The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-29

ended kind patronizing protectorate
,Ver him-not unmixed with doubts OF
his sanity-in spite OF the promised con-
identiat cterkship he was to receive
rom his hands.
On the day Of the events chronicied
q the preceding chapter, Rupert on re.
turning from school was somewhat sur
Drised TO find Uncle Ben perched upon !
The rail fence before the humble door OF |
the Filgee mansion and evidently await |
ing him. Slowly dismOuntingas Rupert |
and Johnny approached, he beamed up |
on the former for some moments with
arch and yet aiEable mystery.
"Roopy, old man, s'pose ye've got
yer dads ready in all yer pack, ehY
a flush OF pleasure passed over the
boys handsome face. He cast, however,
4 hurried look down on the all.pervading
Johnny.
"'Cause We see we kalkilate TO take
the down stage to Sacramento at four
o'clock, continued Uncle Ben, enjoying
Rupert's Philosophical surprise. "He
enter into office, so to speak, with me at
that hour, when the sellery, seventy-tive
dollars n month and board, ez private
and confidential clerk, begins-eh?'
Rupert's dimples deepened in charm
ing, almost feminine, embarrassment.
" But dad" he stammercd.
"Ets all right with him. He's
agreeable"
"But-"
Uncle Ben followed Rupert's glance
at Johnny, who however appeared to be
absorbed in the pattern OF Uncle Ben's
new trousers.
CHATS fixed" he said with mean
ing smile. There's sort o bonus we
pays down, you know--ior Chinyman
to do the odd jobs.
"And teacher-Sfr. Ford-did ye tell
him." said Rupert frightening.
Uncle Ben coughed slightly. Hes
agreeable too, reckon. That is" he
wiped his mouth meditatively, =" he e2
good ez allowed it in gin'ral conversation
Il week ago, Rupe."
A swift shadow OF suspicion darkened
the boys brown eyes. is anybody else
goin' with u.s." he said quickly.
mot this yer trip" replied Uncle Ben
complaccntly. aye see, RUPEE" he con.
'tinued, drawing him aside with an air OF
comfortable mystery, this yer biZ'ncss
b'iorgs to the private and confidential
branch ofthe Office. From informashun
we've received"
"ITCg' interrupted Rupert.
1--WE that's the offs, you know" con-
tinued Uncle Ben with heavy as
sumption OF business fOrniutity, "wot
we've received per several hands and
consignce-we-that's YOU and me, Rupe
we goes down to Sacramento to inquire
into the standin' OF Ia certing party us per
invoice, and ter see-ter sec-ter ne
gotiatc you know, ter find out ii she's
married or divorced" he concluded
quickly, as il abandoning for the mo-
ment his business manner III consider
alton o! Rupert's inexperience. "Were
to lind out her standin' RUPEE" he began
again with more judicious blending Of
ease and tcchnicality, "andher contracts,
il any, and where she lives and her way
O. life, and examine her books and papers
ez to marriages and SIGH, aud arbitrate
with her gin'rally in conversation you
inside the house aud me out on the pave
ment, ready to be called inifan interview
with business principals isdcsfred.
Observing RupGrtsomewhat perpieXed
and confused with these technicalities,
he tactiully abandoned them Tor the pres
ent, and consulting u poCket-book said,
"i've made memorandum oil some pints
that wc'll talk over on the journey
again charged Rupert to be punctuaIly
ut the stage office with his carpet-bag,
and cheeriully departed.
When he had disappeared Johnny
Filgree, without single word oil eX-
PLANTATION, fell upon his brother, and at
once began violent attack OF kicks aud
blows upon his lego and other easily ac-
cessible parts OF his person, accompany
ing his assault with unintelligible gasps
and actions, finally eliminating in alloOd
of tears and the casting OF himself on his
back in the dust with the cOpper-tastened
toes of bis small boots turning imaginary
wheels in the air. Rupert received these
characteristic marks OF despairing aud
outraged affection with great iorbearance,
only saying "TherG now, johnny, quit
that" and eventually bearing him still
struggling into the house. Here johnny,
declaring that he would killany "Chiny-
man that offered to dress him, and
burn down the house after his brothers
infamous desertion otit, Rupert was con-
strained to mingle few nervous, excited
teas with his brothers outbreak. Where
Mt Johnny admitting the alienation OF
an orange, four.bladed knife, and the
reversionary interest in much or Rupcrts
personal property, became more sub
dued. Sitting there with their arms en-
twined about each other, the sunlight
the shiitless desolation OF their
mothcricss home, the few cheap play
things they had known lying around
them, they bcguiled themselves with
those charming illusions OF their future
intentions common to their years
illusions they only half believed them
selves and half accepted OF each other.
Rupert was quite certain that he would
return in few days with gold watch
and present for Johnny, and Johnny,
with baleful vision oinever seeing him
again, and Il catching breath, magniti-
Gently undertook to bring in the wood
and build the fire aud wash the dishes
" all OF himself" And then there We're
n few childish condolences regarding
their absent father-then ingenuously
playing poker in the Magnolia Saloon
that might have made that public spirit
ed, genial companion somewhat UNI
and more tears that were
half smiling and some brave silences
that were wholly pathetic, and then the
hour for Rupert's departure all to sud-
denly arrived. They separated with
whooping, and then Johnny |
suddenly overcome with the dreadful |
ness OF all earthly things, and the hollow
ness OF life generally instantly resolved
to run away!
To do this he prepared himself with n
purposeless Ratchet, an inconsistent but
iong.treasurcd lump OF putty and all the
sugar that was left in the cracked sugar
bowl. Thus accounted he sailed forth,
first to remove all traces OF his hated eX-
istence that might be left in his desk ut
school. Ii the master were there he |
would say Rupert hWl sent him; il he
wasn't he would climb in at the window.
The sun was already sinking when he
reached the clearing and found caval-
,ade OF armed men around the building.