The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-31
"CRUNCHER'S NIECE"

ron I'm "A LAWYERS Office awaited Tim.
Tho rrosuoct was not cheerful. bat 1t was
tie only means owen had Of earning his
lraal since the miucky misunderstood
I'M, with Uncle Raymond. Also. if Uncle
pa,moud never would see the rights Of
that miserable affair. the work al Chat
bum would be a stepping stone to q bet
Ter place.
Owens thoughts were decidedly
gloomy. and there was nothing to en-
hy,u them n the contemplation Of his
fellow travellers These were two shy,
awkward. country maidens; the high
and mighty valet of gentleman in an
nilcr compartment. a thin young man,
with "a wide snip of black plaster
obIuuely trayclsug his nose; and a
,yizanci little old woman iH q rusty bon
not. up0n which the detected feathers
were 80 arranged az 10 make Ii suggest a
noting hen During the entire Jour
Dcr. this old laiy had Observed a sphinx
IKE silence until as they ncarcd the
tnatbGm station. she gave vent 10 the
sudden aDd unexpected statement, adj
dress ol % no one IN particular "Crun-
sAsi-cs lives in that red house yonder
wih them ycller chimney pots. They
sIs Le uses that niece Of hlsn orful;
a..,aryin' an a-bcaun' Of her in way
as never was.
Nobody replied to this gloomy revca-
zion. and the old lady relapsed into her
former silence. Mr.. Stanley smiled
rrmiv % himself as he wondered If
many a. bis future townspeopie bore such
Uvablc regulations.
-Chatbunl" roared the guard, and
owen descended When he presented
himself at tie Office whittier he was
found. be was informed that his services
were not required. MIR. Topham, the
lad If the establishment, was uneX
.,cfcily obliged to accompany his
LAUGHTER to a milder climate on account
"A lDr health. and the Office was to be
.rually closed for three months. Mr.
Iurlam regretted exceedingly mistake
uat had prevented a telegram from
bclng sent to Mr. Stanley telling him OF
ibis change Of plan.
This leaves me in pretty fiX!' NUT
i.r.d owen to himself, as he turned
away. What next IS question fate
must answer. have let me see-seven
sIIIucs. three pence and a postage
..up in available cash-and no pros
rect # fArthing more. unless earn IT.
Not enough 10 set up a monkey ana bar
rel organ. I'm too old for a newsboy or
iotback. and too biz for chimney sweep.
Plainly must not be squeamlsh about
auy,Amg that oilers 81
As he walked aimlcssly down the street,
hepad the name. "Cruncher, Attorney,
beside a dingy Office door, with CLERK
Wanted" chalked underneath.
Cluuchcr-that was the name Of the
oyer tine old gossip denounced in the
train. Could this be the same man!
Here. Bob, take this letter down to
the red house on the east road; ITS for
Mrs. Cruncher The house with the vel
low chimney pots; YOU can't mistake 1t,
unless sou try called young man
from the window TO Z country lout just
quitting the house
So longer any doubt in Owen 5 mind
Of thi, beng the Dir. Cruncher accused
ly iii oracle in the bedraggled bonnet
Should lie take warning and shun the
place n dismiss the old woman's maun-
lgnu,5 from his mind altogetherf or,
another view of the case, should he
snatch if there were perchance means OF
helping a fair damsel i'll distress-be-
iuculing Cruncher unlucky niece; lie
presented himself before Mr. Cruncher,
and. after sharp cross questioning, was
engaged to fill the post vacant IN the
office.
From a fellow clerk Owen soon CLEANED
an there was to gather concerning the
history Of his employer. He was not
hkcd in the place; he and his family kept
closely 20 themselves in their house out
side the town; they had no visitors, and
people let them alone. There was u niece,
pretty looking girl Of the name Of Lee;
Jackson. the clerk, had heard some tales
%. her being i'll treated, but he supposed
II was idle gossip.
owen was inclined to believe that
these mmors were not mere gossip, since
hc had had the pleasure OF making Mr..
Cruchers acquaintance. He was q
cold fish like man, with cruel, shallow,
light blue eve. ana a manner that kept
children and dogs at discreet distance
owen, not having much food for
thought during his leisure hours, was
prepared to believe old Cruncher capable
Of any depravity.
The following Sunday the young man
had an opportunity Of seeing the entire |
Cwncher household in church. When |
Tie service was over, Mr.. Cuncher
staiked crimly forth, followed 10y the |
silent members Of his family, each and
all evidently in great awe OF him.
Louise hold Tommy's right hand
tsh, You stupidity let him trip on the |
step, last Sunday' SAID Mrs. Cruncher,
IN pculant tones, with look to match,
10 her niece rs they passed Owen.
Ii was consolation 10 have learned her |
name. Louise Lee it was pretty name,
and suited her Was her life made I'M
happy by that solemn brute Of an old
man: Owen Ionged for money and
power and influence, and all the good
} . Il -. 4. fro