Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-07
''CRUNCHER'S NIECE"
A Stroke of Fortune at a Lucky
Moment.

Owen Stanley. huddled In the corner
of third-class carriage. was goin g
from Manchester 10 Chatburn, where
a position in lawyers office awaited
him. The prospect was not cheerful.
but it was the only means Owen had
of earning his bread since that I'M
lucky misunderstanding with Uncle
RAYMOND. Also. if Uncle Raymond
never would see che rights of that mis-
cradle fftir. The work at Chatburn
would be Il Stepping stone to better
plrce.
Owens thoughts were decidedly
gloomy. and there was nothing to en-
liven them in the contemplation OF his
fellow travellers. These were two shy.
aWkward, country maidens; the high
and mighty valet of agentleman in an
other compartment, thin young man,
with a wide strip of black plaster
obliquely traversing his nose, and a
wizened. little old woman in a rusty
bonnet, upon which the detected feath-
ers were so arranged, as to make it
suggest a melting hen. During the
entire Journey. this old lady had OBJ
served a sphinx-like silence. until. as
they neared the Chatburn Station. she
gave vent to the sudden and unex-
pected statement. addressed to no one
i'm particular: "Cruncherses lives in
that red house yonder. with them yell
Ter chimney-pots. They say he uses
that niece of his N orful: a-starvin' an
a-beatin' of her in way as never
was"
Nobody replied to this gloomy reve-
lation. and the old lady relapsed into
her former silence. Mr.. Stanley
smiled grimly to himself as he Won
dered if many of his future townspeo-
pie bore such enviable regulations.
..Chatburnr' roared the guard. and
Owen descended. When he presented
himself at the off ce whittier he was
bound. he was informed that his serv-
ices were not required. Mr.. Topham.
the head of the esta blishment. was un-
expectedly obliged to accompany his
daughter to a milder climate on &C
count of her health. and the office was
to be virtually closed for three months.
Mr.. Topham regretted exceedingly
mistake that had prevented telegram
from being sent 10 Mr.. Stanley, tell
ing him of this change OF plan.
This leaves me in a pretty fix!'
muttered Owen to himself. as he
turned away. What nextP is ques-
ton fate must answer ! have. let me
see-sevcn shillings. three pence. ana
q postage stamp. in available cash
and no prospect of farthing more.
unless I earn it. Not enough to set
ND monkey and barrel-organ. I'm
rather old for newsboy or boot black.
and too big for chimney-sweep. Plain
", ] must not be squeamish about any
thing that offers.
AS he walked aimlessly down the
street. he read the name. "Crun cher.
ATTORNEY, beside dingy office-door'
with CLERK Wanted" chalked UNDER
meath.
Crnncber-that was the name OF
the GORE the old gossip denounced In
tho train. Could this be the same
man?
Here. Bob, take this letter down
+o tho red house on the east road; 1t
for Mrs. Cruncher. The house with
the yellow chimney-pots; you can
mistake it. unless you try. caiieo
Young man from the window, 70 a
country lout just quitting the house.
No longer any doubt in Owen
mind of this being the Mr. Cruncher
accused by the oracle in the bedrag-
oiled bonnet Should he take warning
and sbun the place, or dismiss the old