder left the bank in deep
thought. He came to the conclusion
that this curiosity only yelled deeper
motive. He now no longer entertained
doubt that the widow had found a not
of gold in her cellar, and appearapces
seemed to indicate that its probabls val
ne was at least equal to $1O.O 1000. The
gold piece which she had EXCHANGED Of
the bank appeared to confirm this the
ory.
uT ratbar think so;d ar -,