Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-01

upward 10 tle ceiling
You won't be so fast, my friend,
when you hear how good q right I've
got to be here. That's Coralie, l sup
pose?"
Mr.. Bostock gave gesture of assent.
Fine girl Who might you be,
young fellow? | don't remember to
have met you before"
This was addressed to me.
Il have seen goa before, certainly"
You havel Where?"
"Up the river, when you were put
ashore from the steamer for cheating
with cards"
| spoke from impulse, just as | often
acted. 1t would have been wiser for
me to keep the words back. A little
reflection would have told me that this
was dangerous man, and that ought
not needlessly to incur his enmity. But
| had spoken, and the shaft had gone
home The mans evil face flushed and
paled. and he gave me vindictive look.
He addressed himself to Mr.. Bostock.
My business is with you, sir. /
want nothing with these people"
With a slight pause, he continued:
81 was at Boutellier's, in New Or
leans, yesterday. For the first time.
he refused to advance me anything.
only asked him for a hundred dollars.
He said you had stopped the account"
'lt has been so long since heard
anything of you"
''That you thought I was dead-eh?
You hoped so, no doubt If you'd
taken the trouble to osend to Boutellier,
he'd have told you that your money
never stayed very long in his hands"
lie Fevre whispered excitedly in my
ear:
what the devil does this mean?
Since have been there, the old man
has deposited thousands of dollars in
that bank, and not a cent has he
drawn from there. Who is this fell
low?"
Tell me what you want" said the
planter. "You promised me years ago
that you would not come near me
again. Go, now, and trouble me no
more"
''Give me two thousand dollars
first"
Mr.. Bostock turned to LIE Fevre.
make a check on Jacob Barker,
New Orleans, for the amount payable
to bearer"
Nothing that had thus far happened
had greatly surprised me. l knew
about this man what was not known
to Coralie or lie Fevre; and, while she
stood in CONSERVATION by her fathers
chair, the overseer did not cease to
regard the interloper with threaten
ing looks, as if he only wanted little
more provocation to attack him with
his fists. Amazed as he was by the
direction about the check, he went into
the other room, prepared it, and
brought it back on a book with pen.
Mr.. Bostock signedait with trembling
fingers.
''Give it to him.
The overseer took it and threw it
upon the lounge. The man who lay
there glanced at it and thrust it into
his pocket.
go" said the planter.
Pretty soon; don't hurry me. You
must remember that we haven't met in
many years. All your own fault; you
would have it so. Now you have COM
PEELED me to come here to get money,
you've got to acknowledge me-"
"No-nom
"You will You're likely to die be-
fore / do; and where shall ! come for
money then? You know was only a
boy when we moved from here; might
find it hard to get myself recognized
around here. 1t would be easier near
Vicksburg; but / want the witnesses
right here, in your own family. Tell
these people who / am"
"You are one of the devils who has
helped to make my life miserable" +"
was the despairing cry of the planter.
"Will You tell them?"
NO
every well. All La Fourche shall
know the whole truth tomorrow.
Mark me-the 'ohole truth, say!"
He turned to depart. Again he was
recalled.
"Do you promise to keep that secret?
Do you promise never to return here?"
81 viii keep the secret. will not
return here in your lifctime-provided
you keep my account good at lie Bou-
tellier's Now tell them!''
"Hold me up, Dorr-Le Fevre, stand
back; this scoundrel must be satisfied
and silenced. He wants me to tell you
that he is my son, Conrad Bostock.
That is true, acknowledge it."
His head fell on his breast; his
breath came hard and labored. His
daughter placed her arm about his