The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-12
CURING A CRANK.

OUhlNU "A OhANAs
lam a miserable man." said Mr..
Cyrus Maddox, gloomily, land it is
best that the world should be rid o.
my presence. No one cares for me"
"Oh, don't say that, UNCLE" said
Lizzie Silver, beseechingly; ''you
know Hove you. You are the only
friend I have in the world, and if you
were to die what would become
me?'
81 suppose young Guy Cheevers
would console you for my loss" said
Mr.. Maddox, grimly, cat any rate,
I don't care. 1 will end my troubles
and sorrow tomorrow at -
o'clock"
And with these fearful words he
strobe out of the room, leaving Liz
zie sobbing, with her curly black
head resting on dinner plate.
"What's the matter now, Bess?
Has the milliner disappointed yon
In your love of a bonnet?" asked a
warm. hearty voice, which was the
property of ''young Guy Cheevers,'
as Mr.. Maddox called him-as that
gentleman strobe into the room.
ooh, Guy!" sobbed Lizzie. 'Uncle
Cyrus is going to die tomorrow at
- o'clock"
elbow do you know" asked Guy.
"He said So"
"But how does he know?'
"He's going to kill himself"
$50 as to make himself true
prophet, eh?" asked Guy, laughing.
ooh, Guy, don't joke!'' cried Lizzie,
tearfully. HE will know he will!''
Il doubt itv' said Guy, specifically.
"But he tried to commit suicide
several times" persisted Lizzie,
feartuily. "Once he tried to smother
himself with burning charcoal but
he forgot to stop up the keyhole,
and smelt the smoke and got some
neighbors to break open the door,
and saved him. Then he tried to
hang himself, but the cord broke,
and he fired pistol at himself, but
he forgot to put any ball in it, SO
that failed; and then"
"Gracious" cried Guy, as Lizzie
stopped for want of breath; "what a
determined man he must be! Such
perseverance deserves to be reward
ed. Have you any idea what plan
he will try now?"
'Pm sure l don't know" said
Lizzie, mourntully. "Something
dreadful, suppose
But what does he want to make
away with himself for?" asked Guy,
wonderingly.
"Why, he says he is a miserable
man-a burden to every one, and
that he is weary of this world"-
'"And SO would like to try the
next!" said Guy. s"Perhaps he won't
find it SO pleasant as the one he is
quitting. What an unreasonable
man he must be! He is rich, talent
ed, healthy, and has a very pretty
niece" in a moment of alb
straction, he allowed his arm to wan
der around Miss Silver's waist-and
what more can he want? But some
people never are satisfied. 1t seems
he is determined to pry into futurity,
and it seems a pity to disappoint
so laudable an ambition; but duty
duty to myself compels me to inter-
fere. ] dislike any scandal or excite
ment. A Coroner's jury would cause
both; therefore, we must balk his lit
tie game"
"But howl" asked Lizzie, curious
"a prudent General" said Guy,
haughtily, never confides his plans
to his army, particularly when the
army is ofthe feminine gender; SO ex-
cuse me; NUNS the word. But rest
assured, my dearest Elizabeth, that
unless your worthy uncle shuffles off
this mortal coil in a surreptitious
manner before II o'clock noon to-
m orrow he will not do it afterward
of course ! mean Illegally. Fare
we'll till tomorrow. '', 'e-s'
Having concluded this address
Guy strobe of in q tragic manner,