Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-22
Danny Scr'uggs
 Revenge By THOMAS P. MoNTFoRT.
(copyrieht, 1903. by Daily Story Pub O.,

NT HEN old Peter Parsons caught w little Danny Scruggs in his war termelon patch and took him by his collar and led him down to the horse pond and threw him in, he felt that he had performed a very gratifying act, and as the boy struggled to the shore he laughed. It was the seventh time within g. week that Peter had found Danny lingering his melons, and he was sure that good ducking in the hoysepond would have the desired eff feet.
 But. alas for Peter, he forgot to take into consideration the fact that there turks in the human breast desire to be revenged for a real or fancied wrong.
 Two or three days passed, then, greatly to Peters surprise, Danny dropped in to visit with him. The boy was as friendly as ever, and he laughed about the ducldng and declared that he had found it great fun.
 Peter was a widower, and lived all alone, but he had grown tired of that sort of existence. Just mile from Peters house there lived "old Buck Hart,' who had a little farm on which Peter had a mortgage, and he also had daughter on whom Peter had an eye. The daughter was a mere girl, young enough to have been Peters grandchild, but to him there was no disadvantage in that. As to what she might think, was not to be taken into consideration. te
 One day, two Or three months after Danny's duckipg, Peter saddled his horse and rode over to Hart's. It so happened that Danny was at Hart's when Peter refined up at the yard gate and called Hart out. Curious to know Peters business, Danny slipped out and hid himself in fence corner where he could overhear all that was said.
 After the exchange of a few common, place remarks, Peter came directly down to business by saying:
 'I reckon you know, Buck, my mort gage on your farm is long past due P
 'Yes, know it is," Buck replied, "but lowed it didn't, make any difference"
 Well, ordinarily it wouldn't" Peter admitted, "but under present circum- stances, it does. I just rode over to tell you that want it paid off,
 Old Buck started back aghast.
 "Paid off" he repeated.
 ''That's what said," Peter replied, coldly.
 Old Buck slowly shook his head and his face heightened.
 Its impossible" he said. ''I ain't got no money-not dollar"
 'sThen you must raise it,' Peter an- swered, calmly.
 Raise itl" Buck repeated, blankly "Why, I couldn't raise enough money. to buy settin' hen, much less pay off that mortgage"
 '.Pay me in somethin' else, then" Peter suggested, with grin.
 t'I ain't got nothin' else.''s
 ''Yes, you have"
 ''Nothfn' that you want"
 'Yes, you have"
 "There's the old horse and cow" x ssI don't want them. 5
 There's the things in the house."
 1T don't want them."'
 ''That's all got" x
 "I guess not. You forget you have a daughter, don't you?''
 "A daughter! Whats she got to do with it?''
 "A right smart, maybe. I'll take her for wife and call the mortgage square"
 Old Buck was surprised, but not dis pleased..It was an easy way to get out of tight place, and then his daughter might as we'll marry Peter as anyone else, so far as he could see.
 Well" he said, presently, s'if it suits you to fix the matter that way, I guess it suits me. I don't see that I've any reason for objecting to your proposi- tion."
 "Of course not, "Peter replied. '.It's fair and square all around, and every body ought to be satisfied
 ''Yes, they ought" Hart said, thoughtfu1ly, but don't know. I for got about Liz. She may not just like the arrangement, you know
 'Why shouldn't she? Amt I got plenty of money and land, while she ain't got nothin'?"
 "Yes, but shes young, and mebbe she'd. prefer somebody else,p
 '.Well, what you goin' to do about it ]? If you don't give me Liz, I'll want my noney.''
 ''Oh, I'm goin' to give you Liz, of course. I was justsayin' she might ob- ject.'
 "That don't matter, so long as I get her. I'll fetch the squire over in the mor0ing, and we'll git the weddin' done with"
 'All right. But don't say anything about it, if you want to save trouble. You see, Sam Hicks wants to marry Liz, and don't know if she ain't got a right smart of likin' for him, and if he was to hear that you are going to marry her, he might raise rumpus. Better jist keep sort of quiet till it's all over"
 ''Oh, I ain't uneasy about young upstart like Sam Hicks, but I'll keep quiet just to please you"
 Peter rode back toward home, and Hart walked slowly to the house.
 Danny waited until they were both out of view, then he crawled from his hiding place and emitted long whistle.
 "Gee!" he exclaimed, wouldn't that stump you! Them two old codgers fix in up weddin' that way offhand, an never sayin' a word to the gal about