The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-06-04

This is Catron's store, and the place
! next door-well, if that isn't nerve!"
The exclamation pointed at slim
figure standing before a doorway over
which swung faded sign bearing the
inscription Simon Pragmore, Notary
Public" The figure lifted it's slouch hat
at sight of the carriage and its occu-
pants, and out of its sallow and immo-
bile face came the courteous saluta-
ton: Good mawnin, Mistch Thorn
dyke; glad to see you loollin' so we'll,
seh"
81 suppose that is Mr.. Pragmore
said Helen, n little later.
Philip was wrestling with ghost of
indignation. "Of course it is; and to
think that he has the assurance to come
back here and go on with his business
as though nothing had happened I've
mind to stop over and revive the
charge against him."
Indeed you won't do anything of the
kind" retorted Helen, and Philip
changed the subject.
Have you seen enough of the place."
he asked.
Eyes"
"Well, I haven't. Drive back up
Broadway past the Guaranty building,
and then take the road up the Little
Chiwassee"-thi last to the old negro.
Opposite the Office building of the
defunct town company they stopped
again. When the crash came there
were many sufferers, and evidences
of rascality on the part of the COM
pany's agents were not lacking. There
had been mob and riot, and the COM
pany's offices had suffered first and
most. The four-stored building OF brick
and stucco had been first gutted and
then bombarded with such missiles as
impotent rage could find. 1t stood grim
and gaunt, with battered walls and un-
glazed openings; monument more pit
lful than its fellows, and yet less
worthy, since its owners gained where
all others lost.
Helen shivered and drew her wrap
closer, as if the desolation made her
cold. Lets go on" she said Its
too dreadful; it's like being in a ceme-
terry with the graves all opened and the
dead people staring at you out of their
broken coffins!'
so fleet the works Of men
Back to the earth again."
quoted Philip, giving the order to the
driver.
When they had passed the dsmantled
Johannisberg, with its once beautiful
lawn grown up into a weedy desert,
Philip pointed to last summers corn
field across the Little Chiwassee.
THAT was e-by-the-Stream in
my day." he said. Lots sold over there
for $3.50 a front foot"
The old negro pulled his horse into
an unwilling trot, and the carriage
rolled around the shoulder of Johns
mountain in a cloud of yellow dust;
the ruined street suddenly became u
quiet country road, and the dead city
lay behind them. An hour later they
had climbed the spur bounding the
Scotchmans farm, and Philip pointed
out q comfortable stone farmhouse
nesting against the sloping bosom of
the mountain.
That's Duncan's," he said, as they
ratified down to the gate; land there's
Elsie-Mrs. Robert Protheroe, should
say-standing in the door with my god
son in her arms"
They were expected, though not until
later IN the day, and Mrs. Duncan and
Elsie were presently in a hustle of kind
ly hospitality that carried Philip swift
ly back to the days of his exile.
Jamie an Robbie'll be home to the
dinner" said Mrs. Duncan. They've
just gone up the mountain to fess auld
Johnnie down to greet ye, Master
Thorndyke."
And how is old Johnnie ?" inquired
Philip, trying to win some token of
recognition from the small philosopher
in Elsie's arms.
Yell not see the change O. day in
him. replied the mother, and the
daughter added: "He has but one
trouble now, and you're responsible for
that; he can't begin to spend his income.
and he will persist in burying it under
a stone in his fireplace"
Philip laughed, and then it suddenly
occurred TO the good housewife that
her guests must be craving the privacy
w AtlSI Is lllC llIllt-ilOIlOIGC III OF tray
elers in all climes; whereupon there
was more kindly hustle, and Philip and
Helen were shown up to the little bed
room under the caves.
Helen sat down on the bed while
Philip was unstrapping the valises.
shes pretty, Phil, very pretty, and
sweet enough to be taken without
sugar, think"
Who? Mrs. Duncan?" asked Philip.
without looking up.
"Of course not!"-with impatient
scorn-"Mrs. Duncan's daughter And
nnder the circumstances, Phil, l think
You deserve great credit for not falling
in love with her; do, really"
Philip tugged at the straps until he
grew red in the face. perhaps L
should if Protheroe hadn't stolen
march on me. imagine it was as good
MS settled between them long before
my time"
THE END.