The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-11-20

"Wbat?" retOrted his nearer.
"You're deeper'n l thought" said
Mr. Stoker, in a voice grown aDgrny
hoarse.
What d'yemean?" said Mr.. Bissel,
with resentful sharpness.
''If be told you that" Mr.. Stoker
responded deliberately, sit was be-
cause you proposed the thing yourself,
and wouldn't let up Ii he said them
words to you, Rufus Diesel, he was
made to-"
Mr.. Bissel's face grew red; the hand
which clutched the fence trembled IN
dignantly and he struggled TO speak.
"There's been foul play" Mr.. Stok-
er went on, excitedly. "He told me,
did Joel Tobey, right there IN my
kitchen, just yesterday, that he was
going TO leave every cent of his money
to mel"
Mr.. Bissel's face turned from red to
white.
II don't believe i'll" he said wrath
fully. There was palpitating silence.
The two old friends, the neighbors OF
twenty-five years, stood glaring at
each other.
Don't you ever ser foot in my house
again!" said Mr.. Stoker, unsteadily;
''you nor your son neither. I'd see my
girl in her grave before I'd see her mar
ried to himr"
"And I'd give my last drop OF blood
your kith or KIM" said Mr.. Bissel
furiously.
II there came thought of their life
longfriendship, OF he many years they
had lived side by side in perfect trust
and harmony, 1t was thrust aside.
The red haired man, who had comeup
unobserved and stood waiting IN u
bored way 'or chance to speak, said
to himself that he had never seen q
livelier tussle.
The red haired man looked weary
and travel stained, and was himself
rather out OF temper.
"Well," he remarked impatiently,
''eeeing you're stopping to take breath,
maybe you'll tell me Ii you know any
thing about an old man Pm after?
Escaped from a private asylum. Must
have gone through here yesterday.
but he's kept q little ahead. Short and
thin, with sharp eyes"
His listeners started.
He can't mean Tobey?" said Mr..
Stoker, slowly.
"Tobey's his namel" said the red
haired man. ioyfully. "Have you got
him ?"
"He amt the one" said Mr.. Bissel,
with dignity "He's here on q visit to
his friends. He owns silver mine out
West"
The red-haired man laughed.
Thinks ne does" he said, jovially,
chats his mania. He did have one,
years ago, and sunk all his money in
1T, and it turned his brain. He's been
in our asylum ever since; his friends
keep him there. Perfectly harmless,
but cracked. If you'd just mention
where he is, by the way? l don't care
about missing him this time"
Mr.. Bissel jerked his thumb back
ward in agitated silence, and the red
haired man disappeared with alacri-
ty.
Mr.. Stoker rubbed his chin for sew
eral moments in sober reflection.
cts just what we deserve, Bissel !"
he said at last, solemnly.
Just what l was thinking" Mr..
Bissel reioined.
~ declare-I don't know but Pm
glad of it," said Mr. Stoker. "When
it comes to quarreling with your best
friend, Bissel-"
"a silver mine, more or less, wouldn't
hardly make it square!" said Mr..
Bissel. "Just what was thinking"
A tall young man and dark-eyed
girl were coming slowly up the street
together.
They're a pretty good-looking
couple, amt they, Bissell" said Mr..
Stoker.
"They can't be beat" said Mr.. Bis
sci heartily. And the two old friends
shook hands.