Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-10-17


sole capital for many day before that.
Often, thereafter, he might have been
seen, in fiue weather, perched on the
same bar, hopefully waiting for the drop
ping of more money.
1t was a little more than week after
the time of the banks great increase in
capital when Conway and Nickerson
drew rein before the weather beaten lit
tie house.
Jackson had been perched upon the
bar until within a quarter Of an hour of
their arrival. He had been startled from
his perch by cry of alarm from Lyddy
in The house. Poor, weak, worn, hope
less Mrs. Bascom had fallen in something
very like a faint.
When, little later, Conway and Nick
erson rode up to the bar-way, the cloud
wall that had risen from the west was
halfway across the sky, and dusk was
falling.
''Rain in ten minutes," said Conway,
laconically.
They tied their horses to the posts,
swung themselves over the low bars, and
advanced to the house.
The door was open, and the men saw
the children gathered about the fainting
woman. There was Lyddy-an old
faced, anxious-looking girl of twelve or
thirteen; Jimmy and Johnny, grave lit
tie fellows of about ten and eight and
jackson, the capitalist
Lyddy had bathed her mothers wan
face with cool water, and Jimmy and
Johnny were tanning her with their tat
tered straw hats. Jackson stood back
and looked solemnly on; and his dis
tress was none the less great because he
was not crying.
"Can we do anythingi" asked Con-
way, as the two looked in at the door.
~ am better now," said Mrs. Bascom.
weakly but gratefully, raising her head
from the shabby old lounge where the
children had placed her. at will soon
pass away; it always does. +"
"If we can do anything" began
Nickerson, slowly.
"Won't you come in2" invited Mrs.
Bascom, with a feeble attempt to be
hospitable. 'Lyddy, set chairs for the
gentlemen.
The dusk was fast deepening. The
cloud wall had spread across the sky,
and few great drops of the coming
storm were FLASHING down.
'Tuch obliged to you, mom," re-
turned Conway, "but if we can't be of
any help, we'll ride on Is there any
place near hear where we can git accom-
modations for the night2'
"The nearest house is two miles
away" said Mrs. Bascom. "You can't
ride on in the storm. You are welcome
to put your horses in the barn and stop
here"
The men made a show of remon-
STRANGE.
"We needn't cat much" Nickerson
whispered to his comrade, San we can
pay for what we git"
The horses were hardly under shelter
before the rain increased to downpour.
"Where-" began Conway, "that is,
is your husband comm home soon2"
she is dead, answered Mrs. Bascom.
BY this time she was able to sit up on
the rude lounge.
"Lyddy," she said, ''set out bite for
for the gentlemen to eat. We haven't
much, but you're welcome to what there
is
"Thank ye, mom,' returned Conway
awkwardly.
Gwen pay for it, Jim, whispered
Nickerson 70 him.
The children we're shy at first, but
when the frugal meal was over, aud toe
men were sitting back from the table
while Lydia cleared it off, little Jackson
advanced gravely aud climbed on Con
ways knee.
"W'ere you dom, misterl" he asked
"Hush, JacksonW said his mother.
sob, jest as lives tell as not, mont
said Conway "Me an Nickerson are
on our way back to the old Indian,
home we left twenty-five years ago"
''What part of Indiana2" asked tn
widow, with pitiful eagerness.
SCREEN County-Spencerville."
The woman eager look faded away.
"We are from Burtis," she said.
can we're dom back dere pretty
soonl" spoke up Jackson, cheerfully.
"That so, moml" asked Conway
heartily. That's good"
Olive" began the widow, weak
ly.
She glanced at the children, an
there was an undercurrent of hopeless
ness in her low voice that told the me
that, though she did not wish to destro
the hope of the children, she felt littl
for herself.
"Yes, NOM" interrupted Conway, Ut
Outstanding. at costs a heap o
money. right heavy rain fallin'
haint it,
81 dot money! Jackson uttered, tri
umphantly. "In my bank" We doiI
pretty SOON
He scrambled down from Conway
knee.
"Dt my bank, Lyddyi" he con
manded. When it was handed down t
him he brought it triumphantly to Cor
way
"Money!" he chuckled. "Doin' bac
to Ind ana pretty soon!"
Nickerson saw that there were tears
the widow eyes.
"Want to LOOK at my knife, Jackson2
he ask, producing huge, manSblade
affair, with a cork screw in the back.
Jackson grasped it, marveled, an
was silent. Presently he fell asleep
Conway's lap, with the huge knife in h
clutch.
The men, with awkward kindnes
tried to talk of other things; but Mr.
Bascom kept returning to the one sui
ject ever in her thoughts-the oil
home.
n have been hoping for years to go,
she said, "but-"
"Same way with us, mom!' returne
Conway. "Me an Nickerson got t.
gether four years ago-we came from th
same old town at about the same time
but never happened to meet again ii
four years ago-an' ever since, we'v
been figgerin' on takin' ja'nt bacl
there, but never got to it till now
We've finally managed to save up enoug
to make the trip"
Presently the widow told them pal
of her story. She CLOSED over the fai
ings of her dead husband, but a word {
phrase let fall here and there told Cor
way and Nickerson what kind of man b
had been
Jackson Bascom, the elder, had beer
neither depraved nor vicious, he had beef
simply a combination of oyer-nopeful