The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-05-15


"T heard of your mishap, Thomas,
I read it in the paper this morning. 1
trust you have suffered no bodily in
jury"
"Not bit, old fellow"
"Then you will find work enough, I
presume. Are you hungry2"
'T have had no supper.
''A1y cook will give you some. You
must excuse me, I am engaged"
'Say, Am," cried the castaway, as
his cousin turned to depart, 'can't you
find something for me to do2"
Ambrose shut his hands like one
who is taking the bull by the horns.
"No, Thomas, I cannot. Our lines
are cast in different places. You can
rest here for the night, and if you
need money for pressing emergency 1
shall not refuse you; but / may us
we'll inform you that L cannot give you
home"
"All right, old fellow. Small favors
thankfully received. I'll be right side
up in few days"
Ambrose directed his cook to give
the man food, and to show him to q
bed when he wished to retire; and
then he left. But the wayfarer did not
stop to test the viands of his cousins
larder.
Benjamin Leroy and family had
just sat down to the tea-table when a
peal of the door-bell called Molly from
her chair She kept no servant, and
she thought she could answer the sum-
mons better in the gathering gloom
than could her little daughter.
Benjamin heard the voice of his
wife in the tones of glad surprise, and
he started up from the table, ,and went
out into the hall.
"what-Tom, old fellowl-is it
you?"
"Aye, Ben, it's what there is left of
me-"
"Youre safe and sound?"
"Sound as nut. ="
"And you're just in time, too. Come
and eat, and we'll do the talking after
ward"
And he dragged Tom into the sup
per room; and when he had viewed
him in the light he exclaimed:
"Bless me, old chap! you're look
ing rs hearty as a buck-a little
dragged but wen soon smothe that
out. -zounds when read, this morn
ing, that you were on board the Dio-
mel, it gave Molly aud me start; but
when we knew you were safe it was all
right"
And Tom sat down to the well-filled
board, with Ben's warm pressure thrill
ing upon his hand, and the sisterly
kiss of Molly still upon his lips, and
he was ut home.
Later in the evening, after the chill
dren had been put to bed, and after
Tom had donned pair of Ben's slip
pers, and one Of Ben's easy coats, they
sat and talked. Tom told of the storm
and the wreck and he also told Of ad-
ventures which had befallen him in
Cuba, where he had been spending
several years in setting up and run
ming steam engines upon large sugar
plantations. Finally he asked Ben of
his own business. How was tho world
using himP"
"It's oil right, old fellow, was Ben's
cherry response. 81 aint doing so we'll
rs some, but am aboveboard, and I
have faith in myself. At all even ts, I
have good home n good wife and
room at my board for friend. SO
make yourself easy, my boy, and dream
pleasant dreams.
Tom made further inquiries, and
at length it came out that Ben just ut
the present was debarred from grand
bit OF fortune for the want OF money.
"Why, here it is, said he, when
pressed for an explanation: You re-
member the old Belknap farm? Well,
the railroad are going to put up de.
pot there aud make a regular station
for all the accommodation trains. l
have the contract for the building. The
Belknap heirs will sell for forty
thousand dollars and of their farm OF
of almost two hundred acres full
hundred acres lie handy to the road,
and the land is simply magnificent for
residences. The thing is not generally
known. But few know yet that the
depot is settled fact. 1t is my firm
conviction that within three years
that piece of property will be worth