The Portland daily press., 1900-08-30

| view to buying 1t for an Engusn syn
dicate"
upon my wordr' exclaimed Piece
val.
"The fellow swindled everybody"
she continued. Gle pretended that his
estate wasn't quite settled, but that he
might hear from his lawyers any day.
He owed for his board at the hotel He
borrowed money Of Mr.. Jones and the
clerk and anybody else that had any
to lend. He got people to cash drafts
that weren't good. Oh, he was the
rage for awhilel Everybody thought
he would bring prosperity to the town,
and AL were anxious to oblige him.
And then he went away and gradually
it all came out. Mr.. Perceyal, this town
Il mention ii, !" the stranger hastened
to add, "because I want to tell you
what he used to say about the matter
of working hours per day, that you and
this gentleman were discussing"
And the young man glanced smiling
~ toward the gentleman in question,
DR.. Isaiah Barrows, who sat in front
of the stove. But the gentleman was
no longer interested in working hours.
He was looking into the fire, the door
Of the stove being open, and he had an
eye nearly closed and his head tilted
aside with the air of one who medi-
tates upon the past.
"Is your father living?' he inquired
presently.
NO." replied the Englishman. "He
died last June"
"Died last June" the clerk echoed
softly.
With his feet still on the top Of the
stove, he slowly thrust his head out
over his right shoulder until he could
catch the eye of DR.. Barrows, who re-
moved his gaze from the Goals long
enough to exchange a glance Then
the clerk drew in his head, somewhat
as a turtle does, and at the same time
the doctor resumed his contemplation
Of the fire.
81 suppose be left you considerable
property?' said the doctor.
"a few thousands only" replied the
Englishman. II am the second SON"
"About $4,000, should you say%
queried the clerk.
"Why, yes" responded the Briton,
with surprise. 'That is about the
amount though 1 don't see how you
knew it."
1.-THE estate is not fully settled yet
suppose" said the doctor, "but you're
expecting advices from the lawyer any
day"
"WeIl, upon my wordP cried the
stranger. "Iye always heard that the
Yankees are great guessers, but this
is too much. You must know about my
affairs in some way. The worlds a
small place. Perhaps you have friends
in Manchester"
The two Yankees shook their heads
in slow and melancholy manner.
''Never saw or heard of you, Mr. Per
ceval," said the clerk, ''before you got
off the train last night"
Old Jones, proprietor Of the Walden
hotel, came in from the street at this
moment and advanced timidly to the
stove. lie was Il very thin man, who al
ways wore q plaster on the small of his
back, and he used frequently to touch
his coat over the spot with the
knuckles of his right hand as If to
make sure that the plaster was not
Sinking it's work.
chr. Perceval has just told us that
he is from Manchester, England" said
the clerk.
Jones was about to receive the infor-
nation with the conventional courtesy
Of his profession when he suddenly al
tered his manner and remarked:
"Sho! You don't sayw
ellis father died last June and left
him $4,000" said the doctor, land
he's come up here to examine the mills
with view to buying the property"
nnalfNNTNDHNtIMI'NNO8 III