The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-02-22
CHAPTER TX.
THE RUMOR.

THE NUMON.
'1t does seem strange to me that /
can't come 10 this town and get away
before dark" said Mr.. Miles. ON that
same Saturday afternoon of the events
recorded in our last chapter Mr.
Miles, like most farmers, wondered
why il was that he could not 90 10 the
village and return Immediately with
out consuming the entire day. His
shopping on this day had not been
very extensive, but he met SO many
neighbors and friends with whom the
opportunities to gossip and exchange
ideas on farming, were so tempting that
he could not resist them.
The sun was almost down and his
wagon stood in front of Dave Blacks
store. The clerk was carrying out
sundry bundles and packages, sack
of flour, bucket, cans, etc, and putting
them in the farmers wagon. is that
all, NickP" asked the farmer Of tho
large noscd. thin-looking clerk.
alt is" answered the solemn Nick.
care you going now, MilcsP' aslcu
Dave Black, coming to the door OF the
store.
"Yes, IL is time, for | will be in the
night getting home now," was the an
swer
"The roads are good il the night is
dark" said Dave, coming out on the
porch, "but Miles, want TO speak TO
you before you GO
What is it?o asked the farmer, who
had already climbed TO the wagon seat
.'Bc in n hurry, for ! hayo been hero
too LONG already"
al don't want to stop You for
nothing. Miles, said the merchant.
''If its business that will pay, can
afford to stop all night returned the
farmer, with shrcwd smile.
This will pay said Black, looking
serious.
"Woll, what is it thcn?'
"You have hired hand, have sou
notP"
ayes, young fellow"
"What kind of Il chap do you sup
pose he is?'
VERY good. or will ba soon. was
the reply. "lIc is unused TO farm
work-in fact don't know much about
It. But rs soon rs he learns. he will
make frst-class farmer. lie is sharp,
too, and knows all about calculatin'
interest and all kinds of business.
II am very much afraid you are dc
ccived in your man,
Deceived, howP'
THAT he is not what he seems.
''But he is.
''llow long has he been ut your
houseP'
"Some four or five weeks
"Wherc did he come from?'
The farmer paused and looked at the
ground. He remembered the unsatis-
factory explanation Walter gave of his
former business and location. After Il
few moments lost i'm meditation. he
said: "lIc comes from somewhere
about Queenstown and he was Il clerk
in dry-goods store.
81 warn you now, farmer Miles, be-
ware of that young fellow. Do not
trust him. lie is an escaped bank rob-
Der. lie robbed Joe Brewstcr's store
in Queenstown, and that stranger here
is detective on his track"
Great heaven! how do You know
thisp" cried the astoundcd farmer.
IL got it through suspicious
rumor"
"The rumor is ialsc-not n word ot
IL true. hnOW lIlal DoN must nc III
honest, upright young fellow
"But YOU are mistaken, friend Miles
You are Warming serpent in you
bosom, that some day will sting. III
warn you that he contcmplatcs rob
bing you and your entire family"
II don't believe one word of II
Dave, and won't till it's proved. w
lived too long in this world not TO b.
somethn' of n Judge Of human nature
he is honorable and upright"
"You may bo deceived" bcga
Black.
"And so may you CURLY reptile
the farmer; "and if was TO breath
this it would bring slandcr suit o
your head that would make YOU trcn
ble."
IL was evident tho farmer was out
humor, and Dave Black felt somewh
abashed at the reply; he had n
thought of an action for slander befor
but now court room. Judge and iur
with all their attendant horrors, loomt
up before him. ii he.itatcd momel
and stammered; well, it's only a r