Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-10-16

which, II Is needless 70 say, he woufd
gladly have complied.
Il don't suppose you know how / am
situated-I 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
elty-it can't all be lost"
II am afraid there will be very little
left, if anything. He lost heavily by some
mining stock, which he bought at high
figure, and which ran down to almost
nothing"
There's the house left, at any rate
MY father borrowed its value, under
stand; I am afraid that must so, 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 man?" 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. Il
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 I was at
Willoughby?"
II had other thinks to think Of" said
Walter, shortly. 'The thought OF my
fother's death and of my loss shut out
everything else"
"Well, what are you going to do?" ask
ed Mr.. Drummond in hard tone.
81 shall have to earn my own living"
said Walter. 81 am we'll and strong, and
am not afraid"
'"That is a good PLAN" said Mr.. Drum
mond, who knew Walter so little as to
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 to
go in"
"You couldn't earn much, for you
don't know anything of the business"
"I should not expect to. am perfect
ly willing to work for my board until |
find cut how my fathers affairs are going
to turn out"
This. proposal struck Mr.. Drummond
favorably. He judged that Walter would
prove a valuable assistant when he was
broken in, for it was easy to see that he
had energy. Besides, it was desirable to
keep him near until it was decided wheth-
or Mr.. Conrud's affairs were really in as
bad a state as his son represented. Even
if few thousand dollars were left, Mr..
Drummond would like the handling of
that sum. Then, again, no one knew bet
ter than Mr.. Drummond that Walters
board would cost him very little for, of
course, be would at once return to his
usual frugal fare.
VERY WELL" he said; you can go into
the store on those terms. AS you say,
you've got your own living to earn, and
the sooner you begin the better"
Walter had not said this, but he agreed |
with Mr.. Drummond. 1t may be thought |
strange that our hero should have been |
willing to enter the employment of such |
a mean man; but he thought 1t wisest to |
remain in the neighborhood until he could |
learn something definite about his fathers |
ffnt,. IL. ro1 20 %
once, partly because he didn't wish to be |
dependent, partly because he foresaw that |
he should be happier If employed.
When Mr.. Drummond and Walter came |
out of the parlor, Joshua was sitting in |
the next room. and looked up eagerly to |
see how his father bore the communica-
ton. He was disappointed when he saw
that Mr.. Drummond looked much as
usual
Conrad has been telling me-" said Mr..
Drummond, that his father lost a good
deal of money by speculation, and it is
doubtful whether he has left any prop.
erty"
81 am very sorry" said Mrs. Drum
mond; and Walter saw and appreciated
her look of sympathy.
''As he will probably have to work for
a living, he has asked for a place in my
store" pursued Mr.. Drummond, land l
have agreed to take him on trial. Con-
rad, you may get your hat and come over
at once"
Joshua whistled In sheer amazement
The affair had by no means terminated as
be anticipated.
Ito be continued.)