The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-17

an be cumfcrable seoin' as how Jalse's
sorter dropped in to pay his rospe&."
Timber Jake recovered his self-poa.
session with mighty effort, and bee
gan to carve pie for Old Man.
Old Man looked round the shanty
and rubbed his hands with would-bo
cheerfuluess. ''Sorter dropped in
Samanthy. to pay his respex." he re-
peated You remember that pesly
little crittur Jake. up on the CriclS?"
Yes" said Samantha. with lovely
smile. Are you indeed little Jake?"
Tim ter Jake raised his eyes from the
fire and met hers. Only the noise Of
Old Mans teeth stolidly crunching
fragments of egg cup broke the silence.
Samantha suddenly looked down again.
Old Man paused with q petrifed frag.
ment of pic on his fork. ''Its pow,
erful pie. Samanthy," he said-"real
powerful! Sorter pie you don't meet
with more'n once in a lifetime, If you
was to meet two of 'em thered be an
inquest" And he renewed his labors,
CHAPTER I'LL
When Samantha had withdrawn for
the night Old Man produced bottle.
of whisky, and mentioned to the young
follow to drink.
Timber Jake brushed the bottle TO-
one side. Now Old Man. he said in
quizzical whisper-'Now, Old Man.
we'll wait till that lights out in the.
next room, and then we'll talk"
Yes. Jake" said Old Man, feebly,
well talk, " but he did not look as IL
the prospect were at all an alluring
one.
When the dreaded moment could no
longer be put off, Old Mans nervous
ness increased. Now, Old Man." ho
said, 'seein' as you're in possession Of
the chair, may be- you'll explain the
meanin' of this little annexation policy
of yours to the NEE TIM"
1T means I'm bust up, cleaned out"
said Old Man in husky whisper. II
hadn't a dollar left Thar was Saman.
thy. She didn't know nuthin' Of it till
got her away from that heightened
school in Montreal. had to git her
away or she'd have heard couldn't pay
her board bills -
And SO you just CHANGED it. aud
Samantha thinks the place belongs to,
you?"
That's about the size of it," said
Old Man. blinking at the fire. III
could ha' held on to them lands as was
sold for taxes, I'd hn' cleared another
pile Thar's phosphates on 'em, Jake
-phosphates! Some burned fool who
bought 'em on speck at the Treasury
Sale ill pick them up one day, and die
worth millions-my millions!" he
almost screamed, rising eXcitedly, and
wildly waving his arms about
You just listen to me, Old Man." he
said quietly. You just listen TO me.
l was prospectin' up by the Nation last
fall and found those phosphates. When
l heard the lands were in the Sale List
just raked up every dollar ! could
find, and bought the lot They're
mine, man, they're mine"
He took some deeds from his breast
pocket and handed them TO Old Man,
who scanned them eagerly.
They're yours on one condition"
"W- what" Old Man nearly tumbled
to the floor in his aston;shment
Jake spoke in low tones Eyes, If
you promise me never to touch that
again." and he pointed Significantly TO-
the whisky bottle.
I'm course, Jake" said Old Man..
cheerfully. He would have promised
any thing at such moment.
"Hush-h-h!" said Jake Keep Quiet.
or Samanthy ill hear us You're old.
and you can't make fresh break; I'm.
young, and can, Don't let on to.
samanthy how it all happened, and
I'll just clear out"
"But about you?" faltered Old Man.
Jake smiled little bitterly Don't
you fret yourself about me- Old Man,
but sneak out, and harness the mare,
and 1'll start Slip the bells off or
what the fuss is all about"
Left alone, Tim Der Jake glanced
hurriedly round. and turned up the
lamp Samantha's album, a gift from
Isabel Fraser, lay on the wind ow-ledge.
Jake guiltily opened the book, gazed at
Samantha's lovely features, and cssayed
to shut it again. Hurricdly slipping
the photograph out of the album, he
was just about to place it in the breast
pocket of his coat when soft hand
touched his shoulder. and, turning, he,
found himself face to face with the fair
original.
Samantha was very pale Her lips
worked curiously, and she seemed
! undecided whether to laugh or cry.
"You would do this for mep" she asked.
'Beggar yourself-go out into the cold
night"-she shivered-' TOTO shield
my fnther This is your house. Don't
deny it; I've heard everything. Ibid not
go to bed at all. was curious and I
Il listened l could see there was
something wrong, 80 / made up my
mind to find out what it was. You
shall not go away-you shan't beggar
yourself for our sakes."
Old Man groaned lie had creps
noiselessly back into the room to say
that the mare was ready, and yyasanx.