South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-07-24
w A Y L A I D.

u.
Don's be on the road after dark with
so much money about you.
The window Was high from the
ground, and the disreputable looking
tramp who had entered the garde o
heard Mr.. Stock Wells remark and
came to stop on the gravelsd walk.
Neither Mr.. Stockweil nor his trus.
ted clerk, Chip Ferris, saw him Is he
half crouched beneath the open win.
dow. from which place their tones
wefe plainly audible.
Mr.. Stockwell had the largest GRO
Gerry IN Lebanon, aad Chip Ferris,
though only IL years old, was his
right hand man.
He owned another grocery ia Mill.
dale. thriving little village eight
miles away. and Chip had just been
directed by him TO go over and COL
lecs the months receipts from the
mao in charge.
Tell Hanley I'll be in MilIdsls to
see him just as soon as can get out
OF the house, said Mr.. Stock veil, who
had been overcome by bis old enemy,
the rheumatism. I've instructed hin
10 the note to turn over the collections
to you. and il any stock 10 needed he
can let you know.
The man NJ the window did not
wait to hear more. but went noise
iessly to The gate. all thought OF beg
ging removed from bis mind.
n companion, es ragged and vi.
eious looking as himself, stood watt
ing Tor him some distance down the
street.
What kept yeu SO long Z be growl.
ed. Any lucE.
l should say SO, was the response.
You didn't get any money did youi
No, but we'll soon have plenty u
We manage things right.
And he proceeded to confide What
ne bad overheard, whereat the other
wotthy's eyes glis,ened.
Well, tina. is luck, and no mistake
he said. II he's only boy /, VIII
- easy as rolling of log. There
ne comes now.
At that moment Chip Ferris was
closing Mr.. Stock wells gate.
He walked down the street 10 th Z
direction Of she two men, giving them
no more than 9 casual glance as he
passed by, for tramps were no rarity
in Lebanon.
Those fellows are pretty rough
looking customers, he thought. les
wonder the constable hasn't got
them.
1t vas 5 O'clock then, and he wen!
TO the stable in the rear OF the shop
and hatnsssed the horse TO . light
vehicle.
The drive to Milldale was n pleas
ant one, and Chip enjoyed the pros.
pect OF it exceedingly.
About a mile from town, resting
under a leafy tree by the roadside
we're the two tTampS he had seen some
time before.
Hello be said to himself. There
are those fellows again. 1 WondeI
what they're up 70 now.
He passed by in o cloud OF dust,
and, looking back. saw that "a AMI
mated conversation had suddenly
sprung up between the Two.
Somehow Chip got Il into bis head
that they we're talking about him.
They don't know about the money,
OF course, be said, uneasily. Such
men look evil enough to do anything.
When be reached Mi ldale be was
disappointed to learn that BIZ. HaS,
ley bad gone into the country TO look
at colt that be thought Of purchase
ing.
The money was locked up In the
safe and be had the key with him, so
that there Wss nothing for Chip 70 do
but to wait for his return, which he
did with . good deal of impotence.
ltWss nearly 6 O'Clock and the SUP
was far down in tue west when Dir.
Hanley came back, and Chip lost no
time 10 tTansacting with him the bus
siness on which he had come.
Better stay With me to supper,
Chip, said Mr. Hanley. There'll be
a neon 1T 8 to light you back.
No, thank YOU, said Chip. ] dom