The Newtown bee., 1898-07-22

with q little honey-so; and bring me
some peppermint roots to grind with
this sumaC."
The girl dropped small handful OF
brown roots into the mortar. ''TIis MIL
ton Tufts who is stealing our wood,
Grandfather" she said.
The old man turned leaf Of his book
without appearing to hear. Now &
nutmeg Of saltpeter from the box there,
he sa i'd. "Nea, chat is right. AID In
thinking l did not get in enough vitriol
last making"
The child stirred the mixture that b."
had given her, then put down the cup
and, resting her elbows on the table,
stood watching him.
At last Joshua finished grinding, and
emptied the contents of the mortar int"
the largest of the jars. Then he lifted
his head slowly so Milton Tufts mas
taken to stealing with everything else -
he said.
Barbara nodded.
Joshua closed the book, reluctantly.
THE man is bound to land himself il
Jail sooner or later" he muttered to him
between two puffs to blow some powder
from the covers. II doubt IL it's mucf'
service to him to delay the hour; but
suppose must put stop to his thiev-
cry at my wood-pile."
One by one he set the things back n
taking his hat and stick and throwing
his cloak about him, he went out Of the
house. He had no hesitancy in directing
his steps. There was but one place
where Milton Tufts would be found at
this hour, and that was the tavern. Ar
rived at the door, he opened it and stepp-
ed inside. For moment the lghta
blinded his eyes. Then, in the furthest
corner, he saw the man be was looking
for, sitting on a high stool tipped again t
the wall. Joshua pointed toward him
with his stick.
Milton Tufts ~
The room was well filed with men
but the loud talking ceasing at once ard
all eyes turned toward the short, stoop-
ing figure in the long black cloak ard
brOad-brimmed hat.
",'Tis most severe weather for March,
Milton Tufts, and against your wood
pile not holding out over the winter,
would have you feel free to supply your
self at mine"
A loud laugh arose as the front legs of
the stool came down with CHATTER, and
Milton Tufts shrank shame-faced into
the shadow. Joshua slowly lowered his
stick, then opened the door and went out.
He heard the laugh still echoing as the
door opened again little later to let out
two young men.
One of these clapped his hand upon
the old wig-maker's shoulder as he pass
ed him in the path. "Thou'rt an old
fool, joshua" he said, boisterouely.
Joshua stopped and turned, slowly.
81 doubt it mott doubt it not," he said.
The Lord made both you and me wiser
than we are"
He chuckled to himself as the young
men hurried on, and drew his cloak clos
er at sudden gust Of sharp, easterly
wind. AS he went along he felt a slow
falling drop of rain. "a storm before
morning, eh - he said, with glance at
the sky.
He had nearly reached home when he
stopped again. Before him, at one side,
lay something darker than the path; he
pushed it with his stick.
'Come, get home! IT'S going to be
no night for your wife to be out looking
for you," he warned, prodding again.
From the PROSTATE form of man
came a low moan and two or three
words in a strange language. Joshua
bent over and snuffed the air suspicious
ly.
cam tits not drink; what's ailing thee
them"
But there was no reply. Joshua wait
ed few moments.
'sCan you walk, friend, If help your
he asked.
The man raised himself on one arm,
then fell back with sigh. Again he
tried, and this time Joshua lifted him to
his feet. Staggering under his burden,
the old man slowly made his way on to
the shop, where, once inside, the strang-
or sank exhausted to the floor.
ga luckless fellow found laying out
in the rain" Joshua explained to Bar
bara, who, frightened by the strange
shutting outside, stood In the middle OF
the room. "A sailor, / take, from his
clothes; and from some OF his mutter-