Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-19
Ia. familv 70 New Orleans for

div by exchanging suhnf1 olgnlH-
ia,ls and smiles behind his back
CA A. length be asked their price for the
and Uncle PhiD. e:nboldened by
OD1 araise Of the craft and evident de-
u ,,o 10 possess her, answered that as
SIS sceried to be in pretty good de-
nd he thought this one ought to be
~ortb twenty dollars.
~Nonsenser' exclaimed the stranger.
.Trenty dollarsl Why, she is worth
efty if she is worth cent, and l
aslgn't think of Offering any less for
u, Saw fifty and Wen call it bar
gain
honest man? Both Arthur and Uncle
pbin thought there never was, as they
,l,dly accepted this magnificent offer,
sna thanked him for it besides.
Nov" said the stranger, business
q business, and should like to take
nossession OF the boat at once; while ]
p,esume you are anxious to pursue your
oornev If you will just step uptown
gitb me to my bank, will pay YOU the
eftv dollars. and on the way | will show
,o1 the station of the railroad that goes
Il Virginia Then wen get team to
come down here for your baggage, and
vn'll be all right"
Neither Arthur nor the old negro
could think Of any particular baggage
hat they wished to carry with them,
unless it was their bedding and Uncle
Bins axe, and they told the stranger
81 lie said they might think of some-
thing else after they had got their
money, and that at any rate they had
better 20 uptown with him and secure
tat once.
Arthur suggested that it might not be
safe to leave the boat all alone, and pro-
posed that Uncle Phin go for the money.
while he and Rusty stayed behind to
guard it.
"Oh, that's all right" said the
Stranger you never knew such hon
est folks as live around here. They
wouldn't touch any thing that didn't
/ belong to them for the world. Besides
/ want you both to sign the bill OF sale
and the receipt for the money"
So after carefully closing che cabin
| doors and windows, the trusting old
man and the boy, ignorant as yet of the
worlds wickedness, accompanied the
plausible stranger uptown. Arthur led
Rusty by bit of rope fastened TO the
leathern collar Uncle Phin had made for
bin, and had some difficulty in keeping
bin at safe distance from the stranger,
toward whom the dog seemed to have
taken the greatest dislike. Moved by
some impulse that be could not have ex-
planned, the boy bad also taken his pre-
cOns book from its shelf at the last
moment, and now carried it under his
arm
The stranger continued to be very
polite and entertaining, as they walked
through the crowded streets, and point
ed out several places of interest; among
others, the railway station from which
they we're TO take the train for Vir-
rna.
They walked so far that Arthur be-
Jan to grow tired, and was very glad
when they at length entered a fine
building, above the doorway Of which
be read the word Bank" in large let
Rn, Here both the old man and the
boy we're awed and bewildered by the
Imposing appearance of the interior,
Into which they were ushered. They
wondered at the number of desks, at
which busy clerks sat writing be-
bind high and strong iron grating,
and at the crowds of people who
stood in long lines before the little
windows in it, or passed hurriedly to
and fro. Leading them to retired cor
hef ont Of the throng, their guide babe
hen wait there for few minutes
While be prepared the papers that it
would be necessary for them TO sign
and procured the fifty dollars. Then he
mingled with the crowd of men about
them and disappeared.
For fifteen minutes or so the attention
the old man and the boy was fully |
Nenpied by the novel scenes about |
hen and in keeping Rusty quiet |
lhen they began to watch anxiously |
Of the strangers return and to grow |
somewhat uneasy over his non-appear-
ance When half an hour had passed |
ney we're thoroughly alarmed, and be- |
gan TO walk up and down the crowded !
pace in front of the iron grating, peer
lng wistfully into the faces of those who
nlled it, but without seeing him whom |
hey sought.
AZ last man who had been closely /
Watching their movements for some |
ane stepped briskly up to them, and.
sllng hand on Uncle Phin's shoulder,
ad:
Zone, get out Of here. old mani I've
"a NY eye on you since you came in.
no ITS evident that you have no bust
sss here"
But, boss. we'se lookin' fer -"
les, ! know you are looking for
nething you won't find here, so clear
y or else I'll have TO put you out"
here was no use offering a further
essiance TO the detective. and so. the 4
en minute. our two friends found |
aenselves in the street, utterly bewild-
'ea' and not knowing which way to /
*un
4 What do you suppose il all means, /