The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-09-17

iai 10 pieces. we are not paupers, grand
pa" urged the girl in her yehemence,
why should we not live like Christians Pr
" You're very rich, aren't you ?" snoered
Mr.. Plumer. Quite millionaire. l Won
der you condescend to cook and wash dishes
for an insignificant individual like me-
know Two nothing of my own, grand
pa, admitted Patience, "but-n
No, and You never will have" growled
She old man. You're careless, wasteful.
extravagant creature, and Charley Mercer is
just such another. He was here this morn
ing to ask me to lend him five hundred dol
lars to buy out the goodwill of the store at
Deep Hollow. told him I'd see him fur.
Their first. I'd just as soon throw my money
into well as lend 1t to him."
Grandpa!"
Well, what now? ?"
You refused him ?"
81 just did. And I'll do it again. Oh
yes, know that you are engaged to h m
and that you expect to get married on my
money. But you've mistook your calcur-
tions there"
Grandpa cried Patience, in choked
voice, do you remember those nights
Charley Mercer watched with you, when
you had typhoid feyor2 Do you remember
that the doctor said his care and vigilance
saved your life ?"
doctors are always talking some such
stuff, said Mr.. Plumer. "And besides, he
was well paid for what he did. Didn't
send him half bushel of seed-potatoes the
very next spring."
Patience turned away with sigh.
Grandpa" said shc, "you are selfish
and ungrateful Oh, must say til can't
keep it in any longer You are narrowing
down into perfect miser !"
" A miser, am ?" screeched TIE old man,
fairly foaming with rage. +" And selfish
and ungrateful Well, in that case, won't
trouble such very fine young Indy as you
are to stay here and witt on me. Go and
get married to your Charley Mercer, as
quick as you please, and live off crust, in
the gutter won't have you here another
day ln
Ispoke too hastily, Gtaadpa," said Pa
tience, coloring. bat 1 spoke nothing
more than the Truth. Yes, am going to
marry Charley and we shall struggle on rs
best we can. We cannot live a more pow
erty-stricken life than 1 lead IN this house,
where you have bags of gold and packets of
treasury bonds hidden away. But do not
want to leave you unprovided for. will
stay here until you can get some one else to
come.n
" / tell you" reiterated Mr.. Plumer, ~
won't have you in the housed Clear out
Pack up your things and go Pvo given
you board and lodging long enough. Go, l
say!"
So Patience hurriedly packed up her few
belongings, tied on her faded bonnet, and
took refuge with old Miss Checker, who kept
q thread -and-needle store, and let out the
upper part of her house TO dodgers.
No sooner had she left the house than Mr..
Plumer hastily trudged uptairs, with an un-
wholesome perspiration breaking out on his
sorehead.
So people know about the bag of eagles
and the leather wallet of government bondsl"
muttered he. People know everything,
believe How do they find it out, the pry-
ing, peeping villains2 Well, must find
new hiding -place. shall invest it all, in
day or two, in that Gold Mining Company
on Stony Mountain Creek-but until then
until then" He pondered moment.
and then an idea entered his brain. 1--WE
got it !" he cried. "Pll bury it in the stone
wall by the chimney of the old house"
At the northern boundary of the farm,
half hidden by overgrown apple trees and
swampy lilac bushes, were the remains of
the old house originally occupied by Ebe-
nezer Plumer's father. Nothing remained
OF 1t now save monster stone chimney, and
I'm angle OF the cellar wall, concealed in
rose briers and wild weeds. Tramps slept
there sometimes of summer nights-there
was rumor of the place being haunted
and just beyond wound the peaceful coun.
try road, arched over with maple trees, and
bordered on either side by close-matted
growth of perfumed white clover.
Hither crept old Ebenezer Plumer, with
the gold and bonds buttoned securely under
his coat, and O mason's trowel in his hand.
For it occurred to him that if he could se-
crete his treasures behind one of these huge
misshapen stones in the chimney, it would
be the safest repository.
1t was a sultry summer day, and Ebenezer
Plumer was no longer IA strong man. The
big drops of sweat stood on his brow as he
toiled-and at last he sat down to rest. He
might even have gone to sleep if he had not
been reused by the sound of voices, where
some one was talking behind the old well
close to the road.
"Why," said Ebenezer to himself, "Its
Mr.. Carson, the President of the Gold Min
ing Company. And that other ono is Major
Sheldon, the Secretary"
lie WINS about to scramble out of his re-
treat and challenge their attention, when
the sound Of his own name decided him to
remain perQu minute or two longer.
I've almost knocked the side of the
house down." said Mr.. Carson, sharply,
:" and no one IL there wonder what can
possible have become of the old fool ~
&c hope he hasn't taken fright" said
Major Sheldon. Contour d this tin cup -
the water leaks ont ut one end faster then j
can swallow it at the other"
"It's essential that we get the money into
sur own hands at once, said Mr.. Carson.
g The steamer sails at noon tomorrow, and
we must sail with her. And money we must
have"
:" Oh, dare say it will he all right" said
the major serenely He's such an eyre
yious old blunderhead that he'll believe