The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-09-13

wOuIQ never unu out. Co, n1I' bSi6non,
I went on, shat Is In your mind. He
lives alone, and speaks TO no one; his
aunt died after he went away; 1t Is very
possible that he does not know anything
about 1t. Good heavens! Mr.. Leighan,
were you actually thinking to hid the
thing from him, and so TO rob him? Yes:
to rob Mary first and David afterward
of all this money!
"What business Is 1t of yoursT' he
askedl.
Very good; I shall tel David"
"Oh! If I were thirty instead of seven
ty, I would" he began, his eyes flash
ing again with all their ancient FIRE.
II shall go to David, Mr.. Leighan. If,
as I believe, he knows nothing about II,
you will see how he will receive the
news. Yes; you shall be between the
two; you shall choose between David
and Mary"
Yes; I had stumbled on the exact
truth as accidentally as l had stumbled
on the canvas bag. David did not know,
nor had his uncle chosen to inform him
though he was certain from his talk
that he did not know-of his aunt's will,
deeply as It affected him. And l am now
| NeASS Illhl IIt Olu hldu llOuShL
that David would not find out the truth
before he went away again, and so he
would keep the money TO himself.
Don't tell him, WILL" said the old
man, changing. his tone. Don't inter
fere between David and me; it is danger
Gus. You don't know what mischief you
may be doing. AS for George and Mary,
/ will arrange something. They shall go
on at Sidcote as tenants on easy terms
on very easy terms. But don't tell
David. He is a very dangerous man.
Don't tell him."
II will not tell him anything, If you
will give Mary your consent"
David will not stay here long. When
he has gone-oh, dear!-when he has
got some more money he will go away.
Don't tell him."
You have to give that money either to
Mary or to David. ChoOse!' I repeat
ed.
"Who are you, I should like to know"
he asked, with a feeble show Of anger;
that yoc should come and interfere in
family matters? What business is it Of
yours? Go away to London. Manage
your W affairs-if you've got any. You
are not my nephew"
Choose between Mary and David"
Il must have Sidcote," he said, with
a kind of moan. He clutched at the arms
of his chair, his face twitched convulsive-
ly, and he spoke feebly. II have lost so
much lately-I have suffered so horribly
you don't know how, young man, or
you would pity me. I have been pun
ished, perhaps, because I was too pros
perous-you don't know how, and you
can't guess. If l lose Sidcote, too, l shall
die. You don't know, young gentleman
you don't know what it is to suffer as
l have suffered"
Then l shell go at once to David and
tell him."
AZ must have Sidcote. Do your
worst!' he cried, with some appearance
Of his old fire and energy. "Do your
worst. Tell David what you please, and
leave me to deal with David. l will
He shook his head and pointed to the
door.
I told David that very evening. He
was sitting at his table, a large open
book before him, over which he was por-
ing intently. He looked up when he
heard my step outside, and shut the book
hurriedly.
What do you want here?" he asked.
roughly. "Why do you come prying af-
ter meT'
upon my word, David" l said, "one
would think we were old enemies instead
of old friends"
"Speak up, then" he replied, his eyes
suspicious and watchful, as if l was try
ing to get into his cottage and steal
something. Speak up; let a man know
your business. If you had no business
you would not come here, l take it."
1T is business that may concern you
very deeply" | said. And then / told
him.
We'll" he said, slowly, II suppose you
mean honest, else why should you tell
me? Perhaps you've got a score against
the old man, too. This wants thinking
Of, this does. So the old woman had
six thousand, had she? And Mary is
to have it if she marries with her uncle's
consent-and if she doesn't, I'm to nave
it."
"Mary will marry George with or with
ont her uncle's consent; / can tell you
that beforehand. She will marry him
within a very few weeks"
nay, ~ salu' idlAel thaH give me
the money he'd let her marry the black
smith,"
At this point l came away, for fear he
might try even to get beyond that posi-
bility; and the mess 1 had almost made
of the whole business proves, as I said
before, that there Is no excuse whatever
for the best Intentions.
Go be ~continued.)