Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-07-19

no BTedJ luSh' 4, .,t
produced his deed of the Musseishell
property and handed 1t to his brother,
"Sit near me and read it; jerry" nc
said, seizing pen, "and DO not reau
faster than l can copy"
Taking their places at the desk, tho
brothers entered upon their labor, Jerry
reading the old deed carefully and slow
ly, while Hiram proceeded to trace tho
new one.
"That's all right" finally calculated
Jerry, with long breath of relief.
"Somehow fancied, Hiram, you wero
intending to trick me-"
"How trick you?"
81 didn't see how, but know you were
none too good"
"The pot should never call the kettle
black" Interrupted the merchant, smil-
ihg grimly, as he touched Gull be l.
"Tbc notary will be here in a minute to
witness the deed, and trust you will
have docehcy enough not to Insult me IN
his presence.
him an order, and brief interval OF
silence succeeded, which was broken by
the appearance of notary.
"a deed to sign and deliver, Mr. Nor
r;s. y said Hifam Skidder without taking
the trouble to present his brother to tho
newcomer. ats all ready for our sig
natures"
The document was duly perfected and
handed to Jerry, who counted out tho
So .O,O0O agreed upon, and the notary
hfter a few Words in the ear of his client,
took his departure.
It would be hard to SOY which Of the
two brothers was the most delighted a5
the transaction. Their mutual eXpaE-
sion was tremendous.
"Ahd now for the other half OF this
property, Hitam," said Jerry, gaining
his feet and securing tie deed in his
pocket, with suppressed jubilance "How
far is it to Inglehem-t the home OF
cur brother-in-law, (harlest Tower, who
bought these lands with you?'
about eighteen miles, jerry" replied
the merchant, who was in the act of dc"
posting in his desk the money which
had Just been handed him.
There are trains every hour OF two,
Go doubt?" pursued Jerry.
"Oh, yes; every half hour, think, at
about tn S time OF the day But why do
hsk?"
"Natura'ly," explained the visitor, 81
am going to Inglcheim to see Charley
Tower, the husband of our sister Mary,
to buy his interest in these lands, and
III frankly warn you, Hiram"
"Oh, save your threats jerry" inter
rupted the merchant, with insOlent jubi-
OT .ol1 Mt N
warn Tower of your coming or of your
errand. The fact is he has been dead
over year!"
jeremiah Skidder dropped heavily into
the chair from which he had arisen.
"Bealy?" he muttertd seeing the
merchant was perfectly serious. "Then
| shall have to deal with 81 ter Mary,
and that will suit me bctter; women are
so easily wheedle1."
"But sistor Mory is dead, tool" con-
tinued the merchant in the Same tone
and with the same aspect ho would have
displayed in mentioning the price of a
ward of tapo. "Sho died last week,
Jerry!"
"Indced? Then I shall have to deal
with their daughter" declared tho
visitor, without the least expires 'ion OF
sorrow. "Lets sce-what was her
name? I've forgotten it,"
"Hernam is Elie, said the merchant.
"She was here an hour ago, asking me
for little assistance, but l turned her
off without penny"
"Then she don't know the value of her
| inheritance, OF course? Good! Capital
| can buy her out for a few hundreds.
She has gone back to Ingleheim, oil
course?"
Tho point is uncertain. In any case,
It would do you no good to see her. The
title you are seekin does not rest in her,
Jerry. The truth is, Charley Tower sold
| his half of the Musse!shell property some
two or three years ago."
"fmpossiblo," cried Jerry, springing to
his feet again and looking startled.
"Tho fact is TerGect'y certain"
"But who bought him out?"
"Perry Wynaus-my cashier.
"For how much?"
"FOur hundred dollars"
"Four hundred" gasped jerry, turu-
| ing pale "YOu cannot mean it,"
81 am telling YOU the ex ct truth.
"And you permitted it"
81 didn't know any better at the time
Jcrry," said the merchant, his face sud
denly lighting up with concentrated
wrath and disgust "YOu had been tell
ing US for years in your occasional let
tcrs that the lands were of no account
and Tower and | were fools enough tC
believe you"
@And where is this Wynans?"
"Ie has started West, as you may sec
by this letter"
He handed the farewell epistle of hi
| ex-cashicr to Jerry, who literally writheC
while reading it.
Destruction" he ga ped, on reaching
the signature "The follow Is posted
The cat is out of the bag He'll be ir
Montana before l am. He'll learn al
the facts in the case. l shall never be
able to buy him out-neyer! never!"
The very excitement of the old mar
tended to make his younger brother
angry, so terribly did it remind him Of
what he had lost by tie falsehCols anC
dcceptions hcape1 upon him.
"The lands are prize, then?" he
cried, his face livid with passion.
"A pri7o Hiram?" returned Jerry
carried away by his emotions "They'r(
the biggest thing on earth! We have
discovered two gold mines on the prop
erty from which we have been taking
| thousands of dollars day!"
"And yet"
With cry like that of maniac,
Hiram Skidder sprang to his feet anC
caught up the chair in which he haC
been sitting, swinging it aloft and ap
preaching his brother.
"And yet, you internal rascal" h,
cried, "you have the cheek to come hero
and offer me $500 for half interest in
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