News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-11-04

rest O my life" Pole rose and took a
packet wrapped in brown paper from
under his rough coat and laid it on the
table near Alan. God bless you, old
boy" he said. "thar's yore money! It's
all thar. | counted it. It's in fifties
an hundreds"
Breathlessly and with expanded eyes
Alan broke the string about the packet
and opened it.
"Great Godn' he muttered
Miller sprang up and looked at the
stack of bills, but said nothing Abner,
leaning forward, uttered a little, low
laugh.
"You-you didn't kill i'm, did you,
Pole, old boy-you didn't, did you?" he
asked.
"Didn't harm a hair of his head"
said Pole. "All l wanted was Alan's
money, an thar it isl
''Well," grunted Daniel, I'm glad
you spared his life. And l thank God
you got the money"
Miller was now hurriedly running
over the bills.
you say you counted it. Baker?' he
said, pale with pleased excitement.
"Three times-fust when it was turn
ed over to me an twice on the way
out heer from town"
Mrs Bishop had not spoken until
now. standing in the shadows of the
others. as if bewildered by what seem,
ed hooking impossibility.
as it our MONEYS it our'n?' she
frally found voice to say. "Oh, is it,
Pole?"
"Zes'm," replied Poe; "lt's yo'rn."
&c produced O c:unplcd piece of pa
pcc ard handed it to Miller. Hers
Cra!g's order ca E.s wife fer it, an in
It he Acknowledges Us the cash depos-
tied by Mr. Bishop. He won't give
ne no trouble. I've got i'm fixed He'll
leave barley in the mornin'. He's
afeerd this IL git out an he'll be
lynched."
Alan was profoundly moved. He
transferred his gaze from the money
to Poles face and leaned toward him.
You did it out of friendship for me-"
lie Sdlu, MS voice SudhlllS.
That's what did it fer, Alan. an
l wish could do it over ag'in. When
| laid hold o that wad an knowed it
was the thing you wanted more'n any
thing else | felt like flynn"
Tell us all about it, Baker," said
Miller, wrapping up the stack Of bills.
"All right" said Pole, but Mrs. Bish-
op interrupted him.
wait fer Alfred" she said, her voice
rising and cracking in delight. Wait;
I'll run find i'm
She went out through the dining room,
toward the stables, calling her hus-
band at every step. alfred! Oh, AL
fredn'
"Hecr!" she heard him call out from
one of the stables.
She leaned over the fence opposite
the closed door, behind which she had
heard his voice.
"Oh, Alfred" she called. "Come
ont. quick I've got news fer you
big. big news"
she heard him grumbling as he emp
tied some ears of corn into the trough
of the stall containing Alan's favorite
horse. and then with growl he emerg-
cd into the starlight.
THAT fool niger only give Alan's
boss six ears O. corn" he fumed. 81
know. beca'se / counted the cobs. The
boss had licked the trough clean an
gnawed the ends O. the cobs. The idea
o. starvin' my stock right before my
"Oh, Alfred, what do you think has
happened?' his wife broke in. We've
got the bank money back! Pole Baker
managed somehow to get it. He's GO
in to tell about it now. Come on inr'
Bishop closed the door behind him.
He fumbled with the chain and pad
lock for an instant. then he moved to-
ward her, his lips hanging, his eyes
protruding.
'Ill believe my part O. that when
But" she cried. opening the gate
for him to pass through, 1.-The moneys
thar in the house on the table; it's been
counted. | say it's thar! Don't you
believe it?"
The old man moved through the gate
mechanically. He paused to fasten it
with the iron ring over the two posts.
But after that he seemed to lose the
power of locomotion. He stood facing
her, his features working.
To be continued
81 L. LII II