Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-03-26
THE BUILDERS
By Willis George Emerson

at once made and the BODY lOunu
near the old prospect shaft A bullet
wound in his temple and the weapon
still clutched in the dead mans hand
told of this maniao's suicide.
The people of Gold Valley fairly
gasped at the rapidity with which
events were occurring in the midst
of their little community The sher-
iff was missing, and his absence gave
color to the statement in the letIer
Boast had written.
Casey and Gibbons, the multl-mll-
lionaires, were now the 4undisputed
owners of the ePacock mine, ana
were entirely indicated of any COM
nlioitv in the murderof Rufus Grim
by the suicides letter. The citizens
of Gold Valley suddenly remembered
that Mr.. Marc Casey and Mr.. Gideon
Gibbons were most excellent gentle
men. 1t was astonishing to find how
many friends flocked around them to
tender their congratulations.
Gee whiz, Gideon" said Marc
Casey, one evening, nudging him with
his elbow "the worst we are gettin
these days is certainly the best of it,
as 1 may have said before"
A few evenings afnT the funerahI
of ]. Arthur Boast, Nod was sitting
in the billiard home with the men,
bers of the family.
They were talking over the sue
cess of the Shonbar mine, and Mr..
billiard, in subdued, yet satisfied
way, thanked God that he had been
permitted to live to see the fulfill
ment of his life's dream.
The door opened and Aunt Phoebe
came in. Good evenin', Mr.. Rock
we'll" she said, with her rich South
ern accent. 81 think this is the hap
piest day of our lives"
RES, indeed,' replied Fred. I'VE
owe your brother many apologies for
our seeming lack of confidence in
the Shonbar."
She looked at him in quick surprise
over her glasses and then replied:
Lack of confidence, Mr.. Rockwell?
I would like to know who lacked
confidence in my brother Benjamin's
mine? For myself, l have believed
from the first that Benjamin would
strike it, if l could only keep him
workin' away long enough"
Fred was surprised into silence
and was trying to think of reply
when Mr.. billiard interposed. You
see, suh," he said, with knowing
twinkle in his eye, II have often OBJ
served to you that my sister is a
most remarkable woman, sub; most
remarkable. She has been power
full support to me in my mimi eff
forts"
~ This seemed partially to pacify
sunt Phoebe, as she said: II suspect,
1fIr. Rockwell, you are thinkin' of a
conversation we had some months
ago in regard to sinkin' the shaft. OF
course, you don't know how much
strategy / had to resort to, that l
might keep Benjamin from CROWN
disheartened. l will not allow avn
one to say anything against my
brother, but personally l know he is
the contrariest man Twin he is, in
deed, sub! Time and again 1 have
been forced to pretend that l was
opposin' him, just to make him go on
workin' and sinkin' that shaft, but
that is all over with, and have much
to be thankful for that l was spared
that / might keep on naggin' and
spurrin' him on, until finally his eff
forts have been rewarded"
She did not wait for reply or
comments, and soon after, tenderly
embracing Virginia and Ruth, re-
tined.
When she had gone Mr.. billiard
looked up from the fire into which
he had been gazing long and steadily
''I presume, Mr.. Rockwell, that my
sister, without question, is one of
the greatest characters that ever
liycd. I'm discoverin', even to this
day. new traits of superiority and
strength in her. Indeed, sub, she
is 10 ordinary woman. Though born
in the South and possessin' in very
high degree the beautiful refinement
peculiar to our Southern women, yet
at the same time her diplomacy in ac-
complishin' great results equals the
shrewdest Nawthern Yankee She is
indeed a most remarkable woman,
sub; most remarkable!"
A little later Wilbur and Virginia
retired, pleading WEAKNESS. DO
you know" said Mr.. billiard, as they
made ready to retire, "since our great
discovery want to do all my sleepin'
in the mornin'?"
"Thinking over his good fortune
keeps daddy SO busy that retiring ear
ly is out Of the question" explained
Ruth. But, my, how late he does
sleepl"
"He has just earned the rest he
claims" interposed Fred.
Indeed he has, said Ruth, APP
preaching her father and pushing
back his long white locks. you
are a dear daddy, and may sit up as
late as you like, and sleep as long as
you wish"
IT tell you, Mr.. Rockwell" said Mr..
billiard, rising and standing before
the fire." this little girl of mine is