The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-11

ioned style, with knee-breeches, ana
queue down his back, and was hold-
ing his hands over the blaze with 8
sort of ravenous engerness for the
warmth. He was so little, and so
pale, and his teeth chattered SO in
his shriveled head, that Rhoda's
momentary indignation died away
at once.
II hope l don't intrude," said the
little old man, with the deprecating
falsetto of age, "but it's cold, very
cold, and haven't seen u fire here
before in n quarter of q century,"
RhodG looked hard ut him.
"Do you live near here, sir?" said
she.
The little old man nodded.
every near" said he. 81 used to
know your Grandfather Grupp. A
Woodworking man he was, and the
best hand at n horseshoe in the
country round. AT, h,yes! knew whim!"
Mrs. Walkinshaw pulled Rhoda's
sleeve surreptitiously.
II think the poor old creature is q
little crazy" said she. "But let him
stay, let him stay and warm himself.
He can do no harm to any one, poor,
half-fnmished soul"
And still the Man in Brown talked
steadily on, his hands spread out
over the fire.
'Did he ever tell you about the
brick?" said lie; "the brick that was
buried under this very hearthst one?
Not u clay brick, my dear, but O
brick of gold! Not q great big thing,
such as they put in the angle of q
house, either, but IL little, genteel
sort of brick, that it would make q
miser's heart leap within him to ham
die. 1t was your Grandfather
Grupp's whim. lie was u peculiar
old man. Eh? Did he ever tell YOU
about the brick?"
II never saw him, SIR" saidIlhcda.
"Ah, true, very true" said the lit
tie old man. "Youcan'talways keep
track of time. And it was u dead
scare about the brick between him
and me. He had made II great deal
more money than folks had amy idea
OF, and that was his way of taking
care OF it. Of course ! may depend
upon you not to mention it?'
Il don't understand you, sir, said
Rholn, her veins chilled with q GER
tain awe. and. in the same moment.
the Man in Brown looked ut tnr-
nishcd little silver wutch which hung
at his side.
"lt's late" said he, s'later than 1
had any idea Of Good evening,
ladies, hope l haven't intruded!
Good cvcniny!'
1t was late the next morning when
Mrs. Walliinshaw and Rhod;l knock
ed at MIR. Gidding's door and told
their tale. The old man, the nearest
neighbor to the deserted forge, turned
pale.
Its Ben lIaverstraw!" said he.
"Oll Ben Iiavcrstraw, who has been
dead and buried in the little church,
yard back of the forge these forty
years! He used to play cards with
your Grandfather Grupp,. Miss RhoIy,
many q night, after the forge was
shut up, and folks supposed every
body was nbed and asleep. My
father has described him to me many
n time-nn old little man in brown
clothes, with black silk stockings and
knee hrecrles, II queue hanging down
his back, and II braid OF seals ut his
fob. Folks said he was in league
with the Evil One. llewasn tn good
associate foryOur urGrandfatler Grupp
anyhow. Yes, yes! He's been dead
full forty wears, aud mnvhe longer"
"lut that is nonsense" cried Rho
'ln. "lt was no ghost that we saw.
1t was IL little, ,old-ti,shioncd traveller,
who was cold and tired, and came in
for n little rest"
"Dil you see him come in?" de-
mnnlcd Mr.. Gidding.
"No," acknowledged Rhoda.
'Did you see him go out??"
And again Ehodu and her mother
We're compelled to answer in the neg
ntivr He WIS gone. That was all
they knew about it. i.
"Ah!' said neighbor Gidding. 81
Thought So. S'posc we just call my
son Abram and the hired man, with
IL crnwt,ar or so, and pry up that
there Old hcarthstone.' P'rhaps it
won tdonogood. Certainlyit won't
do no llarm!"
They pried up the sunkcn old stone
and there, under the corner, was u
tarnishcd bricl; of go!(-ot solid
gold, welded together us only II
skilled workman in metals could have
welded it!
All this happened years ago. A
handsome, modern residence now
stands where once the iorgclights
CLEANED s,lIlenly out upon the night,
and Rhoda Walkinsluw-marricd
to Alvan Glding-lives there with
her step-lnotller.
Farmer Walliinslaw would flin
have patched up Il peace when his
daughter became so unexpectedly an
heiress, ..but Rloda nl-''
tiinpd n trpn4-'