The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-14
AN OPPORTUNE WITNESS.

''Well, I'm mighty glad to get home !"
said Mr. Briscomb, emphatically.
And he climbed out of the buggy, with
a beaming face, and hurried up the
front walk; while the hired man, who
had driven him home from the station,
turned into the lane with flourish and
ratified down toward the barn.
Anybody mig hit have been glad to get
back to so coy home and to so unmis-
taxable q welcome.
A big dog came bounding around the
corner of the house to meet him, pranc-
ing around him excitedly and making
frantic attempts to lick his face.
Mrs. Marks, the housekeeper-Mr
Briscomb was hopeless bachelor
paused in her preparations for supper to
smile and nod from the window; and
tw. young persons, who were sitting on
the front steps, jumped up hastily, took
charge of Mr. Brlscomb's satchel, and
dragged chair out ON to the porch and
pressed him into it.
These were Mr.. Briscomb's boarders-
.tuth Haines, who had come from the
next county to teach the district school !;
and Horace Bennett, who was surveying
for the new railroad and buying land
therefor.
1t was whispered that most of the sur
veying had been done in the neighbor-
hood Of the school-house, the children
bearing witness to the fact that the
young surveyor was a very frequent visi-
tor, and that hardly a day passed that he
was not on hand TO walk home with the
teacher.
"Well-" said Mr.. Briscomb, remov-
ing his travel-stained hat and wiping his
forehead.
And he stopped short, and appeared
to fall into a reverie.
His companions were silent. They were
not quite sure which would be the more
appropriate-sympathy or congratula-
ton.
Mr. Briscomb had been to a point sew
eral miles distant, to receive the money
left him by brother who had died six
months ago-the six months having been
consumed by a slow and sure system OF
probating.
"He was worth more than anybody
thought" " said Mr.. Briscomb at last,
abruptly. "He left Martha and the boys
more than they can ever use up if they
try; and he left me six thousand dol
lars
The surveyor and the little school
teacher looked at each other breath
! leSsly.
To them, working hard for their modest
earnings, and more than appreciating the
value of money, it seemed an overwhelm
ing amount.
"Tve got it right here, Mr., Briscomb
continued, tapping his breast pocket
''and it's worried me all the way home
You see. don't know what in the name
of goodness to do with it,
"That's the last thing that would
trouble me, said Horace, briskly; anc
Ruth laughed, as she always did a
Honce's sallies
There's the bank" Mr.. Briscomt
went on, musingly, "but I'm afraid Of
banks. And there the railroads; sup
pose might take stock in some of them
But l amt partial TO railroads, either.
guess I'd better keep it by me till Iv'
looked around a little he concluded
rubbing his chin disturbedly.
"Where will you keep it, said Ruth
wonderingly.
"Wel I've been thinking about that,
Mr.. Briscomb responded. looking at tn
porch floor with contracted brows. &c
thought Of the back of the old settee
and the inside of the straw tick, and tn
clock case; but I've come to the conclu
sion that they be the first places any
body'd look. Finally | thought OF III
very thing. There's loose buard up j
the floor of my room-the northwes
corner-iust room for box under it.
can put my trunk over it, aud there it is
Nobody'd think Of going there. p"
''NobOdy but me, said Horace cheer
fully. ." should know exactly where
go"
AT which Ruth laughed again, and Nj
Briscomb smiled absenty.