Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-05-19
DIR. JONES' SON.
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.
It was cold, frosty evening, toward
the close of December, when young
man with face deeply bronzed by ex-
posure to torrid sun, stepped from
the cars upon the platform of the little
station at Camberton.
The traveller looked about him
thoughtfully for moment.
"Goin' up to the village, sir?' asked
a short man in an overcoat of rough
| frieze, stamping the snow from his
boots.
"Yes,'' said the young man. lis
that your carriage?''
He pointed to Undiscovered wagon,
originally intended for wheels, but
now provided with runners.
eyes, sir. Jump in.:'
There was no difficulty about secur.
ing seat. There were but two other
passengers, a woman and a young
child, who took seat within the
driver.
"Goin' to Squire Elmore's?' asked
Jehu.
mo; what made you think sop
Il heard the 'Squire's folks were ex-
pcctin' their nephew up from
York, and thought you might be he. -
"No; am not related to Squire Ell.
more.'
'Where are you goin' then?''
II shall stop at the tavorn. I sup.
pose there is one."
Eyes, and a good one, too
''Does Buck still keep it?'
eyes, he does. You know him,
may be?' said the driver curjously.
Il have heard of him. was the eva
sive reply.
The horse, for there was but one,
was meantime jogging along at slow
pace, which appeared to content the
driver, who was sparing of the whip.
"Who lives there?" asked the tray
eller, pointing to two-story house OF
plain exterior on the right hand of the
road.
''Dr. JONES'" vas the reply. Poor
man, it II be sad Christmas for him. -
"Why so?'' asked the traveller,
quickly.
Because he's goin' to lose the old
hor ~,
"Why should be lose it?''
because Squire Elmore's got a
heavy mortgage on it, and he's made
up his mind TO take possession as soon
as Christmas is over
"But how came there to be q mort
gage on itp 1 thought-at least l
should imagine that the doctors prac-
tise would have kept him from need of
mortgaging his house,
"Wen, 50 it would, if he had not
been unfortunate.
'1n what way?"
| "He lent his name to friend of his
| to get him into business, and the man
failed, and the doctor lost two thousand
dollars that way. Then again his eye
sight failed ut once, and he couldn' t
practise much. So he's been obliged
to live mostly on the money he raised
four years.
"Dr. Jones blind!" exclaimed the
young man, in q tone in which sur
prise and pain were blended.
"Well, NOT quite. He can see folks
if they are close to Kim. But he don't
venture out much"
"Do you know" asked the traveller,
after little pause, ''what is the amount
of the mortgage?'
ats nineteen hundred dollars, | be-
lieye. You see there's the house and
| about six acres of land. It'll about
break the old mans heart to leave the
house and the orchard. That has been
his pride. About the incest apples
anywhere round have been raised in
DR.. Jones orchard
"Where is he going when he gives
up the house?'
II don't know where he can co.
He's used up about all his money, and
I'm afraid if some of his friends don t
step forward, he'll have to go 10 the
poor house,
"Never!" exclaimed the young man
emphatically.
maybe you know him" said the
driver, keen]y.
| "Without knowing him, I am will
ing to contribute fifty dollars toward
| keeping him from such humiliation.
Surely there ought to be some of his
friends in the village who would give
as much as stranger"
"Well, it's mostly every one for him.
SELF said the driver, II wouldn't mind
givin' somethin' myself, for he saved
my little girls life wher she was sick of
scarlet fever, last winter, but folks is
pretty selfish generally, and don't care
much for what happens to other peo-
ple.'
By this time they had reached the
| tavern.
The traveller jumped out of the wag-
| on, carpet-bag in hand and entered
through the open door.
"Iwonder who he is?' thought the
driver. There is something about his
face that seems familiar. but l can t
tell where I've seen him afore. Seems
to take great interest in Or. Jones,
though he says he's q stranger. faint
every hody that would give fifty dollars
for man that was no kith or kin to
him.
Meanwhile our traveller called for
room, where he made hasty toilet,
and then went down to supper.
There were half dozen men present
who were gossiping about various sub
jects. .....--
At length one said, s'What's Squire
Elmore doing to do with DR.. Jones
house?'
II hear he is going to put a nephew
into it.
"What nephew?''
Ben Willis; yon remember him,