Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-09-14

over the place, doing last Offices and
laying iniunchons upon the tenants
wife who was to succeed her, about
what to do and what not to omit. Her
lack of prile and of adaptation to her
bettered fortune disturbed the rest
of the fami y sadly, but their removal
was marred by far more ominous oo.
currence.
Thsre hp L been for several days an
ugly rumor that the gas was giving
out. The Squire pooh-poohed the
report, but a week later it was not t6
be thrust aside by any such contempt.
uous methods, aud there was no deny.
ing that the Hartman we'll was less
strong than formerly. But what did
that signify? 1t would be an easy
matter to sink more wells and find
more gas,
Before this could be done, however,
the capitalists back of the Buckeye
Development and Improvement Com
pany withdrew from the field, leaving
the Swantonians in o tangle whose
labyrinthine difficulties they could not
understand-except as to the depress.
ing detail that they were pledged for
more money than they could pay or
could earn in lifetime. On the heels
of this calamity came an interruption
in the rolling mill project. The build
ing was there and the machinery was
there, but the business halted. Major
Gloss was absent in some vague local.
ity on unknown business, and no one
else had authority, means or ability
to proceed. 1t did not become known
for some time that this rolling mill
machinery existed D only for ef-
feet in boom towns and that it
travelled from one to another in pur-
suit of this end Since it left Swan.
ton it had been in a dozen other booms,
but never had turned wheel for
work.
The fabric which Squire Duffield
and his sons and daughter had reared
in fond anticipation crumbled into
dust, and their CONSERVATION when an
appreciation of their predicament was
forced upon them was pitable.
81 am ruined, utterly" walled the
old man. "Not an acre of land, not
dollar, can 1 call my own. don't see
anything left for us but to go to live
in Snyder's subdivision, and I'll have
to try for days work"
At this prospect Miss Fannie lifted
up her voice in anguish, and the boys,
having nothing to suggest but their
debts, went out to drown their troubles
in drink while they still had a little
credit.
But Mrs. Duffield looked more cheer
full than she mad done since she left
the farm. ooh, it amt so bad but
that it might be worse" she remarked,
philosophically, as she went on with
her darning.
"How could it be worse?" the Squire
demanded, turning roughly upon her.
"Well, I've got little money saved
up" she replied calmly. "I've been
married thirty year, almost. an you
never interfered with my doin' as
liked, father-leastways, not till we
come to town to be grand folks-so
I've saved up considerable. When.
ever I had hundred dollars, I've
given it to Brother Dan to invest for
me, KNOWN him to be careful and
an honest man, and I've got a matter
of most $1,000 out at interest, besides
nigh on to hundred dollars in my
stockin' that hadn't given him yet,
so guess we might make some ar
rangement bout the mortgage an
move back to the old place. Well get
the rest of it paid off if we leave gas
and improvements alone, guess"
And perhaps there was sparkle in
the old lady's eyes.
"But how did you get SO much
money!"
Butter an eggs an garden truck.
1 wasn't never ambitious, you know"
And the Squire had the grace to say,
"Mother, you've saved the family, an
L shan't never go against your advice
in anything again. New York Press.