Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-10-21

jump announcer claim anu you Telubeu.
Don't you remember?"
Eyes, now | do"
That was mean trick in Lewis
He made $4,000 out of It, though.
Hope he may enjoy it. 1t didn't hurt
me much. Got plenty without that
The other mine turned out big. Made
me rich. How you doing?"
well, a little slow, I'm afraid"
80? Haven't struck anything down
here, them"
Not yet"
TOO bad What would you think
II l was to tell you that you are
rich?"
Il should think you were joking, of
course"
Il never joke. You are rich"
Joe shook his head and smiled
sadly.
Don't believe it, eh?" the old man
cried
81 can't imagine any possibility by
which such a thing could be So" Joe
replied.
Cant you? Do you remember the
claim you abandoned up there at the
Point?"
Eyes, | remember that l ought to,
after wasting nearly year on it."
THAT claim is still yours, and
there is a fortune in it. It's worth
100000 any day. I prospected it and
know. Been offered that for 1t.
Where's your friend-Lewis?"
Hes gone to town. Are you sure
about that claim of mine?"
"Of course You can have 100000
for it any day I'm going back, and
want you to go with me. l just came
down for a day or two. Got a daugh-
ter, and heard she was down at town.
Came to meet her Maybe you know
herr"
81 may, but l believe l have forgot
ten your name. Or did l ever know
it?"
81 guess not. Everybody called me
Shortcut The way talk, you know.
Remember"
Eyes. Your real name is"
Harmon. Zach Harmon"
Joe gave a start, and his face paled
and flushed. The old man saw moth
ing however, and presently he ratified
on:
Il haven't seen my daughter for
five years. Haven't heard from her
for long time l used to write 20
her back home. but got out of the
habit. Not much mail going up there,
you know. l heard last week she was
I down here. A man from down here
told me. He said she had come on
to hunt me up if l was still living.
Fine girl. and | am anxious to find
her Do you know herr"
What is her first name?" Joe
asked.
Jane"
Joe was silent moment, then he
answered, quietly:
Yes, l think l know her. At least
l know lady of that name"
80? Then it is my daughter. Where
is she?"
Down in town"
Eyes. How far from here?"
about three miles"
80? Well must get on. Anxious
to see her, you know. Five years is
long time. III see you tomorrow. u
Joe hesitated a moment, then he
said:
Perhaps I ought to tell you some
thing before you go, Mr.. Harmon"
well, what is it?"
Lewis is down there"
Down there? With my girl, you
mean?"
yes"
What for? Want to marry herr"
81 think So"
The old mans eyes blazed.
THE scoundrel!" he cried. or
soon settle him. though. Guess sh;
don't know that he robbed me- Why
didn't you tell herr"
81 didn't know who you were.
never dreamed of you being hel
father"
That's so, Well, must hurry
Would you come with me? Wish you
would, to show me the way"
"Ill come, If you wish it."
Cali right, come on"
They passed out Of the gulch as thu
the mountain in the darkness There
was comparative silence DetWeeI
them. Now and then the old maj
jerked out short sentence and JOE
answered That was all.
Can l win herr" he said to himself
"Or is 1t too late?"
He remembered Lewis air of conf
dence, and he sighed, and in his hear
there was feeling of fear.
This is the house." he finally an
nounced.
Without making his presence known
the old man threw open the door anC
walked in. Joe followed. They cam,
upon Lewis and the girl, sitting together
and the former was declaring his love
The old man walked straight upko Lewi
and raped him over the head with hi
cane.
"Ha' Scoundrel. villain, theft" h,