Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-02-20

City. when dozed of fer leetle while.
Min you! I'd got my pile right thar
safe md sound-ez tho't"
Old Tim paused for breath and
strength. One OF the servants gave
him some wine. Gasden was standing
motionless, his eyes fixed on Tins face,
his own very pale.
Tim, feebly. End then-wal, / wuz
robbed-robbed my hull pile wuz
clean gone. up md raised rukus,
nd tole the kainducter. md thar wuz a
greet stir up in the kyar. md they all
greed ter be searched. fer nobody he'd
coined in or gone out But hit wern't
n bit uset The money was gone, nd
comb nigh goin' plum crazy over it.
hadn't the nerve TO go home then, nd
face my wife nd gal, so went back ter
Californy, nd there l knocked eroun'
fer awhile, but IL didn't do no good
somehow. Then my wife, she died;
nd my girl nd her man, they died,
leavin' OF thish yer pore child; nd /
went back nd TUX 'er away. I'd he'd
sech bad luck, every one thar seemed
ter be down on me. nd after that,
we'uns took ter trampin' 'twell we met
up long o Mr.. Gasden hyur What
we'd a done If we hadn't pulled you
outer that shaft, nd you TUX us home, /
don't know. You've ben seemlike--
the only real frien' we've he'd --hain't
he, Annisp--'nd fer her TO be marryin'
OF your only son, in this yer way, wuz
jest more'n ] could STAN"
Tim" asked Gasden in whisper,
startling from its intensity, "when-
did this-robbery you speak of-when
did it take place."
"Wal, femme see." Tim spoke as
though half asleep. "Hit mus hev
BEN eighteen-twenty--yes, sir; hit
wur jest twenty-three yur ago come mex
April"
Gasden fell back with such a deep
sigh, that Tim seemed surprised. Then
he recovered, and hung over the injured
man solicitously, until the latter slept,
after which he retired to his own room,
seemingly very much depressed. After
that, watchers were stationed at tho
bedside, and the great house was quiet
once more.
The next morning Mr.. Gasden did
not come down as usual, and servant,
going to his room, found him seated at
his desk, stone dead. with bullet hole
In one temple and an empty derringer
upon the floor. He had shot himself,
though no one else heard the report, as
his room was distant, and the walls
were thick.
Two freshly written papers lay before
him, one labeled: "My confession" the
other: my will" In the first he stated
that he himself had robbed old Tim
when asleep in the cars. and had Sc
GREETED the money in the lining of his
valise He had then come to Alabama
and grown rich with Tins money
George, he wrote. was not his own son,
but waif whom he had adopted TO
cheer his loneliness. A tormenting
conscience which had never slept
was in the new light Of Tins story,
now too burdcnsomc to be borne. As
kind OF reparation, however, he had
made will. which he adjured his
adopted son TO see fully executed.
In the will itself every thing Gasden
owned was left to Tim, absolutely and
Internationally. As all his wealth had
been derived from the stolen money, he
did not think even George was entitled
TO dollar
There was fine state of confusion
for awhile, after the true state Of affairs
came out. Old Tim refused to touch
the property. while George, though
much cast down, was equally firm in
determining to abide by the terms OF
his putative fathers will. Annis at
last came to the rescue.
George" she stammered. "l-Tn
marry you Tiff you'll have me; then
we can NIL enjoy the money"
IL am the same as the son Of thief"
he said, mournfully
Am ! not the grandchid OF
trampp" she returned. I'VE can
neither OF us afford to be too punctil-
ious."
or course, it was all settled in the
way love desired IL to be settled. -
Chicago News.