The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-11-27

voices, where some one was talking be-
hind the old well close to the road.
Why" said Ebenezer to himself,
: it's Mr.. Carson, the President Of the
Gold Mining Company. And that
other one is Major Sheldon, the Secre-
tarv."
He was about to scramble out of his
retreat and challenge their attention,
when the sound of his own name de-
cided him to remain perdn minute or
two longer.
'Tve almost knocked the side of the
house down." said Mr.. Carson sharply,
land no one is therei / wonder what
can possibly have become of the old
fool?'
81 hope he hasn't taken fright"
said Major Sheldon. ''Confound this
tin cup! the water leaks out at one end
faster than L can swallow it at the
other"
Its essential that we get the money
into our hands at once" said Mr.. Car
son. The steamer sails at noon to-
and we must sail with her.
And money we must have"
..Oh, l dare say it will be all right"
said the major serenely. Hes such
an egregious old blunderhead that he IL
believe whatever you choose to tell
him. How he will stare, to be sure,
when he finds out that there is neither
gold mine nor gold mining company
that he has just lined our pockets with
his funds! Ha, ha, ha!''
s.But'n he'll never find that out!'
shouted Mr.. Ebenezer Plumer, scram-
bling to the top of the ruinous old wall,
so that his green-and-yellow counten-
ance glared upon the two unconscious
conspirators from a frame of thiStles
and weed-like trees. ''He may be a
fool, but he amt fool enough to be
taken in by you! Get out Of here, you
carted or to the pound! You're tres
passing on private property, do you
hear? Get out, | say!'
in his enthusiasm he flung a huge
stone down at the pair; it loosened the
rest, and an avalanche of bricks and
mortar followed. The Hon. Fernando
Carson and Major Sheldon took precip-
itately to their heels, with a sort OF
vague idea that the Day of Judgment
had come without warning Of any de-
scription, and poor Mr.. Plumer, falling
backward, was half buried in the debris,
from which rose up sutfocating cloud
of dust and lime.
My money! he gasped, ''my mon
evr'
And then he recollected no more.
When, vaguely, and by slow degrees,
his senses returned to him, he was ly-
ing on the old calico lounge at home,
his forehead bandaged, and smell OF
camphor prevailing all the air--and he
could hear low voices in the adjoining
room.
Dear grandpa said Patience, 81
am 80 sorry / said what / did 70 him!
Because he has brought me up and
educated me, and l owe everything to
him. Oh, Charley, do you think that
this is Judgment on me for my undut-
iful words?'
Not bit of it!' said Charley Mer.
Ger cheerfully. Don't fret. Pay-the
old gentleman is sure to get better.
He's jolly old file, after ali, and we
should miss him terribly, if anything
were to happen to him! But you heard
yourself what the doctor said-that j,
was nothing but seal p wound. How
do you suppose he came to be there, Of
all places in the worldp"
Il can tell you, interposad a strange
faltering voice from the calico lounge.
"He was making fool of himself
That's how he came to be there"
''It's grandpa, said Patience, jump
ing up.
'It's the old gentleman, said Char
ley Mercer.
''Come in here, you twO,' said Eben-
ezer Plumer. 1--WE been pretty near
the edge Of the other world, and things
don't look to me as they did twenty
four hours ago. Who was it found me?''
Il did, sir" answered Charley Mer.
Ger. IL was coming across lots and
saw the lime-dust rising up like col
umn of mist. So ran to see what the
matter was-and took you on my shoul-
der, and brought you home the best
way l could Though, to be sure, you
are no light weight, sir,' he added
with a laugh.
That's twice you We saved my life, -
said Mr.. Plumer. You ant Patience
ought to hate me, Charley, but l don't
believe you do"
"Oh, grandpa!" sobbed Patience,
whose pretty eyes were red with weep
ing.
Indeed. sir. we don't" said Charley.
where's my coat?' said Ebenezer
Plumer.
ION the chair, grandpa, close by
you, answered Patience.
Hand it to me.
lie took out the bag of gold from its
inside pocket.
HALO said Charley Mercer soto
c0cc, mo wonder he was heavy to car
ry."
Here said lie. take this, children.
Divide it between you, and set up your
housekeeping as soon as you please. -
Grandpa" cried Patience, 'do you
really mean it?'
.'Of course L mean it," said the old
man. why shouldn't /? I've got
enough left in Government Bonds to
support me twice as long as l shall
probably live. And after al, l might
have lost it in that swindling mining
company. Don't l tell you that things
have altered in my eyes? Take it, and
be happy. And l believe l shall be all
the happier myself"
''Oh, grandpa, you're such darI-
ing cried Patience, tenderly kissing
him.
1--WE can never thank you enough,
SIR said Charley fsrvently.
And in speaking of it afterwards,
Ebenezer Plumer declared that he never
began thoroughly to enjoy himself un.
til he had got rid of those gold eagles.
1T was the best investment l eve,
made, when | handed 'em over to Pa.
tience and Charley" he said with q
chuckle.
Mr.. Swinburne suggests as piece O,
1tbnppynlpnt Ia-nnticnp that II obo,lJ 4