The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-23
Our Daily $bcrt Story

1 And you would really like for me to save you?
 "Yes. Be quick about it, too. Il can't hang on here much longer" 'Is that SO? Then your hold on the boat Is not just as secure as you could wish?"
 .No. it ain't But are you going to save meT
 T hardly know. Maybe I will and maybe I won't. It all depends on you"
 "one me? Howr" well, I shall ask you to make a few promises, and if you do so I'll save you; otherwise I'll have to leave you ] to shift for yourself" 1 q won't make any promises--only one. I'll promise to shoot you the first minute I have a chance" Not If I save your life?
 "Yes, I'll shoot you no matter what you do."
 'Then, guess I'll be going. Good day"
 Burns turned back toward the shore. but he had not gone far when Sam yelled to him:
 Here. What are you doing? Are you going off and leave me to drown?"
 q am sorry to see you drown" Burns replied, turning back. But can't afford to save you so you can shoot me. That wouldn't be good policy, would it?" old Sans finger began to slip off the boat.
 Save me!' he screamed. "and I won't shoot you" l Very good,' Burns replied calmly, 'fbut you must make some other prom ises."
 What are they? ouickw
 "Well. for one thing, you must prom ise not to try to force Minerva into marriage with old Ben Tucker" That's my business"
 Just so. And saving your life, or not, Is mine."
 Sam's fingers were slipping more and more.
 q promise. dem you" he screeched. | Now save me-"
 Not yet" Burns replied. You must make one more promise first"
 What is it?" "As she and I love each other, and l as you can have no reason for object ing to me as son-in-law, you must promise to give me Minerva for a | wife" "Neverw
 Not even to save your life, MT. Jud- | kins?" No. Haven't you already eloped with her and married herr" Not at all. merely took her, at her request, to some friends over in town to keep you from forcing her to marry old Tucker. But are you going to agree to my last request, or shall bid you good day?' | "Old Sam hesitated a moment, then. as his fingers gave another slip, he said:
 Save me, dem it, and I'll promise anything" 1 All right" Burns replied. l Then he swan up and turned the boat over and threw old Sam into 1t. after which he climbed in himself. Se- curing the oars, which had hung in the locks, he struck out for the shore.
 For some distance they went along in silence. but old Sam's face wore such a sad, woebegone expression that finally Burns was constrained to speak.
 MT. Judkins." he said. "you seem troubled and unhappy. What is the matter?"
 Sam drew a long, hopeless sigh.
 I'm ruined" he moaned, ruined, ruined!"
 How so?" Burns asked.
 Ben Tucker has a mortgage on my land and now he'll foreclose and turn me out on the world. It's awful"
 'Is that all your trouble?"
 All? Isn't it enough. at my age, to be set adrift, homeless and penni- less%
 Tt would be, if such thing was to happen to you.'
 well, it will happen, all right. It's bound to now"
 q must differ with you there, Mr. Judkins. Minerva's father shall never meet such a fate. I'll find the money to pay Fuckers claims"
 You willy"
 "Of course, I will"
 Are you sure you can?"
 q have $10,000 in the bank Won't that do it?"
 Yes, ten times over-"
 Then that's easy fixed"
 Why didn't you tell me long ago that you'd do that?"
 How was I to know about the mortgage?"
 Didn't Minerva tell you?"
 'No."
 Didn't she ever say why I wanted her to marry Tucker?" "Neverr
 "Humph! That's strange. wonder why she didnt?"
 T think I know, but perhaps I had better not say"
 Speak out. I don't like mysteries" :" Well, rather suspect that she was ashamed to let anybody know that her father valued $1,00O more highly than he valued her life happiness"
 Old Sam did not reply, but sat for A long time with his head bent. Finally he muttered, as if speaking to himself.
 T reckon that's so. I guess I ouebt to have drowned-and old Tucker,