Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-11-10
CHAPTER Y.
THE TANNING OF 4 LAND SHARE.


1 had no definite plan as to how
was to accomplish my darling wish OF
going to Mr.. Bostock. The landlord
was a clever sort of man who thor
oughly disliked the deacon, and, as he
had been quite friendly with my IA
ther, it occurred to me that ] could
claim his hospitality for little while,
till I could get the means to pay him.
/ found him alone, and briefly de-
scribed what had happened. l thought
he would go into convulsions. His fat
sides shook with laughter.
''Weu, now, that's glorious! The
best thing I've heard for year. Tried
to lick you, did he? Would you really
have knocked him down with the
stool?''
Indeed l should, if he'd come with
in reach of it."
But did you really and truly call
him canting old hypocrite?"
''Yes"
''Wel, I'm poor enough; but I'd have
given five dollars to hear it. The man
heard the truth about himself for
once. You're welcome to stay here till
you can do better. Did the deacon say
anything about settling with you2"
Settling? | don't understand"
Don't you suppose he owes you
money!"
"What for?'
"Why-he's your guardian; or was
Hasn't he ever said anything to you
about the state of your account, or
given you any money!"
"Never. What do you mean?"
1.-THE old sharkl He's trying to
swindle you, as he has some other
orphans"
AS soon as the landlords indigna-
ton had cooled, he gave me an ex-
planation that surprised me. He said
that the mortgage on which my fathers
farm was sold was small in amount,
and that the farm sold well. There
was surplus, which had been paid in
to the hands of Deacon Halleck, as my
guardian.
TON Brough, the lawyers clerk,
was here last night, talking about it.
He says that, with a liberal allow
ance for your board and for guardians
fees, the deacon ought to have five
hundred dollars for you"
Give hundred dollars!'' faltered
"How am to get it?"
"Ah-there is the troubled / suppose
Tom Brough has no business to blab
the secrets of the office; but when he
has glass in, he'll tell me anything.
He says that Deacon Halleck has made
great deal of money out of estates,
and defrauded many widows and or
phans, by large bills, delays and all
kinds of law-obstacles. He says that
is just what will happen to you. No
matter, Dorr; I'll stand by you. III
get some lawyer or other to take your
case, and you can stay with me till it's
decided
sat pondering on this revelation.
'Tt'n take time," said.
"Yes-of course"
"And perhaps the deacon might make
it appear that he don't owe me any.
thing"
Hes capable of swearing to any,
thing; and you'll have to take your
chances with him, of course But I'd
follow him up"
Hes rich and has position and in
fuence; I'm nobody l said, continu-
ing to pile up the obstacles.
"You have friends, tell you! Just
take my advice"
''Thanls you, Mart, believe I'll try
another way first"
what way?"
A sudden inspiration had seized me.
II can't tell you; it's between the
deacon and me; I'm going right back
to see him"
1t was not more than an hour from
the time that left the home of my late
guardian when | entered it again.
There was a little den off the dining
room where deacon kept desk, the
pigeon-holes of which were filled with
his notes, leases and mortgages.
knew his habits, and relied upon find
ing him here at that hour. He looked up
from some accounts that he was poring
over, and scowled as he saw me.
"What brings you back here?" he-de-
manded.
II was in too great hurry to leave,
just now. I've come back to have a
settlement with you"
He turned sharply, and faced me.
"What do you mean?"
"I want you to account to me as my
late guardian. It's my belief that
there's as much as five hundred dollars
coming to me-"
A contemptuous smile curled his thin
lips.
You're getting along famously, in
deed What other gossip have you
heard over at the tavern?''
''Will you settle with me?"
Look here-you impertinent jacka-
napesl There is nothing to settle. The