Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28
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Copyright. 1893. by J p. LIppIneott Col
Copyright. 1893. by J p. LIpplneou Col
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER NJ.
On the afternoon of the 5th of De
cember, 1903, Stanton stood upon tn,
wharf at New York.
He went first to florists. Then re
peating Miss Braddon's words, II wan
to be alone he went to hotel and tool
room without registering.
1t was a useless precaution, however
for the morning papers announced hi:
arrival in a way to indicate Miss Brad
don's prophecy correct.
His Office was besieged when he
reached it in the morning. He was
astonished that business men could be
SO cordial. In spite of every effort, j,
was noon before he reached his home
where Sam and his wife made their
timid greetings as expressive as they
dared.
They were amazed by the hearty re.
spouse they received, for since his baby
days they had never known the young
master say 30 much and say 1t so kind
" to them.
There were many messages and
cards of welcome. DIR. Borden had al
ready called, and left word that he
should call again. The good man might
chide his friend If he thought him in
the wrong, but he was enough of a true
man to be all the more his friend fol-
that.
One envelope Stanton caught eagerly
from the pile and with it hurried to his
room. There he opened it and In blank
establishment stood staring at the card
it contained.
Across the center was the name "Es.
Their Thorndike." In the corner was
Mr.. Braddon's home address, and above
the name was written: Jeremiah 40:4.'
"She might have said what she had
to say without the help of jeremiah.
he muttered, and, folding bis arms
stood looking down at the little card
as it lay on the table. 1t must have
been for some time that he stood there
and the knife was cutting deep, for
tears gllstened in his eyes, when tap
on the door reused him and Sans white
head appeared.
Sam had come with simple message
from his wife concerning the hour
when the master would have the first
meal served; but the sight Of the mas.
ter's face obliterated 1t, simple as i,
was, and to an incoherent effort on
Sans part to say something. Stanton
replied:
Bring me Bible, Sam"
Sans wife stood anxiously waiting
at the foot of the stairs. for she pro.
posed to have that first meal the master.
piece of her life.
"IIe don't seem to want to eat, Mira, >
Sam said, when he was safely landed a,
the bottom. "IIis arms was folded and
bis hair stnndin' up, and when asked
him how 'twould be bout eatin', says
he; Bring me Bible, Sam Now, dc
you go fish one up, Mira, an fish 1t live
ly; for he didn't look like he cared tc
wait for one to grow out in the garden
The good woman knew the locality
of everything in the house except the
books. Books without pictures had nc
charms for her.
1t happened, however, that there was
one Bible, a colossal affair, overbur
dened with illustrations, resting upon
plush cushion, under embroidered
velvet, in the library. In calmer mo-
ments she might have recalled the
whereabouts of some smaller copy, fol
there We're Bibles enough about the
house; but her mind was centered or
soups, broiled chicken and condiments
pies, cakes and buildings, with bread
turned upside down III the oven for Jus,
a last touch of brown on the bottom
She recalled only this one copy, and
started for it at a rolling waddle which
really was not resultant in such rapid
transit as her ordinary gait, but was
more in harmony with the general idea
of haste.
She busted the huge volume with he1
apron aud came back to Sam, bending
under the burden.
When the verse was found, Stanton
unconsciously read aloud. The print
was colossal; in common, instructive
consistency, silent perusal would not
have COPIED with 1t.
When Sam returned to his waiting
wife he said:
"Now, Mira, you mark my words.
What with wanderin' in ungodly parts,
'mong pirates an tigers an heather
kings an old bricks, as you've read
about in the papers, that young man
has gone daft. He just made them
leaves fly till he struck what he wanted,
an then he read out to me bout chains
an Babylon an Christopher Columbus.
an up he jumped and down them stairs
an out doors like rat with cat be-
hind"
"Sho, Samuel" his wife said, strug-
CLING to be calm. Might be you was a
leetle daft yourself. Christopher Co
lumbus amt one O. the Bible folks.
You know that, Samuel"
I'm not SO sure 1 do, M'ria," Sam
said, doubtfully. II know he come on