Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-08-26


fore long, had told him all he wanted
to know of their history and plans.
He was shabbily-dressed man; but
they were accustomed to seeing such peo-
pie, and never for q moment mistrusted
him, when he said that he had been look
ing for just that kind of q boat, in which
10 take his family to New Orleans for
the winter. They only congratulated
each other, on securing a customer so
readily, by exchanging sundry signifi-
cant looks and smiles behind his back.
At length he asked their price for the
boat, and Uncle Phin, emboldened by
his praise of the craft and evident de-
sire TO possess her, answered that as
boats seemed to be in pretty good de-
mand, he thought this one ought to be
worth twenty dollars.
"Nonsenser' exclaimed the stranger
Twenty dollarsl Why, she is worth
fifty, II she Is worth cent, and
couldn't think OF offering any less for
her. Say fifty and well call 1t a bar
gain"
Was there ever such a generous and
honest man? Both Arthur and Uncle
Phin thought there never was, as they
gladly accepted this magnificent offer,
and thanked him FOR 1t besides.
Now" said the stranger, business
is business, and I should like to take
possession Of the boat at once; while
presume you are anxious to pursue your
journey. II you will just step uptown
with me to my bank, will pay you the
fifty dollars, and on the way will show
you the station Of the railroad that goes
to Virginia. Then We'll get team TO
come down here for your baggage, and
you'll be all right"
Neither Arthur nor the old negro
could think of any particular baggage
that they wished to carry with them,
unless it was their bedding and Uncle
Phin's axe, and they told the stranger
SO. He said they might think Of some
thing else after they had got their
money, and that at any rate they had
better go uptown with him and secure
1t at once.
Arthur suggested that 1t 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 1t.
''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
I want you both to sign the bill of sale
and the receipt for the money"
So, after carefully closing the 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
leathern collar Uncle Phin had made for
him, and had some difficulty in keeping
him at a safe distance from the stranger,
toward whom the dog seemed to have
taken the greatest DISLIKE. Moved by
some impulse that he could not have ex-
planned, the boy had also taken his pre-
cious book from Its shelf at the last
moment, and now carried 1t 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 were to take the train for Vir-
ginia.
They walked SO far that Arthur be-
gan to grow tired, and was very glad
when they at length entered q hne
building, above the doorway of which
he read the word Bank" in large let
ters. Here both the old man and the
boy were 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-
hind 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
ner out Of the throng, their guide bade
them wait there for few minutes
while he prepared the papers that 1t
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
of the old man and the boy was fully
occupied by the novel scenes about
them and in keeping Rusty quiet.
Then they began to watch anxiously
for the strangers return and to grow
somewhat uneasy over his non-appear-
ance. When half an hour had passed
they were thoroughly alarmed, and be-
gan to walk up and down the crowded
space In front OF the iron grating, peer
ing wistfully into the faces of those who
filled it, but without seeing him whom
they sought.
watching their movements for some
time stepped briskly up to them, and,
laying a hand on Uncle Phin's shoulder,
said:
"Come, get out Of here, old man! I've
had my eye on you since you came in,
and it's evident that you have no busi-
ness here"
"But, boss, we'se 1ookin' fer -"
"Yes, l know you are looking for
something you won't find here, so clear
out or else I'll have to put you out"
There was no use Offering a further
resistance to the detective, and so, the
next minute, our two friends found
themselves in the street, utterly bewild-
cred, and not knowing which way to
turn.
What do you suppose it all means,
Uncle Phin?' asked Arthur.
Don know, honey. Hit beats de ole
hn 30
know any fng about hit"
There Is something wrong, any way"
said the boy decidedly, land think the
best thing we can do is to get back to
the boat just as quick as possible"
BY inquiring they found out in which
direction the river lay, and started to
make their way TO It as fast as they
could. 1t was long, weary walk, and
when they finally reached the river,
they spent nearly an hour searching and
inquiring before they discovered the
bridge near which the ark had been left
Now the boat was Nowhere to be seen.
In vain did they gaze up and down the
river. They saw other house-boats, and
many strange crafts of all descriptions;
but nothing that looked in the least
like the one that had sheltered them
tor SO long that it seemed like a very
home. Then the truth began to dawn
upon them. Their boat had been stolen,
probably by the very man who had per-
susded them TO accompany him uptown
and then deserted them.
This belief was finally confirmed by o
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