The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-22


got up from the supper table, ana Win
great deliberat filed his erlar-wooo
pine from, q tin box which looked as X
It had seen hard service Deacon
Sykes will take the hull ont as soon's
his PAYMENT comes due, and thafs
less'n a fortnight, so don't worry any
more about IT." With this, Farmer
Jones settled himself in his big arm
chair to enjoy his evening ppe
We'll Darius" SAID Mrs Jones, tho
sooner that money turns into good
mortgage bearing six per cent. the bet
ter i'll, be for my peace O mnd.
hain't forgot the desperit dolns OF
them air sramps over 10 JEFF Bowman's
less'n wear ago, when they most killed
poor old Jeff a torturin' him TO mako
him tell where his money WAS hid, and
she shook out her snowy tablecloth
with nervous little jerks, as ii she saw
the tFamps then and there In her minds
eye.
Darius had sold the ''west lot" for
three Thousand dollars in crisp bank
notes. This he had that day brought
home and carefully placed within the
Little wooded chest that had long served
as a repository for snndry deeds and
mortgages, the fruits of a life OF stern
est toll and unceasing frugalIty. 6ift-
ed by nature with strong constiSu-
ton, Darius had. many years before,
settled in a comparatively new region
| In western Pennsylvania, and after taxi
ing to himself heipmeet, the pair had
devoted themselves with unceasing en-
| ergy 70 the task of redeeming their new
| land to a state Of cultivation Slowly,
but surely, the black-skirted forest re-
coded from the humble log cabin. tho
unsightly stumps and bn'ush-heaps gave
| place to broad fields of waving grain,
| and at last the old log housa. with all
| it's sacred associations, was torn down
and replaced by a modern dwelling
quite pretentious in its architecture.
! Children they had, but all wero mar
| ried and had Left the parental ROOT
And. now on the shady sbdo Of sixty,
| Farmer Jones and wife decided it
would be better to sell part OF the
| farm and so relieve themselves OF a
portion OF their burdens and response
|
totake the west lot (fifty acres) at six
ty dollars an acre, and when Darius
1 called ono day and announced that he
] was ready to draw ''writin's." the con-
veyance was quickly made and the
money paid over. Three thousand dol
lars! Quite enough to tempt the cupid
ity and excite the avsrice of certain
worthless characters Of that neighbor-
hood. So reasoned Mrs. Jones, and al
though Darius did his best to reassure
that nervous little body, his efforts
were far from successful.
| There amt soul as knows thing
about it, 'cept Josiar and his folks, an
l cautioned 'eIn, over and over agi'n,
not TO say a word about it."
what can't be cured, must be en-
dured,7 was Mrs. Jones' philosophic re-
ioinder. 81 shan't enjoy nights rest,
though, till we're well rid ont"
Farmer Jones was not 10 the least
addicted to nervousness. On the con-
trary, he was the very soul OF self
possession and reliance. The feminine
timidity of Mrs. Jones was, however,
not without certain effect on her huS-
band.
Il bfeve I'll just put a charge down
the old gun and set it where it'll be
handy he remarked, Just before bed
time, and stepping into an adjoining
closet he brought out a fornida bic
looking muslet. big powder horn, a
bag Of shot and some waterproof caps.
Darius examined the gun critically,
blowing into the muzzle with such
force that his checks bulged out like
those of the fat man in the dime mu-
scum.
IF any O. them tramps try TO burgle
me I'll make it mighty Interesting for
EN-" said our hero, as he finished his
inspection of the arm and poured q
heavy charge Of powder into his broad
palm.
DO be keerful. Darius, expostulated
Mrs Jones. 81 was in hopes I'd seen
the last o that gun last spring when
you came in with your nose Oleedin'
and Your lip all swelled up after
shootin' that cat"
Il killed the cat. anyhow" said the
old man. little testify. An killed
bar with it, onc't too. Tha Old gun
will kick 4 leetle. but it'll shoot equal
TO any of their new-fangled ones" And
drawing out the iron rod. he drove the
paper wadding home with vigor that
was positively startling. and fitting the
cap on the tube he stood the weapon
against the bureau IN the bedroom and
where ne could reach it from the bed
Thar, mother: 'forewarned is fore
armed. Mebby your stewin' hain''
took the exact form of 3 warnin', but
it'll answer the purpose jest as well
reckon. " and Darius gazeo thoughtfully
into the fire.
The conversation naturally turned or
the change their business affairs hae
, taken. and before they were aware o
/ the lateness of the hour the big clocl
, IN an adjoining room had struck twelve
, with its slow and measured strokes
The old farmer gave vent 10 his surpris,
10 "a long-drGwn whistle. Il declare
z mother. / hadn't any idea it was $,
late" ne remarked with 4 sleepy
, yawn Guess we'd better go TO bed
D or I'm 'fraid You won't get much sleep
: tonight"
E ~ don't expect to-" said Mrs Jones
. with az air OF meek resignation. "Hav'
$ you fastened the cullar door?''
j. NO. haia't, but III see % it thi
/. minute" and Farmer Jones went on
TO attend to the outside cellar door
while his nervous little wife gave he