Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-05-09
81 wonder what he'll do if it ain t."
muttered Jorry, unheard by the others.
s.IIa aaua . coutinuad Mra Iacah

''that it will take heap Of money to
put this house in decent repair, and
settle the businessl Deari Dear! He
talks as if his uncle's legacy left him
poorer, instead of richer"
81 wish it did" muttercd Jerry.
Aloud he said, "Maria, if you'll get
me hammer and some nails, I'll save
Jacob twenty five cents by fastening
these steps. See herer' and he ratified
the steps on which he was sitting, and
which were wholly detached from the
porch.
II wish you would" said his sister
in-law; I'm in panic every time l
go in or out, especially if l have the
baby in my arms. I'll get the ham,
mer."
"Dear me, jerry" whispered his
wife. little later, "you go at them
steps as if you were trying to hammer
the house down. Anybody would fan
cy you had a spite against the nails,
you give them such vicious blows
"Hold your tongue" growled her
husband. 81 am only making them
safc!'
He rose as he spoke, and Strengthened
himself, muttcr.ng.
"That,s good job done"
"Comc, Sally" he said, presently,
'we'll be getting home! I only came
over TO see if there was any news of
the tin box"
"Not sign to be found,' said Mrs.
Jacob, and do believe Jacob will
be in lunatic asy lum if it don turn up
soon."
Jerry tucked his wife's hand under
his arm, and walked down the road to
his own cottage. small, shabby house
where Sarah Green vainly strove to
make old things look new, and stretch
dollar to the needs of two.
Since his uncle's death Jerry had
been more moody and shiftless than
ever. Brooding over his injuries was
not the way to improve his fortunes,
and Sally had hard work to make her
needle supply the daily wants.
1t was just three days before his
uncle died that Jerry learned that Hiram
Green had left his entire property to
Jacob, already the richest man at Rye
Hill. Then the btt erness Of his disap-
pointment seemed to literally turn his
brain, and Sally trembled for his rea-
son. With all his faults, if faults they
were, his disregard of money and want
of business capacity, Jerry Green was
man to win strong affections. And it
was the fact that even Hiram Green
kept up sort of gru1ging affection for
him that made Jerry hope he would not
entirely forget him iu his will.
When his last illness attacked the old
man, it was to Jerry he turned for the
affection Jacobs harder nature could
not make acceptable. 1t was Jerry and
Sally who nursed the invalid day and
night with faithful, unwearied care, and
it was with bitter sense of wrong that
Jerry knew himself to be disinhe rited.
Still the man's gentle nature overruled
his anger, and the last three days of
Hiram Green's life were as tenderly
nursed as if Jerry knew himself to be
his sole heir.
But aftcrward the whole nature of the
man seemed changed. Knowing the
sympathy of the people about him was
with him, he was never weary of telling
of his wrongs; and he made no secret of
his delight at the disappearance of the
Tin box, and the large slice of property
it contained.
A year passed away, and then all Rye
Hill knew that Jerry Green lay i'll with
fever, and the doctor had given him
up. Very sick ind eed he was, and
Sally was heart t-broken, when one day
he whispered a request to see Lawyer
Simpkins alone. Seeing lawyer
seemed to poor Sally a death warrant,
though Jerry had no fortune to will
away.
Wondering, but ready to humor the
whim of dying man, the lawyer an
swered the summons at once.
'Mr. Simpkins, will you promise to
keep secret what 1 tell you now?"
Jerry asked in a hoarse whisper.
Certainly will; lawyers have to do
that every day.
ttThcn will tell you where Uncle
Hiram's tin box is. You have the
key"
"Yes, but-Jerry Green, don't tell
I