The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-25

But. my dear sir. l can't allow it."
said Mr.. Golden, politely.
my dear sir, you won't use force
to prevent me?" said Mr.. Moss.
"Oh, dear, no." said Mr.. Golden.
But the roof is quite slope and
very slippery. 1t is probably danger
GUS. At least wait. "
Meanwhile my furniture is being
spoilt, said Mr.. Moss. looking at the
homemade adornments of his room,
land your ceiling. which you are
shamefully extravagant enough to for
get. Sir, / am not amazed that you
failed in business"
Mr.. Golden went downstairs at
once.
ELLEN. my love-" be said, II have
been cruelty insulted by our tenant.
l have done with him."
ooh. papa" said Ellen, cit can not
be-"
HE alluded with scorn to my mis-
fortunes in business" said Mr.. Golden.
Il did not retort. Noblesse oblige, you
; know. No, no; he can't be a gentle
man."
Just then there was an odd sound
outside-a sound that made Ellen's
blood curdle.
"What is it, papa?" she cried.
'Perhaps Mr.. Moss has thrown his
bed out of the window" said Mr..
Golden.
Then they rushed out into the gar
den. There upon the great lilac bush,
aattened to the ground by his weight,
lay Mr.. Moss. He had slipped from
the roof. The house was only two
stories and a-half high. But it was
fall that left little hope for life. He
was senseless and covered with blood.
Poor Ellen screamed and came so
near fainting as to lose all strength.
Meanwhile the other dodgers had
rushed down. and poor Mr.. Moss was
carried into the parlor and placed on
sofa and doctor was called.
Looking at the pale face, both father
and daughter forgot the mans faults
the former his late offense, the lat
ter his odd counsels and reproofs.
| When the doctor came they stood
beside their friend in tears.
''It's bad case," said that worthy,
when he had made an examination;
''but he may live. There'll be fever,
probably delirium. though. You'd
better send him to the hospital, if he's
only tenant, and you don't know his
friends"
Then he went away, having BAN
daged a limb and rib; and Ellen
looked at her father. All he said
was:
"No, my Gear. we won't"
Then for many days they nursed the
poor fellow, and he knew nothing of
it; and the doctor was right about
the dslirium; and in it he raved of
money, of stocks, of gold. of cent
per cent
One day Mr.. Macklin called. He
presented his head at the door, and
said, as Ellen opened it:
II say, ma am, what has happened
to the old gentleman"
"Mr. Moss is at Deaths door," said
Ellen. HE has met with a terrible
accident
Sorry to hear it." said Mr. Mack
lin; land there'll be the deuce to pay
at our place. He keeps things so in
his own hands that if he can't be con-
suited it's hard to tell what to do Is
he uncOnsciousP"
Yes" said Ellen; s'but, SIR. can it
be that Mr.. Moss has occupied an i'm
portant place in your establishment"
! II should think he had" said
Macklin
land you have been cruel enough
to take advantage of him. and repay
his services with a pittance that
scarcely provides him with bread"
said Ellen. Il speak plainly. l know;
i but feel strongly. Perhaps you do
not guess what privations he has SUI
: fered"
| Mr.. Macklin stared at her in silence
for awhile and then whistled long and
low.
$50 you are in the dark?" said he.
You think I employ Mr. Moss--Ip
My dear madam, l am his confidential
clerk. You see. Mr.. Moss is a very
eccentric man. He's about as rich a
man as | know--positively rolling in
gold-but he's a-not to put too fine a
, point on it-he's miser."
| He paused. looked at her face turn
ing white before his eyes, and added:
You needn't be afraid of him.
though; he's honest. He'll reimbu
you for any expense. you are at; and
III stop and send up surgeon who
knows who he is; or, better tell the
Vne you have his name. Every one
knows Isaac Moss, and his queer
ways"
Then, after some more talk, and q
look at the delirious man, Mr.. Macklin
went away. and Ellen, with totally
changed feelings, resumed her post at
the patient side.
She looked at his face coldly. Her
kindness for him was all gone. The
poor man who was so patient under his
privations seemed to have died, and
there on the pallet before her lay the
thing she lOathed so unutterably-a
aliser. TO both father and daughter
the friend they had known seemed
dead. But they ministered to him
still. until one day-after Isaac Moss
lad been better for a long time, and