The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-12


West Indiana street Amund ran ND the
'front.' steps with the Little Chap in his
arms to show off his cottage, and the
VIE and the five girls, all bundled up
with scarfs until they looked like walk
ing haystaclSs, scrambled out of the
wagon as best they could. Farley had
promised to BIO there with tho keys, and
formally put the now owner in posses
sion. 1t annoyed Amund good deal
when his first and second ring at the
ooorDeH remained unanswered, and still
more annoyed was he when at the third
q man who had not the least resem-
blanoe to Farley opened the door and
asked him. in language moro vigorous
than polite, what no wanted
Il have bought this house, AM
und said, with an air of righteous in
dlgnation, land I was told by Mr. Far
Icy that You We're to move out on the
LIST of April"
The occupant Of tho house smiled an
extremely unpleasant smile and asked
ooldly. Whom did you buy it of2''
Mr.. Farloy'
That is n great pity, for he never
owned it,
"But where is her He promised mo
the keys last night
He has gone west"
Gone wost?" An Icy terror clutched
ct the Norsemal' 8 heart and ho reeled
backward az If he hsnl been struck.
Good GodP' he groaned. sinking down
upon tho topmost step Good Godv'
The Little Chap seeing his distress,
wound his arms tightly about his neck
and rubbed his cheek against his face.
He sat thus for five or ton minutes,
while the five blond bundled up girls
stood OH the sidewalk staring at him
with innocent stupidity. Then the man
of the house reappeared and ordered
them in harsh language to move ON.
And when they only continued to stare
i'll MISUNDERSTANDING wonder two po-
Hocmen were sent for, and tho whole
family were huddled into patrol wag-
on and driven to the nearest police sta
iton There AInund, under the stress of
answering the required questions, was
aroused sufficiently from his dumb mis-
cry to send for u Norwegian lawyer, who
presently made his appearance He lis
tened to the carpenters story and then
shook his head nlournfully.
"You have been swindled, my
friend, " he ssid You ought 10 have
been more cautious
'But-but, lawyer" the poor fellow
went on. gazing into his face, with an
anguished expectancy, "he-he-eold
me-tl,e house-And here I've got the
papers It's ali right surely Amt it,
lawye1e''
Tho lawyer looked ns the paper which
was handed him and then dropped it
contemptuously on tho floor.
"a very clumsy forgery he said
"But-but-hc couldn't surely sell
observation-disclosures didn't belong 10 him,
laNTypr?''
"Ye~s he oould. if Any ono was fool
enough t. buy"
But, lawyer say, lawycr-<io you
mean to say now. that-that 1 have
worked and shaved nigh ON to three
year, and often starved and skimpod
myself. for the Little Chips slke-do
you mean b say that-that man is to
have it, and not my Little Chapr'
Beads of cold perspirntion hurst out
upon hi. brow, and the panied wonder
and stunned bowildcrnpnt in his face
were pitiful To behold. His slow wits
could not yet grasp the situation, and
he was obviously hoping against hope
that there was some terrible misun-
Outstanding vt tle bottom of it all, and
that sooner or later it would be cleared
up
The lawyer had in all his practice
never encountered so heartrcnding a
c:lfs- He weighed his words we'll before
he answered, My dear friend. you
have paid dearly for your first expert
encn III the ncT world
AInund. taking slowly the bearings
of this remark, stood before him with q
vacant look of dawning terror then
, trcmblingly I've raised his hands toward
the ceiling and cried, with frightful
energy, But God, what are you doing
up there i'll heaven when such things
caul happen upon tho earthT'
There was hush w of death in the
station room III the presence Of so
monstrOus II wrong every one stood
helpless and little awcd After the
terrible explosion of despair Amund's
head dropped upon his bro<ist. his knees
tpttcrcd. and he fell in u heap upon the
floor.
The Little Chap who had stood with
hts hands il his pockets, puzzled frown
upon his face during this strange scene,
grew suddenly alarmed us his father
fell. He stTove bravcly to disguise his
distress which he held to be unmanly,
but his lips Qnivored, and his eyes were
full of tears
Dad" he said. STOPPING over the
! pWstrato form of his father. with a
touching air of loving protectorship,
dad / wouldn't take on so if 1 were