The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-01-28

that my collection should be gone over
thoroughly. IneYer should have found
time to do it myself. Now. here Is =
bundle Of I don Z: know what; odds and
ends, Issuppose.S You will find, I think.
some Congressional autographs among
them, some old deeds, perhaps, and i
don't know what n OF. 2 / Al, "a
Perhaps I shall find some nuggets
for you, y said the schoolmistress, as
she began asserting the papers.
Annie Lyster was the teacher of the
village school in Oldfeld, a delightful
Connecticut hill town., and had become
SO great q favorite with the eccentric,
kind hearted doctor that it was now
the regular thing for her to spend her
Saturdays and Sundays at his home-a
welcome relief from her boarding place.
The doctor had given up active practice,
and enjoyed o life Of leisure at his quaint
country mansion, indulging his anti
quarian and literary tastes The bright
young school mistress was a ready as
sistant, delighting to be Of service to
her kindly host, She found this morn.
ing in the miscellaneous lot of letters
and documents a rich mine. There
was q page of j ohm Randolph's plain
and precise hand, carefully punctuated;
part Of an article which he had pub
lished in the National ntelligencer;
then some ancient copies of deeds, of
small value as autographs; anon note
in the dainty hand Of Edward Everett,
accepting an inyitatation to dine; there
was a letter from Edward Stanley to
Henry "A. Wise, asking advice about a
deed. This she had to read to the doc
tor, who looked up from his manuscript
simply to say, tsGood auto-index it,
and resumed his quill. She took up a
sheet, glanced at it, her. eyes widened,
and she gave an exclamation of sur
Prise. ;5s; l.st Il 81 4 AZ 5'|s
!. The doctor resignedly laid down his
his pen. Found a gempn he asked.
81. Not exactly, but isn't it strange!
Here's letter addressed to Cononel
Holmes, of Rock boro. He was the
father of Mr.. Holmes who holds that
fatal mortgage. = 5i; Il &
"Eh!" CALCULATED the doctor, and
then, after a moments reflection, he
said, g'tNot5 so strange, after all. You
see there is, or rather was doctor up
there whom / knew years ago. He is
dead now, I believe-Dr. Merrill; per-
haps you remember him. We kept up
q desultory sort Of correspondence.
He knew my passion for old furniture,
and a few years ago he sent me an old
secretary which he had picked up some
where. There were some old papers in
it,which must have put in that bundle
of odds and ends. He had glanced
them over, and seeing two or three old
documents in the lot, sent them along,
writing that I might find an utograph
or two. Ihave never had time to look.
Tho secretary, by the way, proved to
be, nice antique. I think it came over
in the Mayfower-at least, it will bear
the saying SO. 1t is downin the Conti-
mental Room. Perhaps you have seen
Very likely; but you know haven't
the craze for old furniture Miss
4Lyster had proceeded but little farther
with her task when she again startled
the old gentleman with, Well; this is
strange. Here is my fathers name.''
u Dear me, = said the doctor, in de-
SPAR; you will find your grandfather's
if you keep on; but LET me see it. y s.
She handed him a slip Of paper which
he glanced at and then studied atten-
lively. .;.5 S. &. &.
Miss Lyster, . said he, in a business
tone. She was all attention. ..When
did your father dieP''
Four years ago, sir, in August
So You said your mother thought that
mortgage had been paid r.,
THAT is what; we supposed, but he
was never very communicative to us
upon business affairs. z IN I'd
5'' Well, I believe it was paid. Did
you read this paper carefullyp OF
course you did not. This is receipt
from Israel Holmes that's your Col.
Holmes, J. 1 suppose Abramn Lyster,
for the sum of $500, signed August 4,
Is What could it have been for ex-
cept that mortgage3''
The girl grew pale with excitement.
THAT was the day my father died.
said she. 1t may be as you think, for
]. can't imagine any other transaction
that he would be likely to have to the
same amount. He had been to the
village that morning, and was taken i'll
Immediately on reaching home, dying
very suddenly of heart disease. = Y 3
.'This is important, my dear. If
your tyrannical money lender were
aware Of the existence of this little slip
Of paper he would not be so fierce.
Now LEFT him fros sI,aad ,, ~ =
81 can not think that he knows Of it.
His father soon died after mine, and in
some way Z; Is
I'm some mysterious Way inter
rupted the doctor, sttthe most important
Acknowledge cement Of the receipt Of $500
was overlook ed; in some mysterious
way, with other papers 4 in Colonel
Holmes desk. it got showed into an old
secretary, fate sentit to me, fate sent
you here, and what is meant BY it all is
that wrong is to be- righted, as it gen
orally is in the long run. Y 3t:5t
81 Miss Lyster was too astonished to
speak. She was king at the knight
in armor, while her thou hts were rush
ing with lightning speed. 5$5ss'
GU, can almost see 10 smile on that
grim VISOR, cant yo1 p, said. the doctor;
II think I know Of q knight Of flesh. and
blood, who, with this as his weapon,
will slay the dragon, and win shall /
say his lady-loye ppe
Oh, doctor! how can yoube so funny
over so serious a matterf e.
But it is serious only on one side,
and that is the other side, & he replied,
Will you permit me to manage this little
affair forsyo After all, there may be
/ trouble. and there will certainly have to
be some legal formulas. But I think,
st rightly managed, the young man will
admit that the mortgage was virtually
cancelled by the payment Of the $500 for
which this is tie receipt. &