The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-20
A HEARHLESS WRETCH.
People Said Ho Was, So of Course He Must
Have Been.

her sister and aunt sat sewing,
Nothing very dreadful, | hope" re-
piled Flossie, looking up from her work,
Nothing very dreadful" echoed
Lucy, "That is Just like you, Flossle;
l really believe you love that black.
hearted wretch"
mo, Sue, I can not say that have
any particular love for him, but | don't
want to condemn the man until | know
what he has done" returned Flossie,
laughing,
"Well, he is driving his tenants from
the old shanties by the coal bank
"Sue, can that BIO really true?" said
Flossie, in a shocked voice,
ut must be, for Ted Flynn, whose
mother occupies one Of the huts, told
me so. Mr.. Dane said that unless the
people vacated OF once he would tumble
the shanties down on their heads-the
brutel"
"Lucy, my DEAR" interrupted her
aunt, "there must be- some mistake. !
do not believe Mr., Dane would be 80
cruel; although more grave and silent
than most men OF his age, he seems
kind and courteous to all"
Lucy pursed up her mouth in scOrn.
SNOW, Aunt Mary, you are always
taking that mans part. You think he
can not do wrong"
"Oh, no, Lucyl" smiled Aunt Mary.
"But you have taken an unreasonable
dislike to Mr., Dane"
"Well, perhaps | have. But we won't
discuss him further; we must think OF
the needs Of Mrs. Flynn. Why can't
she move into the old storehouse in the
corner Of the orchard until she eau find
another homer"
Aunt Mary nodded assent while Flos.
sic replied;
IAN excellent idea, Lucyl"
"Tlien I'll run over and mako her the
Offer" said Lucy; and, hurrying on her
hat and shaw, she was soon In the midst
OF the shanties, which consisted OF FIVE
or six dilapidated old buildings. She
noticed that the men and women all had
an anxious look, and that tho teams
standing there belonged To Mr.. Dane, the
new owner oil the coal bank and factory
And-yes, there was the owner himself
hurrying up the moving process. Lucy
was too indignant to notice that his face,
too, wore nm anxious look and that he
startled at every sound. She only
thought Of him as a hard.hearted wretch,
who was turning poor people out In the
cold.
Presently he anproached her.
"Miss Lucy" he said, 'for Heavens
sake don't tarry here long; and tell Mrs.
Flynn to be reasonable and hurry up,
for | will"
Hero Lucy cut him short with a look
OF sCorn as she flashed out:
"You hard.hearted wretch, how dare
you speak to me2 Don't be afraid-I
will not intrude in your precious houses
very long, neither shall Mrs. Flynn"
but. Miss Lucy" he said, "you
"Yes," Lucy interrupted, "oi course
l have heard that the wealthy Mr.. Dane
is turning five or six poor families out
of his houses-if they are worthy Of
that name."
Then she opened the door OF Mrs.
Flynn's shanty and stepped inside, leav-
ing Mr.. Dane with an amused look on
face. But this soon gave way to a grave
expression, which did not leave his face
until the last wagon which contained
Mrs. Flynn's household goods was load
ed and had been driven away. Then,
with a sigh Of relief, he nailed up a pla.
card, inscribed with these words:
"All persons are warned 10 keep
away from these grounds. Danger.
ous!"
Meanwhile, Lucy had installed the
Flynn's in their new quarters, with a
good many remarks not very tlatter.
ing to the new owner, In which she
was Joined by Mrs. Flynn, who wuld
"like to serve him the same way, the
beastl"
The next morning a neiEhbor dropped
into the Caslin cottage, aud almost her
first words were:
"Was 1t not a fine thing that Mr.. Dane
got tho people away from over the old
mine yesterday ?"
"WhyP" echoed Mrs. Brown. "Have
you not heard that the mine fell In last
night? The shanties stood right over it."
mol" exclaimed Flossie aud Lucy in
the same breath.
at Is true, anyway" replied Mrs.
Brown. 1.-THE little level spot where
tho shanties stood all caved In, and II
looks as II there had been an earthquake
there; and | think It was kind OF Mr..
Dane 10 take his team and move the peo.
nile out, when he told them all a month
ago they had better move as soon as pos;
sible, Tor the place was dangerous. And
my husband said that yesterday morn.
ing, when the mine boss sent Mr.. Dane
word that the old rooms might fall In al
any moment, he ordered tho teams TO b.
got ready, and then told the men at the
factory that II ZONE OF them would gc
over and move the people out he would
pay them for It and 60 with them, too
and then he went and rented that double
house OF Squire Miles to move then
into"
"i did not know that" said Flossie
while Lucy's face burned Of the memo
ny Of her hasty words.
ut Is strange that Mrs. Flynn did no
tell you. She moved into your old store
house, didn't BheH" inquired Mrs
Brown.
eyes" replied Flossie. But she die
not give Us the true facts Of the case
We understood that Mr., Dane wal
ejcCting the people, but did not know
for what reason"
surely" interrupted Mrs. Brown
"you did not think that Mr.. Dant
would turn his tenants out without no
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