The Delta independent., 1907-06-07


funeral. for its phraseology.
There were quite two dozen anx-
ious eyes upon the little lawyer at
that moment. There was Shaun Kel-
ly and old Regan. Susan Mullen.
Frank Murtagh. Tom Gaynor and as
many more again, all expectant Of
something out OF the pile Toomey was
known to have received some years
before, under the will of an American
uncle. Some said it was 100000,
some 100000. Toomey had spent
very little Of it.
His nearest relation was Tom Gay
nor, whose 1t was said-expected to
come In for the bulk Of the American
hoard. He was proud. hard old
man. with a large farm OF land.
wealthy. as wealth goes in Ireland.
but as grasping OF the penny as II he
had nothing. His pride was signifi-
canuy displayed in the way he treat
ed the suitors for the hand OF his
pretty daughter Kitty.
Kitty Gaynor had fixed her afYec-
tons on the poorest OF her suitors.
Frank Murtagh. He also was a rela-
ton OF the dead man. On the death
OF his parents Toomey had taken him
into his house out OF charity. and had
never ceased to remind him Of it
u But all suspense would soon be At
an end. for the lawyer had commenced
to read the will.
|! Various beQuests were made until
Frank Murtagh and Tom Gaynor we're
the only persons left unmentioned.
Gaynor was the man. all felt sure.
The lawyer had paused to cough
and take a little water. Then he con
tinued:
And to that sorra.may-care black.
guard. Frank Murtagh. bequeath
the house and land about II on condi.
ton that he never sells II for less
than E20o for the far neld. E 500 for
the near one and the house which 10
five times more than any man in his
senses would think Of giving. Ny old
clothes can go to that stinGy niGKArd
Tom Gaynor. III make him remern.
Der that he treated me- like a dog
when I was poor and fAvned on me
when he thought | was rich. And
there's my old bamboo stick In the
corner that leave TO Prank MurtaEh.
the lazy rogue. to belt the mean old
fellow OF these premises any ume he
dare show his no~e hero. house or
land. I make this duty condition
OF Frank Murtagh's enjoying what
leave him"
When tho lawyer and mourners had
departed. Frank was left in the sole
possession OF his newly acquired
property and his thoughts. His mind
naturally reverted to Kitty Would
this little stroke OF fortune bring her
nearer to him? He was forced to ad.
mi, that II would not He was still
very far from the standard OF compe-
tency required by old Tom. His eyes
suddenly fell upon the bamboo stick
which leaned against the wall in a
corner OF the room and he could not
restrain n smile as he thought OF its
association with old Tom in the will.
'Begar." said Frank as ne took IL
up and lashed the air. "thatm come
down heavy on ould Toms back II he
darcs show his nose in here
But neither Frank nor the rest OF
old Tomey's relations would have
thought Toms demeanor at all
strange had they known what was
passing In the old gentleman's mind
at that moment
Il can laugh at the whole OF them,
Toomey and ALL he said to himself
Lord have mercy on the ould rum
ans soul, but l can see him as plain
now as | saw him a month ago in the
dusk OF the evening. dragging across
the iron pot and digging a hole near
that tree on the hill and burying II
there. thinking that no one would
ever get his money. Ha, ha. Pat
Toomey. the very man ye hate the
most will get It."
Forgetting the dead mans warning.
he crossed the gate and entered the
field. Frank perceived the move
inent from the kitchen window. and
mindful Of his testamentary obliEa.
tons. he snatched up the bamboo
stick and charged down on old Tom.
making wild shouts as he ran.
The whirling bamboo recalled Ger.
tain terms OF old Toomey's will to
Toms mind. He turned tail, scram
bled over the gate and was outside
the zone OF danger in no time.
"Ye deserve the greatest credit"
cried he gaily. when Frank had reach
cd the gate. "Ye do yer jooty like .
man"
"BeEar. it's n terrible hard way to
have to trate . neighbor." said Frank |
with an air Of apology. "Ould Toom-
ey was q very queer man."
Tom dismissed the matter with .
CHEEKY laugh. and they parted.
After supper Tom sat by the fre |
seheminE as TO the best means Of be.
coming possessed Of the buried treas
ure The only course left was to buy |
the land. It gave him 4 chill to think
Of the prohibitive price old Toomey
had put upon II In the will. But after