The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-02-23


three in disposition, but that was say
ing little, and when all his money wal
gone they fairly kicked him out O
doors, and he, in desperation, driftet
to Nevada and the mines, just in tn,
days when colossal fortunes were be
ing made by men who were WELDING
pick and shovel. At the very time ole
Pcrkins' people were trying to get q
divorce, alleging desertion and failure
to support, McLanc doomed up at yir.
ginia City as part owner of lode that
paid like the Comstock, and his Sacra.
mento wife, who was believed to be
deeply in love with steamboat en-
gineer, proved that she wasn't by iour-
neying TO Virginia City with her little
boy and reclaiming her now prosperous
husband There they lived in style. and
the Perkins household came to visit
them and remained indefinitely, until
the pickering drove McLane mad and
he shipped TO Frisco" where every
deal he made in the stock market went
his way, and he became a millionaire
before he was 30. Again his pretty
but low-bred wife followed. and again
he honesty tlied to make the best of
ms bargain; bat her mad extravaganza
and the ceaseless incursions of mother
and sister-in-law were too much for
MN. One day there came a crash and
much of his fortune was swept away.
He had to break up his San Francisco
home and go back to Virginia CITY, and
furious quarrel followed, in which he
ordered the Perkinses never to darken
his doors again, and lol his wife sided
with her sister and elected to 90 with
them. McLane would gladly have part
ed with them all, but he had grown TO
love his boy. When once more, year
later, fortune smiled on him, and. with
a new bank account, he came down to
Dan francisco, the PerlSinses had dis
appeared. Two of the sisters were Iiy-
ing the lives of adventuresses. Old Per-
Rims was dead and buried, and no one
knew where the rest had gone-a host
OF sacramento tradesmen wished they
could find out.
Then McLane came east, bringing his
sheaves with him, and his family not
forgave and welcomed
hum. Prosperity followed him. He
fairly coined money, and Uncle Abe
Mellen was only too glad to have him as
partner; and then after a lapse of
years, when he thought her dead and
honestly wished her so, his blissful
bachelor life was broken in upon by the
temperance of his Sacramento wife.
low a handsome woman of nearly 30.
ma stalwart STRIPPING whom he
recognized at once as his long-lost son.
'or two years he provided for her and
RED TO educate the boy, but never
'gain acknowledged her as his wife,
md so long as she was amply paid
ma housed, lodged and cared for. she
lever protested Macs club friends
: metimes winked and nudged each
'ther when the tall young fellow ap-
feared at the waiting-room with let
er, or when occasionally a dashing-
boxing woman patroled the neighbor-
God until he would come out and ioin
er. The boy was wild and wouldn't
ludy, and was expelled from the
chools at which he was entered bv The
anne of Perkins, and the landlords
ompiained of the people Mrs. Perkins
eceWed and entertained; then Mac put
ne young man in Mellen's bank. and
mere he was when the Hayward nieces
anne back from Europe, and Charlotte
iarrisd Ned Parry and Fan wished to
larry Merriam. 1t was j. II. McLane
r., who did Uncle Abe's work for him
nd went around among Merriam's
'eultors and got them to unite in their
'mpiaint to the war department.: but
mat time he had seen something of
Andy, had taken shine to him." as
expressed it, and when he learned
Iat Merriam had been banished to the Ii
ontier as consequence he told the h
q man that he was done with that sort s
dirty work, and was minded to 90 s.
ID confess to Miss Hayward what he
III done. To buy him off Mellen gave
IN all the money he needed and babe
m go and live the life he always n
nged to live, that of prospector and II
ner in the Sierras. McLane. tbe ia .,
er, was away and had been away for .,
Veral months. Mrs. McLane, the Il
'ther, after furious quarrel with g,
7 protector something over year be- n,
re- mad agreed to return to California OF
never trouble him again upon pay al
mt of big, round sum in cash. She e,
uld not listen to pension, and the Il,
'ry that came to the husbands ears vi
On after was that at last his Sacra- v
mo wife had rewarded the fidelity of ba
old friend, the steamboat cngineer: q,
the lawyers sent to trace the matter he
re confronted by unlooked-for news m,
lnwelcome news, and therefore news tn
y fully investigated before report- IN
!, since, if true, it would put an end ne
what promised to be a most profit os
e case. That $4,000 was practically on
sted-Mrs. John II. McLane was rel
d. n,
hey found her grave, headstone and Ike
out could get no trace of her long to
oted lover. 1t was surmised that he nj,
taken what was left Of the money or,
gone elsewhere in search of con. su,
lton. McLane came hack To New IN,
X, met Fanny Hayward, fell in love, MOI
Uncle Mellen urged the match in rec
~ way; and we know the result. TO
re was fortnight in which McLane Co
ned the happiest of men. Then came cor
ioek. Fanny found him nearly son
ed with trouble. Aletter had come the
porting to be from that supposed i
e-dead woman demanding further of
y payment as the price of her ST. and
e. MeLane honestly told Fan the the
~ ana was astonished at her de- frol