The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-08-20

tAsIn mp, and they sparhed IN the morn
ing Sun.
When all we're ranged before him, he
shook his head. 'Tt would be madness
to risk II, " said he. 'IfImarried Polly,
women be them eorkseFeWs, she'd have
the whole story out Of me, and they be
that chatterboxes, they can't help talk
ing, and she'd bleb about it TO every one
in the place. Then I'd have the crown,
and the duchy, and the lord o. the
manor, and the paTsOn and the Lls
commoneFs down on me Tor demanding
their shares. Be hanged If I'll risk It,
Women is terrible dangerous animals
with their tongues. never to be trusted. .
Then in went all the treasure again
into the coffin that had contained and
preserved 1t for 1000 years.
81 know what I'll dc" said Jos. 'I1l
build my new-taks wall right over this
old grave, and then no one can geS at
the treasure without pulling down the
wall"
Little did Jos suspect that he was
being watched, and that his every word
was overheard by Polly herself, who
was behind the rock hard by, where she
had picked up flint chips and fakes.
Slowly, painfully, Jos Day worked at
his wall. He succeeded in carrying it
over the eairn, and thus he secured his
treasure from being disturbed, and thus
was it made fast against the rainy
day.
In the course Of the next three months
he had completed the Enclosure, and
had taken from the common tract Of
good land Of five-and-twenty acres in
extent.
About this time Mary Aggett's mother
died. Jos pitied her greatly, the cottage
was so lonely for the girl. His heart
grew soft when he saw her in black.
BLESS mel" said he. IF I lived in that
cottage it would save me half Of my
journey every day, but I won't risk it. "
Shortly after this a great surprise
came to him, One morning he found in
his new take" a flock Of sheep all
branded N. A.
Gracious bless usi" exclaimed Jos.
"How ever came the sheep there2 I'll
run ask Polly, she may know. She must
ha' seen some one drive 'em this way"
He went to the cottage and spoke in
heat: MARY. some owdacious radicals
have been turning sheep into my new
take during the night. They are
marked NJ. A."
They are mine, JOS"
''YOws, Polly2"
"Yes. TWAS very kind and consider
ate Of you, Jos, to inclose 50 many
acres for me, I thank you with ell my
heart"
Enclose for you'll It is my new
takel"
There Is some misunderstanding, ("
answered the girl. "The new take is
certainly mine. I have been to the
lord Of the manor and have bought it
IS acres at so much gold per acre. I
have the papers ali drawn out"
"Yoursl Where did you get the
money!"
That was a question Mary did not an
swer.
After much consideration Jos said,
falteringly; This is a pretty go! How
am I to be paid for the walling?"
'I'm sure I can't think, JOS"
"But ithas engaged me of and on for
IS months. Fifty pounds wouldn't re-
ray my labor. can't afford"
81 really am sorry for you"
There is only one way out Of it." ex-
claimed Jos, "that I can see; and that
is by changing the brand on the sheep
from a to D, and by Jumping together
my wall and your land"
well, I'm not particular, answered
Mary, and 50 the matter was settled.
They were married, and Jos found
that he had secured not Only a very cap
ital bit of land, but with it a very
thrifty, witty and wise wife,
At the close Of the first twelvemonth
there were three in the house in the
place Of two. At the end Of the second
year the number had mounted to five,
for the second addition to the family
consisted In twins.
But the conscience OF Jos was IN
easy. Something stood between himand
Polly. He had a secret from her, and
that is ever a barrier to connubial unity.
Christmas was approaching. Jos re-
solved to make clean breast Of it and
tell Mary everything.
Christmas day arrived and Joe put on
his Sunday coat and lowered his ewes
kit" took his lever and went forth.
''Polly," said be, "come along. I've a
surprise fOryOu." Hedelfberately threw
down portion Of his nsw-take wall,
discovered the lid OF ths stone chest,
levered it aside, and then jumped into
the box. Next moment he rose out Of
it blank with despair, trembling with
disappointment. His treasure was
gene.
By the side Of che eaira and over
thrown wall stood his wife watching
him, with g smile on her cherry lips and
q twinkle in heF bright eyes. A toddling
child chung to her skirts as she held one
OF the twins in each arm.
POLL" he gasped, ''Tmarusned man.
I've lost everything. I've beearobbed. >
Then she laughed and when she
Laughed the child holding her skirt
laughed also and the babes in her arms
chuekled and cEowed.
no, Jos Rainy Day" she said, ''yOu
have lost nothing, you have gained
much. found your treasure. and I dis
posed Of it to the antiquarian gentle
man who buys the arrow heads. With
Inc money bought the land, the sheep,
the cows-ana you
Then Jos scrambled cut Of the grave,
and fell a laughing, and he laughed till
the tears ran down mis- cheeks.
BY EingeF!" said he; s'woman's viii