Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-04-09

guard-haVc been for days and when 1t
comes l shall send it off again. guess 1
am match for John and an old woman"
While the lady was speaking an express
wagon drove up to the pretty front en-
trance, and the driver, dismounting, drop
ped the tailboard of his wagon and drew
very solid looking old fashioned bureau to
the back. Then, apparently remembering
that he ought to make some inquiries as
to the disposition of the article in his
charge before shouldering 1t, he opened
the gate and walked toward the house.
He did not get chance to ring, for Mrs.
Archer herself opened the door.
"You can take that old thing away
again. my good man. 1 do not want it
here
"Isn't this Mr. Archer's place."
Eyes, this is Mr. Archer's place. But,
don't you understand, don't want that
bureau. You are to take it away"
"But have only just brought 1t, and
where must take it tor Twas told by the
old man to bring it here Besides, sure, 1
wasn't paid for hauling it"
VERY well. will pay you for hauling
1t. How much is ftp"
"Seventy five cints," said the young
Irishman, with grin He evidently
thought this IA rum go but so long as he
got his Lay it did not matter much. And
the extra quarter would come in handy
Mrs. Archer raid him, ard as he turned to
go he said, Must take it lack to the old
place where I got it, ma amp
"Certainly not. II you did. it would
only have 30 be brought back here again.
Do what you like with it, my good man.
But don't bring it back here. -
"All right, ma am. You're sure moth
ing will lie done to mcf'
"Perfectly sure. The bureau was given
to me, and | refuse to take it. l give 1t
to you. DO what you like with it.
"All right, ma'a am glad this lady
hears the discourse My name is
ono, no, ! don't want your name or
address. l want to know nothing except
that you get that bureau away from my
front gate before my husband returns. "
"All right, ma 'am," the expressman
said for the third time He slipped the
three quarters into his pocket and walked
back to his wagon in the most deliberate
fashion, like one in deep thought. Mrs.
Dawson saw that her hostess was very
anxious to have him depart. But he was
naturally slow in bis movements, and it
was evident that the old bureau was a
kind of white elephant on his hands
But at lat he was off. and Mrs Archer
I
that she was in too excited a mood to en-
JOY her visit and with some regrotful
thoughts over her young friends future
] happiness the elder lady took her departure
Meantime Tim O'Flaherty drove about
to several secondhand stores to dispose of
his present. The first dealer refused to
take it at all, and the second offered him
only 80 cents.
" Deed and I'll not take that for it, -
said Tim It's an illigant chist of draw
ers. III take it home to my sisters to kape
the children's clothes in. It'll be fine for
that, sure!' So saying, Tim got upon his
wagon and drove away.
Here Maggie, me Jewell" he said a
little later to IA comely young Irish wom-
an, who, upon hearing the sound of a
wagon stopping, ran from her tiny cottage
in narrow street to "spake" to her
brother, here's an illigant chst of draw
crs for you. 1t was given to me by lady
bit ago. l was going to sell it, but just
in the nick of time l thought of you.
1.-The Lord bless you, Tim, for good
brother, said Mrs. Connolly. Its the
very thing of all that l want the most.
The childers' things be that mussed that
don't know what to do with them some
times
with it, for it is rather heavy to liftalone ~
But somehow Mrs Connolly was not
strong, or she was awkward, for the old bu-
reau went down with a thud-such a thud
that board clattered off the back and fell
with a fat package tied up in worn brown
paper into the gutter. Tim pushed the
package and the board aside with his foot,
while he instructed his sister how to take
hold of the old bureau to lift it up on the
curb. But his words fell upon dull ears.
Something about the package claimed his
sister attention, and she stopped down
and picked it up.
"We'n take this in first, Tim, " she re-
marked, "and if you push that chist back
there out of the road, Tom will get some
one to help him in with it the night.
niver was much on the lift"
"All right, Maggie. But must be Of
now. l have got a job waiting for me, tC
haul trunk. BY the powers, l ought tC
be there this minute"
"Not till we see what's in this ould Bit
of paper Faix, Tim, me boy, tbs money
l think ~
Faith, Maggie, You were always eau
ton for thinking things. But let us see
me jewell
In moment Tins strong hands hat
!
clamation from them both.
"Holy Mother! What n sight"
When the flat parcel was spread opeI
upon Mrs. Connolly clean kitchen table
it proved to be II lawyers folder for hold
/ ing legal documents, and it contained sucl
pile of treasury notes that it fairly bulge
and took the breath from Tim o Flahert!
and sister TO even try to count them. Blu
later, when they grew calm, they founC
that the sum total of the amount was $40,
600 in bills Of large denomination. Be
sides the money was IA queer little viii
containing the childish phrase, Finder
are keepers"
This simple little will was legally
: drawn, properly signed and duly wit
messed, and bore such "a recent date that i
must have been executed few days befor
; the old ladys demise. She had evidentl.
planned it as IA surprise for her nephew
and niece, never thinking that after he
! death the bureau would still prove unac
! Ieptable
Tim Flaherty and his sister made n,
= r Il a