The Red Cloud chief., 1892-09-16

Darius Jones to- his better half, as he
| got up from the supper table, and with
great de!iberation filled his briar-wood
pipe from n tin box which looked Us IL
it had seen hard service. deacon
| Sykes will take the hull ont as soon's
his payment comes due, and that's
lcss'n q fortnight, So don't worry any
more about it," With this, Farmer
Jones settled himself in his big arm
chair to enjoy his evening pipe.
"Well, Darius" said Mrs. Jones, "thc
o that money turns into a good
mortgage bearing six per cent. the bet.
ter tn be for my peace q mind. |
hain't forgot the dcsperit doin's of
them air tramps over 20 jeff Bowman's
lcss'n u year ago, when they most killed
poor old JEFF n torturin' him To make
him tell where his money was hid" and
she shook out her snowy tablecloth
with nervous little jerks, rs II she saw
the trainps then and there in her minds
eye.
Darius had sold the "wcst lott 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
Us % repository for sundry deeds and
mortgages, the fruits OF u life Of stern
est toll and unccasing frugality. Gift
ed by nature with n strong constitu-
ton, Darius had, many years before,
settled in n comparatively new region
in western Pennsylvania, and after taxi
ing to himself a helpmeet, the pair had
devoted themselves with unceasing en-
crgy to the task of redecming their new
land TO n state of cultivation. Slowly,
but surely, the black skirted forest re-
coded from the humble log cabin, the
unsightly stumps aud brush.hcaps gave
place to broad fields of waving grain,
and at last the old log house, with all
its sacred associations, was torn down
and replaced by n modern dwelling
quite pretentious in its architecture.
Children they had, but all were mar
ried and had left the parental roof.
And, now on the shady side Of sixty,
Farmer Jones and wife decided It
would be better to sell u part of the
farm and SO relieve themselves Of u
portion Of their burdens and RESPONSE.
bilities. Josiah P~endleton stood ready
totake the west lot (ffty acres) at six
ty dollars an acre. and when Darius
called one day and announced that he
vas 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 avarice of certain
worthless characters of that neighbor-
hood. So reasoned Mrs. Jones, and ai-
though Darius did his best to reassure
that nervous little body. his efforts
were far from successful.
There amt q soul rs knows a thing
about it, 'ccpt Josiar and his folks, an
l cautioned 'em. over and over agi'n,
not to say II word about it,"
"What can't be cured, must be en-
dured," was Mrs. Jones' philosophic re-
joinder. 81 shan't enjoy n nights rest,
though, till we're we'll rid ont"
Farmer Jones was not in the least
addicted to nervousness. On the con-
trary, no was the very soul OF self
possession and reliance. The feminine
timidity of Mrs. Jones was, however,
not without u certain effect on her hus-
band.
~ b'r'eve I'll just put q charge down
the old gun and set IL where it'll De
handy" he remarked, just before bed
time, and stepping into an adjoining
closet he brought out q formidable
looking musket, a 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 cheeks bulged out like
those of the fat man in the dime mu.
scum.
'If any O. them tiamps try to burglc
me III make it mighty interesting for
EN-" said u hero, as he finished his
inspection of he arm and poured a
heavy charge of powder into his broad
palm.
''Do be seerful, Darius" cxpostulated
Mrs. Jones. IL was in hopes I'd seen
the last o. that gun last spring when
you came in with your nose blcedin'
and your lip all swelled up after
shootin' that cat"
Il killed the cat, anyhow" said the
old man, q little testify. "An' killed
a bar with 1t, onc't too. Tha old gun
will kick a lectlc, but it'll shoot equal
TO any OF their n~ew-fangled ones." And
drawing out the iron rod, he drove the
paper wadding home with a vigor that
was positively startling, and fitting the
cap on the tube he stood the weapon
against the bureau in the bedroom and
where he could reach 1t from the bed.
THAR, mother, 'forewarned is fore
armed Mebby your stewin' hain't
took the exact form Of q warnin', but
it'll answer the purpose jest s we'll, !
reckon" and Darius gazed t~houghtfully
into the fire.
The conversation naturally turned on
the change their business affairs had
taken, and before they were aware of
the lateness of the hour the big clock
In an adjoining room had struck twelve
with its slow and measured strokes.
The dc farmer gave vent to his surprise
In u long-drawn whistle. II declare,
mother, ! hadn't any idea it was so
late" he remarked with a sleepy
yawn. Guess we'd better go to bed,
or I'm 'fraid you won't get much sleep,