The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-06-28
"CRUNCHER'S NIECE"
A Stroke of Fortune at a Lucky
Moment.


Of "a third-cla~s carriage. was going
from Manchester 10 Chathurn, where
n position in n lawyers oilice awaited
him. The prospect was not cheerful.
nut It was the only means Owen had
of earning his bread since that un-
lucky Misunderstanding with Uncle
Raymond. Also. II Uncle Raymond
never would see the rights Of that mis-
cradle affair. the work NJ Chatburn
would be a stePping-Sto 10 better
place.
Owens thoughts were decidedly
gloomy. and there was nothing 10 en-
liven them in the contemplation Of his
fellow travellers. These were two shy.
awkward. country maidrns; the high
and mighty valet # a gentleman in an
other compartment. thin young man.
with a wide strip Of black plaster
obligucly lravcrsing his nose, and a
uizcued. little old woman in 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 ncared the Chatburn Station. she
gave vent To the sudden and uneX-
pccted 81 atemeni. addressed TO no one
iu particular: ''Cruncherses lives in
that red house vonder. with them yell
Ter chimuev-puts. They say he uses
that niece # h s'n orful: a-starvin' an
a-bcatin' Of her in way As never
WAS"
Nobody replied TO This gloomy reve-
laiion. and the old lady relapsed into
her former silence. Mr.. Stanley
smilel grimly 10 himself rs he won
dcred il many Of his future townspeo-
pie bore such cnviable POPULATIONS
.'Chaiburur' roarrd the guard. and
Owen descended When he presented
himself n the office whittier he was
hound. he was informed that his serv-
ices were not required. Mr. Topham.
the head Of the establishment. was I'M
expeciedly Obliged 10 accompany his
4 lighter To "a miller climate on ac-
count of her health. aud the office was
To be virtually closed for three months.
Mr. Topham regretted exceedingly a
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 fixi'
mutterrd Owen 10 himself as he
turned away. What next? is a ques-
tiun fate must answer have lei me
sce-seven shilliugs. three pence. and
postagc-stamp. in available cash
aud no prospect Of a farthing more,
unless I earn 70. Not enough 10 set
up monkey and harrel-organ. I'm
rather old for ucwshov or booiblack.
and too big for chimney-sweep Plain
IL. I mus, not he squeamish about any
thing that offers
As he walked aimlcssly down the
street. he read The name. 'CruncheT,
Attorney. beside a dingy ofiice-door.
with Clerk Wanted chalked UNDER
meath.
Cruncher-that was the name of
the ogre the old gossip denounced in
the train. Could this be the same
man?
Here BIB. take this letter down
20 the red house on the east road; it's
for Mrs. Cruncher. The house with
the yellow chimney -potsi you can
mistake il. unless you try" called q
young man from the window, to a
country lout just quitting the house
No longer any doubt in Owens
mind Of this being the Mr. Crunehei
accused hy the oracle in the bedrag
gled bonnet Should be take warning
aud shun the place. or dismiss the old
| womau's maunlrrings from his mind
| altogether? or. another view of the
case. should he watch If there were
perchance means Il helping n fair
damsel in distress - befriending
Cruncher's unlucky niece? Then hi
laughed al his own chivalrous non.
sense lie could imagine the type Of
young lady the one in question would
be; addicted 10 Jet beads and loud
ribbons; fond Of a yellow backed
novel, and considered a finished musi
clan by herself aud friends owing &c
her taking manner Of raitling on foul
or five values and the airs most af-
fected by the baIrel-organs. In thosS
haleyon DAYS before the quarrel with
Uncle Raymond. Owen had known 1
higher type II womanhoOd than he
was likely TO be throwa with now
aud he smiled bitterly a. his interes
in the probably fictitious misery o
Cruncher's niece. Why should he
give two thoughts 10 the veal or wo,
Of a girl he hal never seen? He wa
astonished himself
Nevertheless. he presented himsel
before Mr. Cruneher. and after {
sharp cross-qses tioning. was engages
to i'll the post vacant in the Office.
From a fellow-clerk Owen sooI
CLEANED all there was 10 gather con
corning the history Of his employer
He was not liked in the place; he an,
his family kept closely 10 themselTe
in their house outside the town; the
had no visitors, and people let then
alone There was q niece. . pretty
looking girl Of The name Of LIE; Jack