Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-04-14
CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.
The promise of April had given
place to the fulfllments of June, filling
the air with summer sunshine and
beauty. Tad, under the supervision OF
Miss Smith. whose angular features
were shaded by an immense garden.
hat, was wedding the pansy-bed in the
front yard. Miss Smith, who was a
great fower-lover, made somewhat OF
a speciality of cuitivating sweet-peas
and pansies, which she gave away in
their season with a liberal hand.
You would hardly have recognized
Tad in the brown-faced boy, in blue
overalls, bending lovingly over the
quaint, upturned fower-faces that
peered into his own. He had taken to
his new vocation with surprising read
mess, and Miss Smith secretly congrat-
ulated herself on having at last found
boy after her own heart, though she
seldom allowed her satisfa 3tion to show
itself in the form of words.
Here cores that Forrest chap
teu-edly, as she glanced toward an
acknowledgement young man who
was sauntering along the elm-shaded
street; II wish he'd kept away about
his own business, and not come idling
round, taking your attention ofHn your
work.
For Mr.. Paul Forrest was one of John
Doty city boarders, who had scraped
an acquaintance with Tad very soon
after coming to Bixport. He seemed
to take a singular interest in Tad,
which, as he explained to Miss Smith,
arose from the boys strong resem-
blance to his youngest and only brother,
who had died year previous-"the
last one, excepting myself, of family
Of seven," he said, with q sad smile.
For Mr.. Forrest did great deal of
smiling, first and last; and, curious
enough, Tad, in some vague way, was
reminded by it of the genial Mr.. Jones,
whom he had met in Boston. before
coming to Bixport. Of course, this
was simply an absurd fancy on his
part. The fraudulent Jones was a
smooth-faced young man, with gold
tipped teeth-while Mr.. Paul Forrest
sported very glossy black mustache.
that had purplish tinge in certain
lights, and the whitest and most even
teeth that were ever seen outside a
dentist establishment; neither was the
little blueish scar visible upon Mr..
Forests white forehead, that Tad had
noticed upon the intellectual brow of
Jones. Yet, all the same, he often un-
consciously connected the two in his
mind, even while he laughed at his
own folly in so doing.
Miss Smith, good-morning-Tad,
my boy, how are you?" exclaimed Mr..
Forrest, with his ELUSIVE smile. as he
lounged idly up the garden-path, and,
with GOODNESS peculiar to himself, sat
down on the edge of the garden piazza
Miss Smith stiffly acknowledged the
greeting, and Tad, glancing up shyly,
said he was pretty well. He was lit
tie fattered by Mr. Forests evident
interest in himself-though he was not
quite sure that he liked it. after all. He
had nothing in common with the city
bred gentleman, and was rather puz-
zled to know what Mr.. Forrest could
have in common with himself.
Come into the house after you get
wedding, Tad; l want you,"
said Miss Smith, stalking past the una
Dashed Mr.. Forrest, who sat quite at
his ease, with the ivory head of his cane
between his lips.
"Yes'm," was the meek reply, and
Tad silently continued his work, wish
Ing that Mr.. Forrest would go, for he
was very well aware that Miss Smith
did not at all approve OF the gentle
mans frequent visitations.
In small village like Bixport, where
every body's business is public prop
erty, the story Of Tad and his travelling
sachel was generally known, as was
also the fact that no attention had ever
been paid to Captain Flaggs advertise
ment. So it was not strange that Mr..
Forrest should be in possession of the
same knowledge. He had referred to
the matter casually in conversation
with Tad, declaring that it was mighty
interesting incident in real life-come,
nowl
$50 YOU never opened the little alE-
gator-skin sachel, TO see what was in
Itch, TadP" suddenly asked Mr.. For
rest, after short pause.
"Why, no, sir! 1 haven't a key
and, if / had, don't think it would be
just the thing, either" replied Tad, a
little surprised at the unexpected ques-
ton.
"Oh, don't know" remarked Mr..
Forrest, coolfy; "there might be some
thing in it that would give you u clew
to the real owner"
That's true" murmured Tad, who
had never thought of this before.
II think it's your duty to try and
open it, continued Mr.. Forrest, seeing
the impression he had made.
But | couldn't without breaking the
lock, and | should not like to do that, :"
Tad answered, with perplexed look.
81 suppose you keep it in your pos
session. inquired Mr. Forrest, care
lessly; and Tad nodded. Then. why
not bring the bag over to my room this
EVENING" dare say some of my keys
will unlock It," suggested the gentle
man, blandlv.
"rn think about it, SIR" replied Tad,
cautiously. for he was not quite sure
that it would be just the right thing to
: do; and, moreover, he wanted to ask