The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-05-20
DIR. JONES' SON.
CHAPTER I.

The traveller looked about him
thonghtfully for moment.
Coin up TO the village, STRIP asked
short man in an ovcrcoat of rough
friezc. stamping the snow from his
boots.
Yes" said the young man. is
that your carriagc?
He pointed TO black-cosered wagon.
originally intended for wheels, but
now provided with runners.
Yes, sir. Jump in
There was no difficulty about sccur-
ing 4 seat There were but two other
passengers, woman and young
child. who took a seat within the
driver.
"Goin' to Squire Elmore's?' asked
Jehu.
mo: what made you think SOP"
II heard the 'Squire's folks were ex-
pcctin' their nephew up from
York, and thought you might be he =
mo; lam not related to Squire FL
more"
Where are you goin' thcn?'
Il shall stop at the tavorn. sup
pose there is one.'
"Yes, and good one, too
'Does Buck still keep it?'
"Ycs, he does. You know him,
may be?' said the driver curiously.
II 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 trav-
eller, pointing to two-story house Of
plain exterior on the right hand Of the
road.
'.Dr. Jones', vas the reply. Poor
man, il II be sad Christmas for him. =
"Why sop asked the traveller,
quickly.
Because he's goin' to lose the old
house he's lived in for forty years"
why should he lose it?"
Because Squire Elmore's got a
heavy mortgage on it, and he's made
mp his mind to take possession as soon
as Christmas is over"
.'But how came there to be mort.
gage on itp | thought-at least
should imagine that the doctors prac-
tise would have kept him from need OF
mortgaging his house. -
We'll, SO it would. II he had not
been unfortunate.
I'm 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 at once, and he couldn't
practise much. So he been Obliged
to live mostly on the money he raised
on the mortgage for the last three OF
four years.
DIR. Jones blind" exclaimed the
young man, in a tone in which sur
prise and pain were blended.
well, not quite. He can see folk.
if they are close to Kim. But he don
venture out much
'Do yon know" asked the traveller
after little pause, what is the amour
OF tho MORTGAGE
Its nineteen hundred dollars, be
lieye. You SEQ there the house an,
about six acres of land. It'll abou
break tho old man. s heart to leave tn
house and the orchard. That has beel
his pride. About the incest apple
anywhere round have been raised il
DR.. Jones orchard
Where Is he going when he give
up the house,
Il don't know where he can re
Hc's used up about all his money, an,
I'm afraid il some of his friends don
step forward, he'll have to 60 TO th
poor house.
Never" exclaimed the young ma
cmphatically.
Maybe You know him" said tn
driver, keenly.
Without knowing him. | am will
ing to contribute fifty dollars towar
keeping him from such humiliation
Surely there ought to be some Of b
friends in the village who would civ
as much as stranger
!. well, it's mostly every one for him
sclf," said the driver, II wouldn't min
givin' somethin' myself, for he save
my little girls life wher she was sick
scarlet fever, last winter, but folks
pretty selfish generally, and don't Cal
much for what happens to other pc,
ple.'
By this time they had reached II
tavern.
Tho traveller jumped out Of the wa,
on, carpet-bag in hand and entere
through the open door.
'Iwonder who he tsp" thought Il
driver. There is something about b
face that seems familiar. but | can
tell where I've seen him afore Seen
to take great interest in DR.. Jone
though he says he's stranger. 'Tair
everybody that would give fifty dolla
for man that was no kith or kin
him."
Meanwhile our traveller called for
room, where he made q hasty tOils
and then went down to supper.
There were halt dozen men prese
who were gossiping about various su
jects.
AZ lCuktu ONO Sdlus Wu0I > 0Qul
Elmore doing to do with DIR. Jone
housed"
Il hear he is going to put nephe
into it."
what nephew?"
ben Willis; you remember hi
> don't your Used to be around he
as q boy some ten years SINCE"
where Is he noWp"
I'm Claremont. He. has wife.
/ hear. He'll like the doctors plae
: He hasn't forgotten how the appl
taste In the old mans orchard"
!. mo. l guess not. He hooked mai
an apple when he was boy, and us
Z. to come here to see his uncle Who