The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-08-16

4OUbs VI ACA bC1s
For heavens sake, what is it. Ruby
Is the old man worsefn
II tell you not to speak III of cats,
said Ruby, quiyering with suppressed
emotion. 1T was that blessed creature
that led me to the hole in the apple tres
where found IT.
"Have you gone crazy, toogv moaned
poor Hannah, sitting up in bed with her
nightcap much awry and staring straight
at Ruby. u 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 a word Of Han.
nahs speech, and pointing at Crunpet,
where 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 fiirt of shawl
round her shoulders In the dead hours.
And she came near settin' the papers
afre over the lamp chimbly. [ thought
l should scream bloody murder, but i
didn't on account Of the old man. She
flew out of the door and | after her as
hard as could put in my stocking feet.
She scampered home and hid the box
and then locked herself in and began to
blow the last trump. But that blessed
catt 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 Arson was all safe and sound
saved by a special Providence. She
must nave stole the box, I don't know
when, unbeknownest to as all. And
where has she KEEP it all these yearsf
Mebbe in mothers old red chest in the
garrett, where she hides most of her
buds But oh, / am that faint and limp
I shall swoon away" and Ruby fell
prostrate 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 snw the tin box ia her lap
she mechanically opened it and took up
folded paper, the first that came to
hand. It was in joel Fearina's cramped
handwriting, and acknowledged the re-
ceipt of a considerable sum of money
from his brother Arson. 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 a way that seemed rather
ridiculous when she thoughtof it after
ward. She never knew how she got
into her clothes, but in less than half an
hour the little honse was ssething 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 OF
dying. But when he came ont of the
sick room he said cheeri1y:
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. It is the first
day Of spring and 1t 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 bis
eye over the contents. "Joels acknowl.
edgment of the payment of that money
he exclaimed, .by all that's wonderful
Why. Hannah, you are a made woman.
Where on earth did 1t turn up after all
these years.
II don't know; it's 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
was watching with Mr.. Rand last night
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, VINO 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 APP
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 beena-1nnttering to her
self about Arson and how he came and
troubled her at night in his shroud."
'sNo matter. Hannah, howitcane back
guess there was an overrulin5 power
somewhere. Now you must let me take
the paper; you can trust it to me, and
shall consult lawyer at once to see
what steps are necessary to put you Ia
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 bus
knees wrapped in a thick blanket, ne
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 ard nery-
Gus as she went about, saying a cheer
full word now and then TO which be. re-
sponded with faint smile.
"Im an old hulk, Hannah" he SAID az
last. f'no longer seawortby ana con-
demned as not worth saving"
Don't talk that kind OF stuff, said
Hannah energgtically. Don't you see
the grass thick with dnndelions and the