The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-05-06

eyes most uninviting collection of
the specimens he had gathered the day
before.
professor Puckaber! Professor
Pucksber! Professor Puckaber p
called the Dame three times before
an answer came.
"Hey!" said the professor without
looking up.
DINNER Come to dinner!"
"Yes, ,antediluvian beyond doubt y
declared the professor, absorbed in
the task before him.
"No, professor" returned the Dame
gaily; "the dinner isn't antediluvIan ;
it is rather modern affair of Hopping
John (peas and rice). tomato pilau,
broiled fish, sweet potatoes and corn
bread. Do como, or it will be cold"
Then she took him by the arm and
coaxed him away from his specimens,
marching off with him triumphantly
to dinner, for between the Dame and
the professor there was genuine good
comradeship. He had been her
fathers classmate and was now his
best and closest friend.
"Inoticed your father was disturbed
at dinner" said the professor later
that afternoon to Aznlea.
This went plainly to show that, al
though the professor could get SO alb.
sorbed in stones and bones and the like
as to forget his dinner, he yet had eyes
for other things.
A cloud came over the bright face.
She stopped in the path where she was
walking with the professor to look up
into his eyes, her own beginning to
grow misty with tears.
"Ho was disturbed. o, dear Pro.
fessor Puckaber, rs his best and deur-
est friend, it need not be kept from
you. l am sure. My father is about
to lose his home"
"What? Bless my eyes!"
They were very bright eyes, despite
the years they had seen, usually shin.
ing like stars when the professor took
Oft his glasses. But now they seemed
to be troubled with sudden dimness.
"He only told us to-day" went on
the Dame sadly. 'Oh, 1t is hurting
him go! He loves the place, for he
was born here and here every year of
his life has been passed. But now it
must go, for it is mortgaged. and those
who have the mortgages will wait no
longer"
"What is the amount of the mort
gages2" asked the professor.
"Three thousand dollars"
GA pretty good sum! But the case
isn't as bad as | thought" he added.
Then he asked: "How long time has
your father? That is, how long will
it be till the men come to claim the
place?"
81 think father said he had thirty
days"
"Thirty days? Well, that is rather
short. But much can be done in thirty
days. And see here, Miss Azalea Ed.
gerton," pushing back his glasses, to
gaze at here with the most engaging
frankaess, "vou and l are the ones by
whom it is to be done"
81, Professor Puckaber?"
"Ycs. you, my Dame Purraway."
ooh, you surely are laughing at me -
and there was note of pain in her
voice. "What could l do? Oh, if
only couldl"
"Of course you can, announced the
professor, decidedly. "Now listen,
Dame Purraway-by the way, that
was quaint conceit of your father TO
call you that am going to take you
into partnership. Puckaber and Pur
raway, how does that sound? Fine, eh
Now hearkcn, Partner Purraway
Well, suppose you know, for am
sure you have heard your father say,
the company by which am engaged
sent me out here to locate some
valuable deposits. So far l haven't
found them, that is to the extent
hoped, though l think I'm not fur
from the scent. But want the help
of your younger and keener eyes.
Your father tells me you are the
greatest little woodsman in all the
country round"
"Yes, professor" she said, with
some pride. "I do know a great deal
about the pine lands of South Caro-.
lima; the dearest lands in all the world
to me-" she added, her eyes shining,
"because was born among them"
"And about the ugliest, declared the
professor with candor." That is the lob
lolly pine lands, and the poorest, too,
in themselves. But, if l am not mis-.
taken, Partner Purraway, there is that
in these same poor lGuds as will yet
make the fortunes of some of their
owners. have my eye now on Ear
eel or two of land where | am sure the
treasure is, only l don't want to locate
it here" his eyes sweeping the rather
stunted stretch OF forest thnt lay
around them. "Guess why, Partner
Purraway?"
"These are my fathers lands" an
nouuced the partner, promptly.
| "Exactly. You'll do for the part
nership, l see. Widea wake as to in
terests."