Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-09-14

SCOuuuTelS dTc ttcafiHS III aIo bO iiuc
and perfect that there is not one
chance in ten thousand of detecting
them, and ALI the detectives have failed
to unearth the slightest clue to makers
or users"
Lyman Tarsney had never been des-
perate or depraved. His sins had been
chiefly of omission rather than of COM
mission. He had never stolen aught
except precious time, and the happi-
ness and comfort of his wife and chill
dren.
He had always been one of those
sanguine souls who are content to wait
patiently for something to turn up,
instead of rolling high their sleeves
and turning up something for them
selves.
In the old home State he had done
fairly we'll, till finally he had conceived
the belief that in Missouri was located
the Ell Dorado where kindly nature re-
| turned maximum of reward for a
minimum of toll. Thlther he had
journeyed with his little flock, and
purchased run. down farm "on time"
The succeeding season was POOR one,
and Tarsney's minimum of labor
brought him so little of reward that
he was unable to make the necessary
payments on the farm, and in due
time lost it.
The family presently found shelter
in shabby rented house in the out
skirts of the village, and Lyman de-
generated by degrees into good
natured loafer, trader of horses and
catcher of tish-a worthless cumberer
of the ground.
The "green goods" circular came to
him like revelation. 1t aroused his
avarice and his long dormant ambi-
ton. He had never had his chance
before, he told himself; but now his
chance had come. The artful argu-
ments seemed prepared especially to
fit his case. They stilled his sluggish
conscience and blinded his dull eyes.
"The wealth and good things of this
world are too unevenly distributed. 1t
was never intended that one man
should have millions and another
nothing"
The words met with Tarsney's un-
qualified Endorsement. The appeal to
his desire for comfort in his old age
seemed like the pitying words of a
kind friend. True, it was counterfeit
money. Ha! Was it?
Did not the newspaper clipping
state that the notes were printed from
genuine plates made by the Govern
ment? What mattered it to him if
these plates had been stolen? 1t was
no affair of his. Was not the money
the same, whether printed with Uncle
Sam s sanction or without it?
The Government had millions,
billions for aught he knew, locked up
in the Treasury vaults, of no use to
anybody. Why should not he profit
| by Uncle Sans carelessness? The
tempter won.
The coming of dusk admonished
him of the fight of time. He placed
the precious documents carefully in
his pocket. When he reached nome
the scanty upper was waiting for
him.
'Poppy's tumi poppy's tum"
whooped the little white head two
sizes larger than the baby that wore
it.
There was always baby in the
Tarsney household These children
loved the shiftless, worthless father,
who was always good-natured, who
whitfield little toys for them, and was
ever ready with story.
He had no relish for the simple
supper that night. The food half
choked him. He noticed, he knew
not why, that his wife's cough seemed
worse than common, though In truth
it had been growing worse for weeks
unperceived by him. But the poor
woman looked more cheerful tonight
than was her wont.
She was not patching or mending
this evening, but was nursing the
feeble baby in idleness. Her thin
cheeks were family flushed. The
little white heads were happy and ex.
cited over something unusual.
"Dess what, poppy" piped the
head that was two sizes larger than
the baby.
'I'm to git all the fine washin' an
ironin' from the hotel" said Mrs.
Tarsney, with almost happy smile.
81 can make most dollar day out
of it."
Poor soull Happy at the prospect
! of added toll
can me and John are to begin
pickin' grapes at the nursery day af-
ter tomorrow" said Jim, ten years
old. "We'll git half cent pound.
81 made six cents herdin Mis- Bar
lows ducks this afternoon" chimed
in Lyddy, the eight-year- girl.
For long time these poor souls
had worked, saved and denied them
selves that they might return to the
old home State. The hunger for home
had been knawing at Mrs. Tarsney's
heart for many long, long day. She
had uttered little complaint, but had
toiled on, wearing her life out at the
washtub in the hope of one day re-
turning to the dear old home COM
munity. Sometimes she said hope
fully:
Maybe my health will be better
when we get back home"
The younger children knew only by
hearsay about the old home, but they
were all strong in the belief that it
was the happiest place on earth.
They were all of one accord hungry
fa uo No sol f-daniat tnn1inn 10 hrino ~