The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-08-18

Freddie told me you would like to see
me, he commenced.
eyes, elder, should. But am very
much afraid you will think strange at
least of what have to say to you"
The elder promised very politely not
to be surprised, though at the same time
his curiosity was visibly excited.
Suppose, said the widow, casting
down he- eyes mind. was only sup
posing cAse-suppose a person should
find pot of gold pieces In their cellar,
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,
unquestionably, the law would have
nothing to do with it.
"And the one who formerly owned the
house couldn't COME forward and claim
it, could he, elder?"
"No, madam; unquestionably not.
When the house was disposed off every~
thing went with it, as matter of
course"
'sI am glad to hear 1t, elder. You
won't think strange of the question,
but it happened to occur in my mind,
and 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. It will
be ready punctually at twelve
"Well, no." said the elder, rising,
"I'm obliged to ye; but they'll be ex-
pecting me at home"
Sat any rate, elder" said the widow,
taking piece of mince pie fresh from
the oven, lyon won't object to taking a
piece of mince pie. You must know
that rather pride myself on my mince
pies"
The warm pie sent forth such doll
J cious odor that the elder was sorely
tempted, and. after saying, "Well, real
ly," with the intention of refusing, he
finished by saying, son the whole,
guess I will, as it looks so nice.''
The widow was really good cook ,and
the elder ate with much gusto the gener.
J GUS piece which the widow cut for him,
and after little chatting upon unimpor-
tant subjects, Withdrew in some mental
perplexity.
Was it possible, thought he, the widow
could really have found pot of gold in
her cellar? She did not say So. to be
sure, but why should she have shown SO
much anxiety to know as to the proprie-
torship of the treasure thus found, if she
had not happened upon some? To be
sure, SO far as his knowledge extended,
there was no one who would be likely to
lay up such an amount of gold; but the
house was $50 years old, at the very
least, and had had many occupants of
which he knew nothing. It might be,
after all. The widows earnest desire to
, have him think it was only curiosity,
likewise gave additional probability to
} the supposition. "I will wait and watch,
thought the elder.
It so happened that Elder Boyd was
one of the directors of a savings institu-
ton situated in the next town, and ao-
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 know if he
would carry her with him, as she had q
request was readily accorded. Arriving
at the village, Mrs. Hayes desired to be
! set down at the bank building
"Ha, hap' thought the elder, "that
means something"
L
: mined to come back and find out, as he
8 could readily from the cashier what bus
9 mess she had with the bank. The widow
tripped into the Office pretending to lool
. very nonchalant.
"Can you give me small bills for ter
dollar gold piece?" she asked.
"With pleasure" !" was the reply.
''By the way" she said, ''the bank il
L in 20
not?"
"None in the state on a better foot
!, ing" was the prompt response.
You receive deposits, do You not?'
,, Eyes, madam; we receive them every
day"
''Do You receive as high as-as ten
thousand dollars?"
NO." said the cashier, with some sur
! prise, ''or, rather, we do not allow inter
: est on so large a sum. One Thousand
dollars is our limit. Did you know o.
any one who"
sit is of no consequence" said the
, widow, hurriedly; ST only asked for cur
iosity. By the way, did you say how
much interest you allowed on such de
posits as come within your limit?"
! Give per cent, madam"
: '"Thank you. I only asked for curl
!. osity. What beautiful morning it is,
a and the widow tripped lightly out.
3 Shortly after the elder entered.
r "How's business, Mr.. Cashier" h,
r inquired.
' "About as usual"
"Had many deposits lately?"
q "None of any magnitude"
3 81 brought over q woman this morn
/ ing who seemed to have business will
: you"
, "The Widow Hayes?"
eyes"
8 "Do you know" asked the cashier
whether she had any money left he
. lately?"
8 "None that know of. said the elder
3 pricking up his ears. "Why, did sh'
? deposit any?"
D NO; but she inquired whether we re
3 ceived deposits as high as $4,000"
t "Indeedp CALCULATED the elder. 81
9 that all she came for?" he inquired,
moment afterward.
5 mo, she exchanged gold piece TO
. bills"
: cha" pondered the elder, reflective
: ", ''Did she give any reason for he
: "No, she said she only asked for curl
1 osity."
9 The elder left the bank in deel
q thought. He came to the conclusion