The Irish standard., 1890-05-03

Bert, musingly. Well, dear, as there
q nothing to be gained by staying here,
how soon will you be ready to go TO
Scrantonyille with me?"
81 will begin to pack to-day"
IT proved to be tedious job to gather
all the household goods into travelling
compass, to starr off box after box, to
take leave of neighbors, and make prep
arations for the long journey and new
home. But Jessie found comfort in
constant work, and the next week most
Of her packing was finished.
But the day before that appointed for
their start Bert sent for Mr.. Paxon to
make one more appeal to his honesty.
There was long, rather stormy inter-
view in the dismantled library, where
only the huge painting and two chairs
had been left. Bert had left the room
under some nrotense of questioning his
sister, and Mr.. Paxon was peeping
about in Paul Pry way that Jessie had
told her brother was habitual with him,
when he made a discovery. There was
an ugly space in a recess, where Tom
Thorpe's stationary desk had stood for
ten long years against tho wall. Scraps
of paper and string, torn envelopes, all
the ee6rts OF packing, were scattered
about, but wedged into the top Of the
mop-board was an envelope, almost con-
cealed, that Mr.. Paxon was sure con-
tanned an Enclosure. Warily he crept up
to it, seized it and found it a sealed en-
velope directed:
$40 JESSIE, nay acits. To6e opened only
after nay DEATH"
He crammed it hastily into his
pocket, and when Bert returned took
his departure. Something important
mist be in that paper that had evident
ly slipped out of the desk when it was
moved and escaped observation. But
tho disclosure was startling one. With
| out any scruples of honor Or honesty,
Mr.. Paxon broke the seal and read:
DEAR JESSIE: 1t has been long known to
you DEAR that my life was prccarious one,
and you will not be surprised that have made
little provision for you and the children.
Poor Frcd left me ten thousand dollars in
United States bonds, and, unwilling to trust 1t
to any bank, have hidden it away in tho low
er right-hand corner Of the picture he
gave me. Tho interest will run on until you
take tho envelope from It's hiding-placc, as no
one else will ever move the picture. Forgive
me for keeping this one secret from you. TOM
No one else! Why, they might tear
it down any moment. A cold sweat
broke out all over the rascal's body. All
his boarded wealth, the result of schem-
ing, cheating, saving, was as nothing
compared with this newly-discovered
treasure. Nobody else must find those
bonds!
But when he returned to the house
he found every thing in hurried con-
fusion, and Bert issuing hurried orders.
II can't talk to you now he said, as
Mr.. Paxon came up. II atm obliged to
leave on the 1880 p. N. train from b,
and it is nearly two o'clock now. There
is still wagon-load to go, and the chill
dren and Jessie are getting dressed for
the carriage at three O'clock
But must speak to you.''
"And that COMPOUNDED picture has to
be packed, too!' cried Bert busting
into the house. "Here, some of you fell
lows, bring step-ladder!'
"No! mop cried Mr.. Paxon. ell
came over to see If I couldn't buy that
picture"
"Buy it!'' Bert cried. "You might as
we'll ask Jessie to sell you one of her
boys! Why, her dear brother-in-law
painted it!''
'But it looks so we'll where it is, and
will be so awkward to mover cried Mr..
Paxon, watching with horror Bert's
preparations to tear the painting from
the wall. 81 will give you good price"
elbow much? But I am sure Jessie
will never part with it."
"Fivo hundred dollars
"Bah!"
ga thousandv'
"a thousand dollars for such work
Of art as that! Why, man alive, if Jes-
sic ever could part with it it ought to
bring five times that sum!'
'sFive times that sum! Five thousand
dollars!'' cried Mr.. Paxon.
Certain ly!" said Bert, coolly. ''But
we do not wish to sell it at all. Come,
hurry up! Take out the top nails very
carefully, there"
''I'll give you five thousand for it!'
cried Mr.. Paxon, desperately, rapidly
calculating the ten years. interest ON
tho bonds.
"But we leave here in half an hour.
You don't carry five thousand dollars
round in your pocket, do you?"
mo, but carry my check-book. I'll
give you check!'
won't dol I can not stop to cash it.
'I'll run over to the bank with it my
SELF
'Well, you haven't much time. You
get the money, and I'll speak to Jessie
while you arc gone. I'm not sure she
will take it''
OF darted Mr. Paxon, and Bert bur