Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-02-20

Il don't complain of being poor. for
think | can earn my own living; but il
doesn't strike me as a thing TO laugh at. >
. | was laughing to think how the old
ian is taken in. It's rich He thinks
you re worth hundred thousand dollars
said Joshua.
We'll, he is mistaken. that's all.
don't see how he is taken in
Hes been doing the polite, and treat
| ing you as if you was a prince of the
blood. That's the reason he told the
old woman to get up such a nice supper.
He expected to get you to take him for a
guardian, and then he'd have the hand
ling of your money. Won't he be mad
| V hen he finds out how he's been taken in :
Giving you the best room, too Are you
sure that none of the property will be
left?"
Probably not much. am sorry to
think that your father made such a mis-
take. | will take care to undeceive him. y
What You're not going to tell him,
are you?"
Certainly. / meant to do so: but l
did not suppose he invited me just because
he thought | was rich.'
What for, them"
Being my fathers cousin and nearest
relation. it didn't seem very strange that
he should have invited me on that ac-
count"
The old mans pretty shrewd," said
Joshua, rather admiringly. lie knows
which way his bread is buttered He
don't lay himself out for any poor rela-
TONS not if he knows it. Don't you tell
him about it till tomorrow"
why not?"
Because, if you do. we'll have a mean
breakfast as usual. | just want him to
think you're rich little while longer, so
we can have something decent for once"
Il don't feel willing to deceive your
father any longer. l have not willingly
deceived him at all. | would rather he
knew at once"
Tomorrow will be soon enough"
AT any rate, | shall tell him to-mor-
row then. But I've got tired walking.
Suppose we go back"
They went back together. Mr. Drum
mond was in the store, but Mrs. Drum
mond was at home.
You didn't go far" she said. But 1
suppose you were tired, Mr. Conrad"
| A little, answered Walter.
Il wonder" thought our hero, whether
she will change as soon as she finds out
that | am poor?" Somehow he felt that
she would not She seemed very different
from her husband and her son, and Wal
ter was inclined to like her better.
Joshua went out again soon. not hav-
ing much taste for staying at home; and,
as Walter retired early, he did not see
either him or his father again till the
next morning at breakfas>.
Il must go back to the store" said Mr..
Drummond the next morning when break
fast was over. Joshua will look after
you, Mr.. Conrad. | hope you will be able
to pass the time pleasantly"
IF you can spare me five minutes. Mr..
Drummond. | should like to speak to Won
in private" said Walter
Certainly. | can spare five or ten
minutes, more, Mr.. Conrad Won't
you walk into the parlor?'
Mr.. Drummond was far from anticipat-
ing the nature of Walters communica-
ton. Indeed, he cherished a. hope that
our hero was about to ask his assistance
in settling up the estate-a request with
which, it is needless to say, he would
gladly have complied.
Il don't suppose you know how I am
situated mean in relation to my faith
er's estate 1t is not certain that my faith
er left anything said Walter. thinking
it best to reveal everything at once.
What" exclaimed Mr.. Drummond,
his lower jaw falling, and looking very
blank
My father made some investments re-
Gently that turned out badly"
But he was worth a very large prop
erty-it can't all be lost
Il ara afraid there will be very little
left, if anything. He lost heavily by some
mining stock, which he bought at a high
figure. and which ran down to almost
nothing"
There's the house left, at any rate
my father borrowed its value, under
stand; am afraid that must go, too"
Now, at length, it flashed upon Mr.
Drummond how he had been taken in. He
thought of the attentions he had lavished
upon Walter of the extra expense he had
incurred, and all, as it appeared, for a
boy likely to prove penniless. He might
even expect to live upon him. These
thoughts, which rapidly succeeded each
other, mortified and made him angry
why didn't you tell me this before
young MANI" he demanded with asperity
His change of tone and manner showed
Walter that Joshua was entirely right in
his estimate of his fathers motives, and
he in turn became indignant.
when did you expect me to tell you,
Mr.. Drummond?" he said, quickly 81
only arrived yesterday afternoon. and |
tell you this morning | would have told
you last night, if you had been in the
house.
why didn't you tell me when l was at
Willoughby?"
81 had other thinks to think Of" said
Walter, shortly The thought of my
fathers death and of my loss shut out
everything else"
well. what are you going to do?" ask,
ed Mr.. Drummond in hard tone.
Il shall have to earn my own living.
said Walter. Il am we'll and strong, and
am not afraid"
'@That is good plan," said Mr. Drum.
mond. who knew Walter so little as tc
fear that he wanted to become dependent
upon him. when l was of your age
had my own living to earn. What do you
propose to do?"
Have you a vacancy for me in your
store? Joshua told me you wished him tc
go in"
"You couldn't earn much, for yor
don't know anything of the business"
~ should not expect to- l am perfect
~ willing to work for my board until
find out how my fathers affairs are goins
to turn out
This proposal struck Mr.. Drummont
favorably. He judged that Walter would
prove valuable assistant when he wa:
broken in, for it was easy TO see that h,
/ had energy. Besides. it was desirable Il
keep him near until it was decided wheth
or Mr.. Conraus affairs were really in a.
, bad state as his son represented. Ever
, il few thousand dollars were left. Mr.
; Drummond would like the handling o
that sum. Then. again, no one knew bet
ter than Mr.. Drummond that Walter
| hos I'd would cost him very little; for, o
: course, he would at once return to hi
Co.