Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-10-03
is the OLD man worsey'

said Ruby, quivering with suppressed
emotion. 'It was that blessed creature
that led me to the hole in the apple tree
where found it."
"Have you gone crazy, too?" moaned
poor Hannah, sitting up in bed with her
nightcap much awry and staring straight
at Ruby. ~ always heard it ran in the
family and came down from your great
aunt Naomi"
"He led me to the place" Ruby went
on, not having heard word of Han
nahs speech, and pointing at Crumpet,
'twhere Jane had hid Anson's tin box.
hadn't slep' more than forty winks when
| saw her in the kitchen, dancin' in her
nightgown, with her old firt Of a shawl
round her shoulders in the dead hours.
And she came near settin' the papers
afire over the lamp chimbly. thought
I should scream bloody murder, but l
didn't on account of the old man. She
flew out of the door and / after her as
hard as l could put in my stocking feet.
She scampered home and hid the boz
and then locked herself in and began to
blow the last trump. But that blessed
cat! Oh, | am as weak as water. He
led me straight to the hole in the tree,
and if you'll believe it found my lace
scarf and my morocco slippers hid away
all ruck of mildew and green mold.
But the Lord be thanked, that paper Joel
gave to Anson was all safe and sound
saved by a special Providence. She
must have stole the box, don't know
when, unheknownest to us all. And
where has she KEEP it all these years?
Mebbe in mothers old red chest in the
garret, where she hides most of her
duds. But oh, am that faint and limp
| shall swoon away" and Ruby fell
PROSTATE in a convenient rocking chair
in state of complete collapse.
Hannah had sat with her mouth open
not understanding a word that Ruby
poured forth in such copious stream,
but when she saw the tin box in her lap
she mechanically opened it and took up
folded paper, the first that came to
hand. 1t was in Joel Fearing's cramped
handwriting, and acknowledged the re-
ceipt of considerable sum Of money
from his brother Anson, and bore his
signature. 1t was dated only aweek be-
fore Anson's death. Then it was Han
nah's turn to become slightly hysteri-
cal, and she found herself hugging-
Crumpet in way that seemed rather
ridiculous when she thought of it after
ward, She never knew how she got
into her clothes, but in less than half an
hour the little house was seething with
suppressed excitement. Dick was called
up and sent in hot haste for the doctor,
who came running over half dressed,
thinking the old man was either dead or
dying. But when he came out of the
sick room he said cheerily:
"Why, Hannah, the old man is much
better. His eye looks bright again and
his speech less thick and confused. You
may let him sit up half an hour in the
warmest part of the day. 1t is the first
day of spring and it has brought him
new life"
Hannah was pale and erect. She said
nothing, but held out piece of time
yellowed paper. He took it and ran his
eye over the contents. "JOers acknowl-
edgment of the payment of that money"
he exclaimed, "by all that's wonderful!
Why. Hannah, you are made woman.
Where on earth did it turn up after all
these years?"
81 dent know; its all muddle,' said
Hannah, smiling family. "Ruby Arm
strong is too excited to tell a straight
story and have put her to bed, It's all
a confused mess about how while she
0kol,f Iov Of ,sfrl,f
she saw Jane come in with Anson's tin
box and try to burn the papers over the
lamp chimney and was scared off by
Ruby, who chased her home and found
the doors locked, and then followed the
cat to the hollow apple tree in their gar
den, where the box was found. 1t ap-
pears that Jane must have stole the box
out of this house great while ago and
nobody knows where she has kept it.
But her mind has been working on it Of
late, for she has been a-muttering to her.
self about Anson and how he came and
troubled her at night in his shroud."
"Nomatter, Hannah, how it came back.
guess there was an overruling power
somewhere. Now you must let me take
the paper; you can trust it to Inc, and l
shall consult a lawyer at once to see
what steps are necessary to put you in
possession of your rights, the undivided
half of the old mans estate"
Ruby had gone home with her cat,
still in slightly dazed condition, and
the old man was so much better that at
noon Hannah and Sybil put him in his
chair, where, backed by pillows and his
knees wrapped in thick blanket, he
could look out on the sunny garden. His
dear old books were close at hand, SO
that he could touch them If he pleased
with his feeble fingers.
Hannah had aired the room and made
his bed with clean sheets and pillow
slips. Her motion was quick and nerv-
GUS as she went about, saying a cheer
full word now and then to which he re-
sponded with faint smile.
I'm an old hulk, Hannah" he said at
last, mo longer seaworthy and con-
demned as not worth saving"
Don't talk that kind of stuff" said
Hannah energetically. Don't you see