The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-10-09

when he was dying? Yes, Wen ma
some clew on the clock. ] have a pre-
sentiment that our disappointing quest
Is at an end" he continued, nervous
ly mounting chair. His sister stood
at his side. holding aloft the pickering
candle. Harold was feeling In the dust
and cobwebs when the old clock gave
groan, the cuckoo came 10 the door and
repeated it's hollow note; there was
harsh screeching. and the dilapidated
timepiece tumbled in n heap. There
was a shrek; the candle fell splutter-
ing 10 the floor and the two ran like
guilty things from the room. They
stood in the empty hall for moment,
painting with fright and peering fur
lively into the dark; then fastened to
their apartments.
Morning was stealing gray and shad-
owy through the quiet old building
when Harold stole down the stairway
10 where lay scattered the wreck Of the
old clock. He searched amid the debris,
and brought 10 light bit OF yellow,
time-stained paper. He brushed the
dust from IL and read. In n cramped
Al last There WINS no hurry now.
Harold was perfectly calm as he pushed
the paper In his pocket and stepped
10 the stairway 10 call his sister. She
came hurrying down presently, her
heart al a-hutter with agitation.
Harold, have you found it?" she
asked, huskily.
He bowed his head. and the glow Of
triumphant satisfaction on his face was
pitiful. He led his sister gently along
the hall TO the old rotting stoop. Here
they sat down IN the crimson glow OF
sunrise, and Harold opened the paper
and read;
"Dear wife: In trying 10 atone for ons
/ sin / have been guilty OF another-pcrhaps
i a greater But when you know NIL. am
sure YOU VIII forgive me- / will be brief.
\ When n child ] was left an orphan
wealthy and chlldless couple adopted me,
was reared I'm luxury. and when old
enough / was sent Off 20 college. While
there / made the acquaintance Of some
dissipated young men, and soon learned
| 10 drink and gamble ~ was not long untll
/ was deeply involved In debt-debts OF
honor as they were called. was ashamed
to ask my foster-father for the large sums
! nhtNfNs nut hflik AilAfAA'iA'A W. -
posture ! promised 10 satisfy my creditors
on my return from vacation, II they would
| wait.
Parks were not as common then as now,
and I had learned that my father kept his
| money IN an Iron box i'm the study Ills
keys he always carried with him. The
/ night before ! was 20 return 10 school
stole 20 his room and secured them. j
had intended 10 take only a sufficient sum
10 pay my debts but when the chest with
It's treasure lay open before my eyes a
wicked impulse ovcrmastered me ana
decided that Il all should be mine. packed
the money In my portmanteau, locked the
box, fastened the study door. returned th'
KEYS 10 my fathers pockets, and, returning
TO my room. waited impatiently the com
ing OF day. 10 CHANGED the following morn
ing. II being n busy season, that serVan,
could not be spared TO drive me over te
the railroad. ! was TO so over alone and
the team sent for later
"There was swollen stream on my
route and as / drove In sight scheme oc'
CURED 10 me that had not thought or.
stopped the buggy at the waters edge
and. lifting my grip 20 the roadside, cast
the reins over the dashboard, ana theI
gave the horses n cutting lash. They
/ pIunped with a bound into the muddy
water I watched them until they reached
the further shore. and then concealed my
self IN the woods. They would think ms
]
THAT night / walked 10 distant sta
ton and took train for the west Aftei
years OF aimless wandering ever stuni
with remorse, / came to this place ant
opened my farm. / resolved 10 make wha
restitution was possible, the larger par
OF my ill-gotten wealth by this time nav
ing been squandered. SO scant was tn
living that / took from my farm that
/ soon became known as Miscr Furgis. wa
/ glad for Il made me more secure IN ~
purpose and my concealment. i sent th
proceeds OF each years crop 20 the widow
OF my foster-father, for he had died sooi
after my flight ] have, at last, roturne'
every dollar OF the stolen money, and tn
. ! farm free from inCumbrancc Il yours
This IS my story. | need not speak or tn
rcmorse. the fear, the suppressed love tina
/ have felt all the sad years. Forgive me
p and think Of me as your loving husband
-. H. FURGlS."
The paper fell nuttcring 20 the steps
/ 4 breath of air caught and whirleC
il out over the tangled weeds. Harold
gazed for moment toward the sunris'
that flared red above the trcetops, theI
his head sank TO his knee and n groaI
: burst from his lips. His sister wa
weeping silently, her head on his arm
D Motionless. silent they sat for minutes
{ then Hettie, looking up through he
tears, said softly: Brother, | neye
J dreamed that IL would be like this"
, There was no answer. lie rose an'
= staggered into the shadow Of the door
] way.
e For weeks there was not sign OF If
about the old ruins. But one brigh
morning Harold came forth a new man
and went energetically TO work. Nov
the tenant houses are occupied, the farm
T BLOSSOMS ms the rose" and hnndsom
r modern structure crowns the eminence
: Harold and lIettie found where thei
r treasure lay hid.-N. O. Times-Demo
e crat.
/ ===