Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-27

into the office as Neven opened Sec
ond cipher dispatch.
warren we'll struck OIL" it told him.
"Promises to be a gusher.'
The strip of paper shook in Neven's
hand. This luck had come to the Lar
rabees! lie was ruined. Oh, if he had
only put his money into the Warren
well and theirs into the Karns! But
Neven was outwardly calm as he drew
blank message toward him and told
the boy to wait.
Bushby leaning on the table, glanced
familiarly over his shoulder at the di-
rection of the message.
"'Mrs. Sarah Larrabee.'" he repeat
ed. "Why, sure enough! 1t was in
the Harms we'll you invested her
money? And she's lost it? What a
pity"
Neven started. Why should 1t not
be so? The we'll drillers had not in
corporated yet. No stock certificates
had been issued. The receipts for the
two sums of money mentioned his
name alone, James Neven, Attorney"
No human being but himself knew pos
itively whether it was the Larrabees'
money or his own that he had put into
that dry hole.
He held the pen suspended for mo-
meut, facing the temptation of his life.
Then he dipped the pen in the ink.
Bushby still looked on.
Invested six hundred in Karns
WELL" he wrote. "Dry. Heartily sorry.
Hope to do better With remaining four
hundred"
80 it was the Larrabees' money that
you put into the Karns:' asked Bush
by, eyeing him keenly.
YES"
'You bought a quarter share in the
Warren well, too?"
"Yes. Cost me a thousand. That
was n little venture of my own. The
well promises to be gusher."
"You don't say so" Bushby seized
his hat and rushed to tell the news.
In the very same moment Neven be-
gan to prepare for trip to New York.
He did not care for the congratula-
tions OF his townsmen. He did not
want to hear them express their sym
pathy for Mrs. Larrabee. Besides, he
wished to look up safe investments for
the large sums Of money he would
soon begin to receive.
1t was late one rainy evening when
Neven arrived again at home and en-
tered the little pal'lor OF the hotel in
which he boarded. He had heard moth
ing from the place since he left-Jabez
Wright had unaccountably failed to re-
ply 10 a request for information-but
Nevcn felt that mo news is good
news" and he could easily put OH n
bold front, for he had now begun to
think of his theft as merely a bit Of
sharp practice"
lie looked around with disgust at the
tawdry incry of the room. Well, it
would not be his home long. He was
going to New York 10 live. With his
| Income
"Hello, old fellow cried a hearty
voice bchind him.
"Why. Jerris, is this you?" Neven
said, as he turned TO meet the rancher.
"TIow did you prosper in your errand"
| There was Il lofty condescension in his
tore. hut the other did not perceive it.
"With Jennie? She's up stairs. She's
Mrs. Hugh FERRIS. Haven't wasted
any time, have IT,
| Ncven gave his hand with n feeble
effort Mt cordiality. 81 am sure wish
you well. Jerris," he said. "You are
able 10 support wife, and needn't
care whether she has anything of her
own or not"
"Anything of her own! Why, my
dear boy. what more could she want?
Her mother has given her half of her
interest in the Kans we'll and
"Karns" gaspcd Neven. 1T was Il
dry hole"
I'm The upper sand. yes. But they
bored deeper since you left and struck
oil. The well is yielding fifteen hun.
dred barrels day. Why, Jennie is an
hciress."
Fifteen hundred barrels n day.
Ncven stood staring at the ruddy, good
humored face. which suddenly took
on n look Of pity. "What brute I
am" the rancher cried. Il forgot that
while investing their money so wisely
you made such terrible mistake
about your own"
a mistake? NY own? What do
YOU me3n:' shouted Neven fiercely.
"Thc Warren well surely you've
heard? II was only pocket. 1t ran
out in 4 week.
Ncven tried to speak, but he could
only humble unintelligible words. Then
he clappcl his hat on his head and
rushed from the house. The first man
IL met confirmed the story.
Folks thought il queer you were so
sharp for the widow and so stupid for
yourself, Ncvcn." his townsman said.
"But JaheZ Wright says you bought
the Harms for yourself ana the Warren
for the widow. and then shifted things
for your own advantage when the first
ncws came and as long ms that's SO
cveryhody's glad that You fooled your
self. Wen. il things had come out just
/ tI,,,.l,t Il,n,- would I 1p,,'i