West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-06-25
SEEKING A FORTUNE.
1t Was at Last Found Around
Dogs Neck.

"Come! come,-what the mischicf,''
l could say no more a. | slid rapidly
down the steps under the impetus of n
vigorous shove from the man Just com
ing out of the club. arose with wrath
in my eyes, and thcn-
Harry
Fred. well, this is surprise
thought YOU were in Switzerland"
Returned on last steamer. Very
sad news. Aunt Jcssica died last
wednesday wcek-yo heard of 1t, |
suppose"
No, hadn't had been in Flori-
da and just returned"
Very mysterious case altogether.
old fellow. said Fred. after we had
adjourned to the smoking-room. Il
don mean Aunt Jcssica's death. al
though that was very sudden about
her property, ! mean. | am her only
heir
Let me congratulate"
'No-don't. Ii isn't worth while.
The fact is, there is no property"
You surprise mel thought your
aunt was rich.
$50 did |, said Fred. gloomily; eve
were not on very good terms. and
didn't know much about her affairs.
but thought she was worth ut least
SIXTY thousand. Well | find house.
and some pretty fair furniture, pictures
and so forth, say ten thousand all told.
and no trace of the remainder"
Hidden in an old stocking" | sug-
gcsted, cor in the family Bible or Sc
cret panel; I've read of such things"
so have ], answered Fred. with "A
sickly smile. land I've nearly torn the
house topieces in the past three days i'm
my mad search
Don give it up | said, cncourag-
ingly
II won't" said Fred Help me, old
fellow, will you?''
! said ! would, and of course did.
Fred and ] went over Aunt .Jes,ica's
house from cellarto garrett turned every
blessed thing inside out, explored every
nook that could by any possibility con
tain gold, silver cor bank-notcs. and
even ripped up the floor IN dozen
places. Nothing! | was in despair; 80
was Fred.
Aunt Jcs,ica's fortune is amvth. Il
said, decidedly "YOu had better be-
lievc il; Fred it will make it easier to
bear.
Fred thought 50 likewise, and so we
separated. but the very next day he
rushed into my office. all ablazc with
excitement
II am on the trail, hc shouted.
"Sit down, | said showing a chair
/ towards him. Where is it.buricd?'
Nowhere" he replied, savagclv.
"it- ,pcnt!'
Worse aud worse, / cried i'm dis
may do you mean to say that your
aunt squandered $4,000 iu a ycar2'
Listen, will you,' rOared Fred.
'and stop guessing. You know Miss
Carbrook Violet CarbroOk Bcaut.
fui girl very dashing sort of com
paniOn to Aunt Jessicap'
Yes, well, | met her by chance last
night and she cleared up the mystery
IN ten minutes. II seems that aunt.
about six months ago. converted near
~ all her property into cash, and real
izcd over $40, 600 Then she bought
you can not guess what she bought
"A ship?'
Nonsense; q necklace Of rubicsu'
What in the name Of common sense
did she want Of such thing?'
''lt is my private opinion. said
Fred, earnestly. that she did IL with
the intention Of keeping your humble
servant out of her property and She
has succeeded admirably
you mean that the rubies have dis
appeared?'
Entirely"
Fred, said J. with gasp, "thi- /.
very remarkable yarn Who ever
saw this necklacc?'
Miss CarbroOk replied Fred,
promptly "Nhc describes it as com.
posed Of thirty stone, Of the finest
water as can very well imagine
from the price so, ,OOO.'
Did your aunt ever wear it?'
Never she kept it i'm her dressing,
case, just like any common triukct. =
Was she the last one who saw it
Miss Carbrook / mean?' "a
II suppose So but sec here" with
great violence, ..'do you mean 20 insin-
uatc hat She
80, no, said, hastily, certainly
! noti IL IL has got 10 that stuRe j don't
dare 20 suggest any thing Let us.
, suppose that the earth opened and
swallowed themw
"It may be "a Joke for Won. said
Fr'd, with % groan. "but it's very sc-
ri.us matter tO me-
y know it, said soothiugir. "and
lN go and help YOU pull down the
hoH@" any 'imc yOu say the word lu
Oh meantime. Jet uS 90 down to the
| c..h and t1k dinner We had "a nice
| iifil Cinuor, and Fred gloom began
fade under thc influence Of good
fare.
l'r's.ut'y be- looked up and caught
thc wait'r's'cye.