Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-20

and don't stop there to ask fool ques- tions"
 "Oh, would you like for me to rescue you?"
 "of course What are you talking drown?" Why. should hardly think so. And you would really like for me to save you?"
 "Yes. Be quick about it, too 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 tc save me?''
 "I hardly know. Maybe I will and maybe won't. It all depends on you" "On me? How?"
 "Well, shall ask you to make few promises, and if you do so I'l4 save you, otherwise I'll have to leave you to shift for yourself"
 "I won't make any promises-Only one. I'll promise to shoot you the first minute have 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?" "I am sorry to see you drown" Burns replied, turning back. "But can't af- ford to save you so you can shoot me That wouldn't be good policy, would it?"
 Old sam's finger began to slip of the boat.
 Save me!' he screamed, land won't shoot you"
 "very good" Burns replied calmly, "but you must make some other prom ises."
 What are they? Quick!"
 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.'' i Sans fingers were slipping more and more.
 T promise, dem you" he screeched. "Now save me" i Mot yet" Burns replied. sYou must make one more promise first.'' 1 What is it?"
 tAs she and love each other, and as you can have no reason for object ] ing to me as a son-in-law, you must promise to give me Minerva for a ! wife"
 'tNever!'' ..Not even.to save your life, MT. Jud- l kins ?'' No Haven't you already eloped with her and married her?''
 ''Not at all. I merely took her, at l 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 I bid you good day?' I Old Sam hesitated a moment, then, as his fingers gave anotser slip, he said:
 Save me, dem it, and I'll promise anything
 "All right" Burns replied. I Then he swan up and turned the boat over and threw old Sam into it 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 5 in silence, but old Sam's face wore such sad, woebegone expression that finally Burns was constrained to speak.
 MT Judkins," he said, s.you seem troubled and unhappy. What is the matter?" l Sam drew a long, hopeless sigh.
 '.I'm ruined." he moaned. ruined ruined!"
 How so?" Burns asked. ! Ben Tucker has mortgage on my land and now he'll foreclose and turn me out on the world It's awful" I "Is that all your trouble?"
 "All? Isn't 1t enough. at my age, te be set adrift, homeless and penniless? 2
 "It would be, if such thing was tc happen to you. l Well, it will happen, all right. It's bound to now.'
 "I must differ with you there, MT Judkins. Minervas father shall never meet such fate. I'll find the money to pay Fuckers claims.
 You willy"
 "Of course, will.''
 Are you sure you can?"
 .I have $10,000 in the bank. Won that do it?s
 "Yes, ten times over." I 'Then that's easy fixed" I Y <syxyI.~, x5;5v,s+ ~xo,, +o11 ~.a T.-. ~., that you'd do that?"
 How was to know about the mort gage?'
 Didn't Minerva tell your" No"
 Didn't she ever say why wantet her to marry Tucker?"
 Never"
 "Humph! That's strange. wonder why she didn't?" q think know. but perhaps I hat | o%