Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-05-13
JUCKETT'S MILLIONS.
CASE WHERE WEALTH FAILED
TO DAZZLE.


moving the stem of his corncob pipe
from his mouth and blinking through
his silyer~rimmed spectacles.
Tbs boy" addressed was perhaps so
years OF age, corpulent and bald. He
was carefully and extensively attired
and seemed rather out OF place in the
village. His face. somewhat hard in
its normal expression, had worn a
smile as he disclosed his identity-the
smile OF disguised prince about TO
throw OF his beggar's cloak and dazzle
his uususpecting subjects with an I'm
expected blaze of royal splendor, That
smile faded before the Oldest lnhab-
itant's Indifferent manner.
Yes, I'm Preston Juckett," he said
and he couldn't help swelling a little
withia his beautifully Numbered waist
coat. in spite of his Disappointment
sAh!" said the old man.
you don't remember me. daresay, :"
said Jnekett, after an awkward pause.
why, not speshully,' admitted the
old man. Il call To mind there was
three of you Juckett boys-Ed, Nat an
you. / remember Ed. He was smart
boy an credit to the town. went
to hear him preach wunst in awhile.
| amt likely to fergit Nat, seem he
killed the best COW | owned doetorin'
her. In California now, amt he--doe-
TORN there?'
HE was. the last | heard of him"
replied Juckett.
That what thought. Yes, mind
Ed al Nat. but there wasn't much
about you 10 remember"
Il suppose you've heard of me?"
asked Juckett, with grim smile and
rafting some loose change in his
pocket.
well no, can't say have" an
swered the Oldest Inhabitant. Il did.
too, hear at you had made money"
Il could buy this town out. lock,
stock and barrel, and never feel it, =
said Juekett, boastfully
Are you goin to do it," asked the
Oldest lnhabitant
"Well guess not, replied Juckett.
"Come down to give the town a
liberty
mot much. I've got something bet
ter to do with my money No, | just
had curiosity to see If there was any
body left | used to know. | wanted to
see what the old place looked like
"You might go an see. Frank Pea
body" suggested the Oldest Inhabi-
,ts. G-ic
reckon he might remember you. may
be. Funny to think o. your comm
back here II 1t had been Ed now--I
reckon IL Ed came back here they'd
have the band out for all of its bein'
Is years since he left. I'd be mighty
glad to see Ed again myself"
Juckett seemed FESTIVE. So you
haven heard of me down here?" he
asked why, own two-thirds of the
stock of the railroad that runs through
here. I'm worth close ON to 100000
900.
you mean you own it, don't your"
Certainly"
well, there's a difference, you
know" said the Oldest Inhabitant,
blinking at him.
"Its measly little hole, this" said
Juckett, looking up and down the viii
lage street.
Il s'pose So" said the old man, ~
s'pose it is. | don't reckon there's
three men in it ats worth 10000
that owns that much, | mean-but it's
turned out some good citizens. There's
your brother Ed, for instance We're
proud of Ed"
Eds all right" said Jckett, grrdg-
ingly, but he hasn't any practical
ideas.
Don't own no railroad stock?" said
the cid man. That's bad! Well,
WE'LL"
1t could be nothing to Juckett what
the Oldest Inhabitant thought of him
or whether the village had even heard
of him II 1t lid not rise, hat In hand,
to do him honor. And yet, Uncle
Nose" he said, with a faint smile, Il
don't think you understand what it
means to be rated at eight millions"
at means hear-I know" replied
the cid man, solemnly. II hate to
think what 1t does mean nine times
out of a dozen. DO you allow you'll
stay here long, Preston?"
Pm going to take the afternoon
train cut" snapped Juckett, ill-humor-
eddy.
The Oldest Inhabitant pulled at his
pipe moment or two. Then he said
slowly. Preston, it's nigh on to 30
years now that your father, Ramsey
Juckett. came to me an borrowed $500
to send Ed to college. Ramsey would
have paid me If he'd lived, know,
but as 1t is, I've got that note yet.
With the intrust it nd make quite a
little money now. don't reckon you'd
like to pay that note, would you, Pres
TOM"
Juckett gave a short laugh Il
should say not" he replied. If it's
anybody's place to pay it it would be
Eds"
"Of course" chuckled the Oldest In
habitant. "Of course 1t would. No.