The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-29

AAO LOs lOCOs
that my collection should be gone over
thoroughly. Inever should have found
time to do it myself. Now, here is a
bundle of don't know what; odds and
ends, l suppose. You will find, think.
some Congressional autographs among
them, some old deeds, perhaps, and I
don't know what not" /"
Perhaps l shall find some nuggets
for you" said the schoolmistress, as
she began asserting the papers.
Annie Lyster was the teacher of the
village school in Oldlield, u delightful
Connecticut hill town, and had become
SO great favoritc with the eccentric,
kind-hearted doctor that it was now
tho regular thing for her to spend her
Saturdays and Sundays at his homc-a
welcome relief from her boarding place.
The doctor had given up active practice.
and enjoyed life of leisure at his quaint
country mansion, indulging his anti
quarian and literary tastes. The bright
young school mistress was a ready as
sistant, delighting to be of service to
her kindly host. She found this MORN
ing in the miscellaneous lot of letters
and documents rich mine. There
was page of John Randolpll's plain
and precise hand, carefully punctuated,
part OF an article which lie had pub
lislled in the National Intelligcncer;
then some ancient copies of deeds, Of
small value as autographs; anon note
i'll the dainty hand of Edward Everett,
accepting an invitatation to dine; there
was letter from Edward Stanley to
Henry A. Wise, asking advice about a
decd. This she had to read to the doc
tor. who looked up from his manuscript
simply to say, "Good auto-indcx it,"
and resumed his quill. She took up s.
sheet. glanced ut it, her eyes widened,
and She gave an exclamation of sur
prise.
The doctor resignedly laid down his
his pen. Found i gem?' he asked.
"Not exactly, but isn't it strange!
Here's letter addressed to Cononel
Holmes. Of ROCKFORD. He was the
father of MIR. Holmes who holds that
fatal mortgage"
"Eh!" calculated the doctor, and
then, after moments reflection, he
said. ''Not SO strange, after all. You
see there is, or rather was Il doctor up
there whom knew years ago. He is
dead now. l bclicvc-Dr Merrill; per-
llaps You remember him. We kept up
dcsultory sort of correspondence,
dc knew my passion for old furniture.
and few years ago he sent me an old
secretary which he had picked up some
where. There were some old papers in
lt,which | must have put in that bundle
OF odds and ends. He had glanced
them over, and seeing two or three old
documents in the lot, sent them along.
writing that might find an autograph
or or two. / have never had time to look.
Tho secretary, by the way, proved to
be nice antique. think it came over
in the Mayiiowcr-at least, it will bear
the saying so. 1t is down in the Conti-
mental Room. Perhaps you have seen
it?"
Every likely; but you know haven't
the craze for old furniture" Miss
Lyster had proceeded but little farther
with her task when she again startled
the old gentleman with, 'Wcll; this is
strange. Here is my father name"
Dear me-" said the doctor, in de-
sspair; .'you will find your gr;,ndfathcr's S
if you keep on; but let me see it.''
She handed him slip of paper which
he glanced at and then studied attcn-
lively.
"Miss Lystcr," said he, in q business
tone. She was all attention. "When
did your father dic?'
-Four years ago. sir, in August
"lou said your mother thought that
mortgage had been paid9'
"Ihat is what we supposed, but he
was never very communicative to us
upon business atiairs.''
"Well, believe it was paid. Did
you read this paper carefully? Of
course you did not. This is a recent
fron' Israel Holmcs-that's your Col.
Holmes. ! supDose-to Abram Lystcr,
for the sum Of $500. signed August 4,
lS-. What could it have been for ex-
cept that mortgage?" Il
The girl grew pale with excitement.
THAT was the day my father died"
said she. ''It may be as you think, for
can't imagine any other transaction
that he would be likely to have to the
same amount. He had been to the
village that morning, and was taken i'll
Immediately on reaching home, dying
very suddenly of heart disease
'This is important, my dear. If
your tyrannical moncy-lender were
aware of the existence OF this little slip
of paper he would not be so fierce.
Now let him 90 ahead"
II can not think that he knows of it.
His father soon died after mine, and in
some way
''ln some mysterious way" inter-
rupted the doctor, ''the most important
acknowledgement of the receipt of $500
was overlooked; in some mysterious.
way, with other papers in Colonel
Holmes desk. it got showed into an old
secretary, fate sent it to me, fate sent
you here, and what is meant by it all is
that wrong is to be righted, as it gen.
orally is in the long rum
Miss Lystcr was too astonishcd to
speak. She was looking at the knight
in armor, while her thoug ghts were rush
ing with lightning speed.
''You can almost see q smile on that
grim VISOR, can't you?" said the doctor;
81 think know of knight of flesh and
blood. who, with this as his weapon,
will slay the dragon, and win-sl,all /
say his lady-lovc?''
''Oh, doctor! how can you be so funny
over so serious mattcr?"
''But it is serious only on one side,
and that is the other sidc," he replied,
Will you permit me to manage this little
affair for you? After all, there NAV be
trouble, and there will certainly have to
be some legal formulas. But think,
if rightly managed, the young man will
admit that the mortgage was virtually
Cancelled by the payment of the $500 for
which this is the receipt"
''If you would assume the business it
would be a relief" she answered, 'for
should not know how 70 proceed"
"Wcll, then, run away and see my
better half. 90 out and dig chestnuts-