The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-28

his life busted himself about many
things, but he had neglected the friend
making industry. Nor were his sins of
omission only. But while some of his
misdeeds came to light after his death,
that event also showed that he was in
nocent Of at least one crime of which
he had been suspected.
The story came out peacemeal, as Oc-
casion required; but we will hear 1t in
Its final AMI connected form, along with
Nancy and Nellie as they sat in the old
sitting room, before the wood fire, after
the vibrations of the first wonder. hor-
ror and bewilderment had been abated
by time. Tom Linton was the narrator
-Morford. as he was known to the world
Of electricians and men of affairs.
"HOw was it that my clothes We're
found on that drowned body? A simple
accident That night in the lookup,
Dick, the tramp boy, and I. made hole
through the rOof-he standing on my
shoulders to do it-and then we made a
rope by tying his clothes and mine to-
gether, up which / climbed. hand over
hand. Then we dropped down outside
and united the clothes. and put them
on again; but dressing in the dark and
in a big hurry, we got them changed
about We got down to the river and
started to swim 1t: got over all right
but poor Dick Il didn't find it out till
long afterwards) was drowned, and my
clothes misidentified him.
"Well, if he assumed my individuality,
I assumed his. l became a tramp-I
could do nothing else. I had plenty of
adventures, which will tell you some
time; at last got work to do In store,
and from that time l began to come
up! l changed my employers several
times, getting a better berth with each
change, but nothing that quite suited
me. Finally / was taken into an cleo
trical engineers office; and then knew
/ was right. The people soon found out
that took an interest in the business,
and that / was quick at picking UP
ideas; so the head man began to look
after me, and give me opportunities to
learn. ! studied and worked for all l
was worth. One day l made sugges-
ton about a piece Of machinery; they
tried my idea and found it was an i'm
provement: the boss got 1t patented for
me, and you may magine how pleased
was. 1t brought me some money. and
l used it in books and study; l made
up my mind to be another Edison. and
then to come back and make you rich
you two girls-and vindicate my repu-
tation. For the last two years worked
on a plan I had conceived of making
things grow by electricity applied
through the soil I managed. finally.
got my patent and you know the rest.
You can dress in gold lace and dia-
monds, If you want to, Aunt Nancy;
and as for you, Nellie, you are going to
be famous beauty and heiress!
"But you said you d tell me about the
fairies" said the child.
"Oh, yes! Well the beginning of that
Is away back. before l was born. or
Aunt Nancy either, for all know. But
my first knowledge of it was on the
very night Of the Corvin robbery.
"I'd been out that night after wood
chuck, as I said. at my examination
next morning; but l didn't tell where
else I'd been. You see. ! used to make
a sort of store-house and hiding-place
Of the cave; but there was secret at
the end Of the cave that no one but
knew Of, and there l used to put my
most precious valuables. 1t was faced
up with planks then just as you and
l saw them the other day, Nellie. l
had never explored the hole to the end;
/ didn't suppose there could be any
thing interesting In 1t; but on this night,
when went to put in my woodchucks.
ready to skin next day, l Thought I'd
see how far 1t went. Somebody before
my time must have known about it,
so carefully concealed there. l had a
lantern. and in l went.
ut was quite good corridor, and l
didn't have to stoop, though 1t was very
narrow. Instead of going down. as l
expected. 1t slanted up. and soon to my
establishment, l came to the foot of
sort of shaft. four or five feet In dame
ter, and going straight up. 1t was like
chimney. A kind Of rough ladder was
fixed to the side of 1t. and i began to
climb It. at first l couldn't imagine
where l was; the sides of the chimney
seemed to be Of wood. but crumbly and
rotten. There was a strong smell or
wood dry-rotted. Sometimes heard
fairt creaking and rustling sound
Then, all OF sudden, solved the mys-
terry. I was In the trunk of the big
butternut!
"Up went. I was pretty well ex-
cited with the adventure by that time.
but I had no conception of what was to
come. I got to the top of the ladder.
and there was little. irregular cham
Der, in the heart of the tree. not much
bigger than sentry box. partly fioored
with plank. and with bench or shelf
running round 1t. There were things
hanging or fastened to the walls; an old
gun, for one thing, and leather bag.
and various queer odds and ends, as II
some one used to live there. On one
side Of the shelf was box Of hard wood,
bound with iron. ! tried the lid and
found It unlocked. lifted 1t. and saw
great heap Of gold coins and bundle
Of papers!
II thought was Alladin. sure enough.
then I turned to find place to hang
my lantern, so I could have both hands
free. There was heap of something
lying or propped up on the bench be-
hind me; old clothes 1t seemed to be;
took hold Of 1t to move It aside, and got
hold of something that made my hair
rise. 1t felt like bony hand. pushed
aside the folds of decaying cloth, and
looked. It was q hand! And then,
shining yellowish white in the light of
the light of the lantern, I saw a face-a
skull, with the skin stretched dry over
xho O,ouas ana fho mouth erinning at