The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-05-31

why, when so many steep hills had
been Travelled, he was still urged on;
but when, jaded and worn, the two
finally reached Lowell, the Registry OF
Deeds was closed. Ezra's voice was
unsteady as he asked concerning the
| arrival of the last train from Edgcomb
He found that it was In, but It, too,
had arrived after the registry hours.
His chance still remained.
He saw TO his horses comfort; but
for himself there was no sleep that
night. Too much hung in the balance.
With the first rays Of dawn he was
walking about the street, waiting for
the appointed hour.
He turned his steps toward the best
hotel in the place, and lounged near at
| breakfast time, but did not see the
face he sought among the guests.
Suppose the strangers deed had al
ready been recorded before that ex-
perimental visit to Edgcomb! Ezra
| set his teeth.
But clock drew on. He dared
| lingcr no longer near the hotel, and
| moved away toward the Court House.
The hour sounded from the steeple.
The bell electrified him and he hurried
on; hut suddenly sight more moving
still caught his view. A welldressed
man, whom Fairfax recognized only
too certainly, had just ascended the
steps ana was entering the registry
,ll E,p instant thinug tnrnnI
black before the tired man; then he
nerved himself slouched his hat over
his eyes, sprang mp the steps after the
gentleman, shouldcred him aside, and
edging through the room ahead of
him, reached the desk first and offered
his shaking paper.
where are your manners, young
fellow" asked the Registrar, glancing
back at the somewhat annoyed and
surprised look on the other mans face.
Ezra's cold lips stammered something
about hurrying.
There's time enough in this world
for folks TO be civil. You've got the
day before you, haven't you" said the
clerk, looking, TO FairfaX's acute ap-
prehension, ms If he might be going to
order him aside in favor of the person
age he had just iostled.
The young mans excitement leaped
from his eyes, but his slouched hat hid
them. 1t was none of the Registrars
business IL the clumsy fellows lips
We're ashy. He still grumbled as he
20, DO
The dull thud with which it struck
the paper sounded above the ringing
in Ezra's ears. Then the clerk glanced
at the clock and proceeded TO write i'm
its place, in legal form, the moment Of
registration.
"Nine hours and two minutes"
The words were written. He stag
gered as he moved aside to let the
portly gentleman take his turn.
The Registrar, with a casual remark,
stamped it, and then took up the pen
and wrote:
Mine hours and three minutes
Ezra held on by corner of the desk,
for the clock, prints and maps on the
walls We're chasing each other madly
around the room.
Forest Farm was saved! And Helen?
Mr.. Burchard returned home to find
his strong, quiet "hired" man the hero
of the village. Squire Winslow, de-
lighted not little with his own pres
ence of mind in the affair, had ex-
plotted Ezra's history far and wide.
"You know you always said, father,
that Forest Farm was to go with me-"
remarked Helen, demurely, $50. logic
ally, go with the farmland the farm
is Ezra's."
She opened her eyes at her parent
innocently and slipped her hand into
her lovers, which was close by.
Mr.. Burchard, still confounGed by the
risk his own carelessness had entailed,
stared at them helplessly and yielded
to the inevitable.
"Queer doings," he said to himself,
and blinked his eyes. "Queer doings."
The American Queen.