The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-08-01
UNCLE sAMBUQ's FORTUNE.
by PAUL IRENE.

so often related the story of Uncle
Sambuq and his fortune that he had
finally come 10 believe it himself. The
simple truth of the matter was that
Peter Sambuq, a ne'er-do-well who had
given his parents no end of trouble, had
shipped as an ordinary seaman on
three-master one day in the year of
grace 1913, and had never been seen or
heard of since. The hard facts were
too ridiculous for the worthy friends
| and relations of the vanished Peter;
they could not understand how anyone
could set outfor America without reach
ing that continent and making for
tune; so the worthy people gradually
| evolved the idea that Uncle Sambua had
gore and done likewise, and would one
day return rolling in riches-of course,
to die in due time and leave his fortune
to them.
So the years rolled by, and Uncle
Sambuq's fortune grew bigger in the
Imagination of his people. The older
relatives died, and Master Trefume be-
came heir to his uncle. Now, it hap
pened one day that Trefume met
sailor whose acquaintance he had made
a year or SO previously. This man had
just returned from a voyage to the
states, and Trefume seized the oppor-
tunity to offer him glass of brandy
(contraband) and ask him if he had
heard of Uncle Sambuq while on the
other side.
The sailor, probably out of politeness,
and in order to please Trefume and his
wife, informed them that he had a dis
tinet recollection of having on several
occasions met an individual ION the
quayo OF New York; who was undoubt-
edly very wealthy indeed, and was the
eXaetimage Of Sambug. That settled the
matter; there could no longer be any
douht that Uncle Sambuq had reached
America and made his pile, as any other
reasonable person would do.
On the following day Trefume again
met the sailor-or perhaps it was the
sailor who made point of meeting
Trefume; be that as it may, the result
of the meeting was another glass of
brandy for the sailor, further questions
about Uncle Sambuq, and confidential
communication to the effect that the
stranger in New York was really the
long-lost Peter, for he had spoken to the
mariner concerning his relatives, aud
lad dropped mysterious hints as to his
intentions towards them.
The Trefumes became the envied ones
of the neighborhood. Uncle Sambuq
and his fortune-especially his fortune
were the chief topics of conversation
for many a day among the inhabitants
of the whole district. The Trefumes
lived happy and contented, patiently
awaiting the time when they would
have their share of the millions amassed
by Peter Sambuq.
A few months passed away One
morning, when he was least expecting
it, he received letter from New York.
The letter bore the seal of the French
embassy. Trefume carried that pre-
cious letter about with him all day
without breaking the seal, in order to
show it to his friends. Not till the
evening, in the presence of his wife and
children, his hands trembling with ex-
element, did he venture to open it. 1t
was somewhat bulky-probably it con-
tanned banll-notes. The papers were
carefully taken from the envelope and
proved to be--Sambuq's death certifi-
cate and brief note from the embassy.
$50 he is dead?" said his wife.
"Of course he is" replied Trefume;
doesn't the ambassador say SOP"
There was silence. None of them had
known the dead man, but they had
thought so much about him that it
seemed as though they had been on
intimate terms with him, and they
we're able to squeeze out a tear.
THE ambassador doesn't say any
thing about the fortune" observed Ire
fumes better half, wiping her eyes.
81 suppose you want him to tell us
all about it before the mans fairly
dead replied Trefume, sarcastically.
I'VE can wait, and he knows it. He'll
write again in day or two"
But, strange to say, the ambassador
omitted to write that other letter. As
he time went on surprise deepened into
.auXiety; a veritable fever-a gold fever
took possession of them; they lost
interest in everything, they could think
of nothing but Sambuq's millions, and
wonder what had become of them. At
length their anxiety reached such
pitch that Trefume announced his in
tentior of undertaking a journey to
New York-a decision which met with
the full approval of all concerned.
81 shan't be away more than a month
or two" said Trefume, "and the boy
can look after the boat. a few hun
dred francs won't break us; besides,
know / shall be i'll if | don't go and
see what's going on over there"
He Travelled to Havre and embarked
on vessel bound for New York. He
knew absolutely nothing of the great
city which he was approaching; he
could not speak the language-he was
as helpless as child in wood. He
began to get very anxious and looked
around for somebody to confide in and
obtain assistance from. He tried the
under steward, fellow countryman,
but the latter was too busy to be
bothered. Trefume, however, refused
10 be shaken off, and the under steward,
in desperation, glanced about for some
BODY to W HON he could refer the per-
sistent fisherman. and so get rid of
him.
"Herel" he said pointing to two of
the passengers; these are the men to
help you. They know New York so