The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-16

head. In no time the wrist and head
were bandaged and ointment put on
the bruises, while she propped him up
comfortably with pillows. In a few
moments the strained look Of suffering
on his face relaxed.
THAT ointment be powerful sooth-
ing,' he said.
'Ah! that be some of my own
making" said Mrs. Warne compla-
Gently.
How long shall I be led up?" he
asked.
Il dunno for sure. Maybe a few
days, maybe longer. But you mustn't
talk, and 1 be goen to give you some
poppy water to send you to sleep.''
John be goen on nicely she said,
going to the outer room, where several
of the neighbors were still waiting;
"and I shall bide the night, so there's
no occasion fur you to STOP
When they were gone the two women
sat talking softly.
How Vong will he be laid up,
really?" asked Mrs. Long.
We'll, I'm afraid he w1ln't work
| again fur some time, fur he've sprained
his wrist pretty tightish."
"Oh, dear, what shall us do! And
only a fortnight to Christmas, too; and
the children, poor things, hev bin look
en- forward to it; they'll hev but a
pinched Christmas now"
BLESS me, Mary, don't meet trouble
halfway. Summat ull turn up afore
then, I don't doubt. Hev ye got any
thing in the house?'
':Scafcely anything. WI so many
| chilun, the money goes out as fast as
| it comes in"
"Weu, then, you take this said
| Mrs W1Ine, turning out the contents
! Of her purse. 'Tain't much, but it'll
help you on fur bit.'
''Oh, mother, I don't hardly like to
take it from ye''
Nonsense! You can pay me back
some day if you like; and if you don't
I shan't quarrel wi you. And don't
doubt I'll manage the childun's Christ
mas somehow, though I don't know
how now"
Mrs. Warne had not been home long
the next evening when she heard scuf-
fling footsteps approach, the door burst
open, and an old man rushed in. 'Lor-
a-mussy! Mother Warne, lor-a-mussy"
he calculated. If my fire bain't be-
witched! Come and say sommat over
it, fur the love O. mercy, or Ill be
blowed up" 1t was an old man who
lived in a tumble-down cottage on the
other side of the moor. He was a
wretched, half-clad old creature, though
reputed rich, and indeed was very COM
fortably off though so miserable he
would not spend a penny if he could
help it.
''Wait a moment, Sammel," said Mrs.
| Warne, putting on her shawl with an
expression Of triumph. III come and
see it, sure 'nough.'
When they got outside the moor
stretched ghostly in the light of the
stars, which were shining brilliantly,
for It was freezing hard. When they
reached the cottage, the fire had burnt
down somewhat but the old man
brought some fresh fagots and put them
on it. Mrs. Warnc taking good care to
station herself on the other side of the
room. In a minute or two The fire GER
tainly did begin to pop and explode in
the most extraordinary manner Bill
Holmes had well powdered it. and it
| flew all over the room. "LOr-a-musSy!
| ber>i. he old man again, his knees
shaking under him.
| "Sammel Simnons!' said Mrs. Warne
solemnly, rs they stood outside listen
ing to the fire popping away, twas by
no good you come by they fagots. Evil
sperrits wouldn't hae no powers over
'em if YOU had, and it is pretty plain
to see as they has now"
"Oh! Mis-. Warne, whatever shall
do? 1 dar'n't stay here wi them goen
on like thatr'
Il tells YOU what it tbs; you must
take all they fagots you has left-you
best know how you came by 'em-over
! to the crossroads and chuck 'em away"
You must come wi me. then, or I
be afeared out O. my life
No; 'twouldn't do no sense if I war
to go too; you must do as I says, and
go alone, or I wrn't answer fol-, it,
Law sakes! I can't go there by my
SELF" said Samuel, oppressed by his
guilty conscience
Yes, you must; and I must stay here
and watch the fire. You wun't come
by no harm if you does as I tell you, -
Mother Warne condescended to add.
At last she persuaded him to start,
giving him a final Injunction to say,
"Avaunt thee Satan! three times as
he threw the fagots away.
He went off, holding the bundle at
arms length.
herself as she re-entered the cottage.
iii warn't he'll hev a good fright,
and serve him jolly well right!''
She began to have a good look over
the old mans room. At last, in a cor
ner Of the cupboard, she discovered a
box hidden, to which she gave a vigor-
GUS shake. 1t was answered by a loud
rattle of money. She put it back in
it's place with a satisfied expression
IT al,ls did want to know if he'd got
money put away, as they said he had,'
she murnured. In the little back room
she found a small casket of coal, which
Mr.. Simmons had intended to last him
at least a week; but she put it all on
at once, soon having a blazing fire.
Now she placed the little kettle on it,
and going to the cupboard, took from
it some tea and made herself q cup of
it, Then she sat down by the fire,
warming her feet and slipping her tea
with an expression of complete content
ment.
Meantime, the old man, spurred by
his guilty conscience, was hurrying
over the moor, that showed ghostly in