Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-12-19

desk up In IN attic, nophic2 ! member
II quite we'll"
Eyes, and it looks lonesome up there,
700. but ~ Is old-fashioned and clumsy,
answered his sister.
81 like old-fashioned things, and old
fashioned people II they have rood
hearts like hers and dc good with their
money as she did. . said Bessie.
'well. we'll, lots have some games
and music said tho old man with gruii
good nature and soon the entire family
engaged in game Of blind-man's-buff
10 wind up the evening.
"Ie very careful OF yourself, Silas, "
said his sister; ''you may be robbed OF
nncdered some OF these nights going
home.s
Il haven't cent about me-" said the
old man, hastily, but not without a shud-
der.
"Do you want me to see you safe home,
Uncle Silas?' asked Bessie, who had re-
covered hcr good temper.
"No, Miss Spitfire, not tonight Your
old uncle's got some fight in him yet
It's only two short blocks to my house
and have q good cane in my hand"
II wish you would rent that house and
come live with u.s." remarked his sister
She was in independent circumstances
herself, but not rich. She wanted her
brothers money when he was done with
IL, not sooner. But she never saw a mill
Of It, and his fine offer Of the writing
desk to Bessie was all bravado and she
knew IL. lie had never given the child
present In his life.
But he talked poverty, poverty, all
day long, end declared that the hand
some house in which he lived alone, and
where his wife had died-as some said
for lack Of the necessaries of life-was
mortgaged TO its full value. Bessie had
often gone 10 him knowing that he had
Golfers of gold-and begged money for
some Christmas tree or charitable enter
tainment, and it always pleased him
he liked so well TO deny her. When he
was gone and the door closed after him,
shutting out the awful chill Of his pres
cnce, which seemed TO intensity the cold
night air, Bessie sat down and waited
patiently for her mothers lecture. She
felt sure IL would come and was not dis
appointed. The younger children had
gone up TO bed, so there was no inter-
ruption.
Its perfectly disgracefulr her
mother began; ''you know your uncle
expects TO leave his money to as, and
you treat him in such a manner that he
will go and endow a charity with it,"
II wish he would, mamma" answered
Bessie: "Tm sure his money will never
10.
anybody spend 1t. asked him for ten
dollars for our Christmas tree for the
poor, and he danced up and down and
declared he hadn't so much money in
the world. Mamma, he is very poor.p
"Poorl Your Uncle Silas poor? Why,
child, he owns blocks Of brick houses on
the avenues and he has enormous sums
out at interest"
"What does that do for him? When
he wants a good dinner he comes here
and gets it. Every Sunday and every
holiday he eats at our expense, and when
ask him for a paltry ten dollars he de-
mics having it. hate Uncle Silas."
Go to bed, miss" said her mother,
angrily; ''you are wanting in respect to
your Uncle Silas and to me-
Not TO you, mamma, dear" said the
child, softly; there is another crows
foot-let me kiss It; every time that
Uncle Silas comes here he leaves crow
feet and wrinkles, II not on our faces in
our hearts"
SILLY child" said the mother, but in a
softened tone. There was look Of her
dead father in the girls face that dis
armed the mother Of her anger. Then
she was such a brave little thing, daring
TO speak the truth and do the right.
They parted with another caress at the
foot Of the stairs.
Silas Marks went home looking at
every shadow, peering into dark places.
and with his stick clubbed in his hand
ready for any raid from the highway as
sassin. Nobody molested him, and he
ran up the steps Of his house Just as the
sonorous tones Of the bell in the city
tower rang out ten. He was little con-
fused, missed counting the strokes and
wondered what the bells were ringing
for that night.
He ratified his latch-key in the door Of
his house and then he stopped to listen.
Steps-inside the house, coming slow
ly and draggingly down the stairs to
meet him.
"Pshaw!" he said, whistling a cracked
tune to keep up his courage, lit IS the
echo OF somebody walking next door.
Observation-Disclosures
lie struck a match on the wall. No
body there. The dismal, faded hall and
stairs looked just as they always did.
He lighted the candle that stood on
the hat-rack-gas was too dear for him
10 burn-and then he locked and double
barred the doors and fastened the burg
lar alarm.
Once upstairs in the room that he al
ways used for his parlor and sleeping
apartments he felt at his ease again.
First he inspected strong box-that
was all right Then he unlocked the
great iron safe-all right there. too.
Money, bank bills, gold, securities, bonds
he gloated over them and petted them
with fond appreciation.
The door-bell rang and startled him
terribly; once, twice, then ting-a-ling
in rapid succession. It must be his man
of business. He locked up his safe, cast
a careful eye around the room and went
downstairs. Undoing the latch but not
the burglar cnain he peered out into the
night. Nobody there. He looked down