Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-04-02

sra WAiktO OUT OF Aht store FRANK SOON
followed, closing and locking tie door
after hlm.
The next morning The doctor came TO
the store Don after It was opened, and,
folding Frank aud z Ike both there, he
said:
My squatter patient down the river is
in bard straits, and unless be has a little
assistance for a few days I'm afraid he
will hardly get along "
''Is be very sick p IKE asked.
Yes, he is, and besides he's destitute.
Two or three nights ago he was robbed by
a couple of men Of all his money, so he
basn dollar or particle of food. He
says he has plenty az home but it will take
two weeks to hear from there sent a
telegram for him this morning, notifying
his wife of his condition, and she will
probably come out here.
"W hat is his name2" Frank ked
III - name is Brown
Frank breathed easier. He had sus-
pected that the man might be Alice's
father
What DO you say, Frank ?" Z'ke asked.
Snail we help the man out OF his diff
culty?"
mo, sh1n't, Frank replied. IL am
not responsible for his bad Ia *, and, be-
sides, he has taken my claim. I'll 20 TO
see HIM after awhile, but only to do what
| said last night. | have nothing TO give
him
well" said Z.ke, you have tight
TO do as you please. Doctor, are you
going down to see the man this morn
lng2'
Yes "
"Then Ill go with you and take such
things as he needs. Just name over the
articles and I'll do them up and charge
the m to my personal account.
A few minutes later everything was
ready, and z ke and the doctor rode away
across the prairie in the direction OF the
,quatter's wagon. They found Ike with
the sick man, and as he had remained all
nigh he was compelled to go home so z Ike
took his place and remained through the
day.
So, through the next ten days, Z,ke and
Ike nursed the patient, taking turns, while
the doctor made regular daily visits
Frank Rrumhled a. z Ike continually, say.
ing he was / fool t. waste his time and
money in any such way, but Z Ike paid no
attention to him and continued in
the discharge of what he considered his
duty.
"You haven't eeen or heard anything
of Alice Grayson's father, have you,
Frank ?" Zske questioned one morn
ing, rs he was preparing to visit the
sqUa'ter
mo, not a thing. " Frank replied at
seems queer that | haven't, too, for he
must be somewhere in this section.
1T Is queer, " ZsSe g lid as he mounted
his horse and rode away.
Shortly after 4 IKE reached the wagon
that morning, aud while be was pregar-
irg some breakfast for the sick man, be
happened TO glance out across the the
prarle tw9rd the station which lay ton
miles TO the south. Away over on a rice
he saw a carriage approaching, and after
the lapse of nearly an hour it came close
enough for him to discern its occupants,
and instantly he understood what it
meant.
The doctor was driving while behind
him sat two ladies'. One of these, tightly
other was no doubt daughter OF friend.
He wai'ed until the carriage halted at
little distance.hom the wagon, then 90
ing forward, was about to salute the
doctor, but suddenly stopped, tran'6xed
with astonisbm mt. AT last he muir
INJURED:
"Mlss Grayson, is it possibleP'
''Indeed it is, Mr.. Mason" said soft
voice, land am ga to meet you. The
doctor has been telling us bow kind you
have been TO papa, al nov we have an
opportunity 10 thank you.
"Papa?' Zake repeated, He is not
your fdth,r. His name is Brown"
He is my It p-father only" Alice C.
paed, nut he is as dear to me "a a
father could be, and you have saved his
lie,
The decor had gone TO his patient
TO pr pare him FIR the reception Of
his wife and daughter, and during
the Eve minutes ne was absent u ks
and the ladies' con,ersed, coming to
thor uk1 understanding of matters. Just
as the doctor was returning a hcrseman
rode up, and with one glance into the
carriage stopped. full of a5tonishment,
The borseman was Frank, ana he recog
med Alice 10 a few words the doctor
informed him how matters were. Frank
blushed and hung hi hal. He knew by
the ccolne,s Of Alice's greeting that she
had no love for hin. bu, be not know
that the doctor mad infor2ied her Of his
conduct toward her father.
He learned that later however, when,
CHANGING to meet Ler, be attempted 10 re.
gain her old.time friendliness sn1 rtmind
ed e. OF her words shn bad once spoken.
II did think loved sou, she said.
''but ! End [ was mistaken. I'm sure
never did love you.
You thought you did, Alice, he said,
sadly What has changed hou now p
II woul rather not tell. -
But you must insist bias Z Ike bee n
telling you sJnething.
No, he has not. lie has never men
toned your name 10 me. But have
learned how you acted toward papa and
cannot love a teli.h man.
Two months later Frank sold out his
interest in the store and went fur her west,
and month later still, Z Ike and Alice
we're made man and wife. Brown kept
the river claim and built a nice nome on
i, and now has one of the fiLest farms in
u state
Ike never regretted the kindness he die
r. A l.. -