The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-02-09

gineer, James is a born doctor, while
Charles is really great in the building
way, and I've no money saved. How
could L have? 1t has gone 30 many
ways"
mo reproaches, Jack-my brothers
will pay back fourfold, nay, hundred (;
and my boys are to be men. I'll never
submit to mediocrity. You forget that
if my family have come down upon you,
your brother James must have drawn
hundreds!"
"But he has gone for good, and he is
in Australia
II doubt if for good" she replied.
looking dreamily through the window
then, starting, she said: "And not in
Australia, Jack, for here he comes, q
complete wreck, drifting up the gar
den"
The good fellow was in q moment
steering out to meet most miserable
looking object-unmistakab John
Blake's brother.
Don't upbraid me, Jack, I've only
come home to die"
Here the reader should be impressed
by the fact that Blake's three boys
were Mt boarding school; moreover,
that Mrs Blake was without servant.
Only she, her husband, and his twin
brother were that evening in the house.
Let us get to the point when the
brother was put to bed, very Ill and
very comfortable.
I'll have nothing said to the neigh
bors," observed Mrs. Blake to her hus-
band, "about this shameful return.
We must get him away before the boys
come home, and pension him off.
"As you think fit, my dear-but are
we not wonderfully alike?"
"Disgracefully so! it is as though
you were dying, Jack!'
NO fear of that"
very next day, the lemon-colored writ
ing appeared, and the eagle-eyed little
woman read:
Dear Provvy remember our cipher
wrtingg A letter will come next post after
this which will reveal all.
To be brief-the third letter arrived.
Provvy, as she was always called, had
furnished up the cipher, and she read
Dear P-Nick and me have struck oil, or
know where to strike it-a thousand barrels
day. Some Germans farm the land aud
know nothing OF the oil works Get Jack to
find us $1,000, and | guarantee 9l00,O0c for
IL in a month. You know what striking oil
means?
She did, and she freely put it to her
| husband.
my dear, / can no more raise f3, 900
than can fly"
IT have it," she screamed.
what the $4,000"
"Yes," she yelled, and dashed from
the room. Five minutes-not five min
utes elapsed when she came back
radiantly diabolical.
IF YOU are not an absolute ass, John
Blake, in six months we shall he mill
ionaires. John will be preparing for
great useful engineer, James will be
striving to help the world as n doctor,
and Charles will he on the way to give
noble buildings to thoughtless world /;
and | promise that not shilling shall
ultimately be lost by any living soul or
public company. Do You say yes, or
will YOU break my hearth"
Yes, if it's honest" for John knew
his wife and her family.
"You must insure vour life i'll six of
fees for $500 in each-don't go to Luke
Franks! I've saved enough money to
pay for the first years premiums. Don't
stare! Then you must 60 away-over
to my brothers, and there YOU must
wait events While here, James, your
twin brother will die in your place, as
A l,o,-o, Il HIM nd hot
it is the only way in which he can pay
you back something of all he owes you.
He burst into tears, and agreed"
"The devil doubt you-I don't. You
are pretty pair! But III have moth
ing to do with it J"
What and ruin my dear children?
tell you every penny shall be returned
to the insurancecompanies rs conscience
money. 1t will only be borrowing Of
them without their saying yes. Would
you dare ruin my sons?"
well, well-if nobody in the long
run is robbed.
Il have made out the list Of Offices
the Hand and Heart, the Rose and
Thistle the Harp the Grown, the
'Phaton,' and the Royal Standard,
and the addresses. Here's half-a-sov-
ereign for pc. Go directly
That same night mysterious cab re-
moved the iniquitous elderly twin.
Next day the new servant found as oc-
cupants Mr.. and Mrs. John Blake,
and no signs of any one else.
Within week John Blake had passed
the six doctors affiliated TO six insur-
ance companies) with flying colors,
while, through the inter-secret service
of the insurance companies, their di-
rectors were enabled to possess the in
formation that six of them had been
favored by John. No suspicion was
raised, for his character was perfect,
his pension was beyond question, while
many men distribute their insurance
investments under similar circum-
stances, with the cautious idea that, if
one company breaks, all can't 60
Two days afterward Mrs. Blake an
nounced TO the tallIative neighbor that
she and Mr.. Blake were going for q
month to the seaside, before the boys
came from school.
A week afterward the neighbor re-
ceived letter. saving that Mr.. Blake