The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-23
,HApTER Iv.-(Continued.


Walter raised his eyes and saw joshua
whose small, mean features, closely resem-
bling his fathers, expressed considerable
curiosity. Walter secretly doubted wheth-
er he should like him but this doubt ne
kept to himself Mr.. Drummond opened
the outer door, and led the way In.
s.This is my wife, Mrs. Drummond, ne
said. as she approached, and kindly vel
coined the young stranger.
IL think | shall like her." thought Wal
ter, suffering his glance to rest for mo-
ment on her mild, placid features; "she
is evidently quite superior to her nus
Sand."
Joshua, come here and welcome Mr..
Conrad" said his father.
Joshua came forward awkwardly and
held out his hand with the stiffness of a
pump handle.
''Howdy do?" he said. Just Gomez
'Yes," said Walter, accepting the hand,
and shaking it slightly.
"Are you tired with your journey, MP.
Conrad" asked Mrs. Drummond. Per
haps you would like to be shown to your
ROOM"
Walter went upstairs, preceded by Mr..
D1dmmond, who insisted on carrying his
carpetbag, for his trunk would not ar
rive till the next day, having been for
warded by express. At five o'clock they
sat down to supper.
II hope, Mr.. Conrad" said Jacob. you
will be able to relish our humble repast.'
Humble again y thought Walter. He
was about to say that everything looked
,io lima
IF you call this humble, don't know
what you'd say to the suppers we COM
monty have"
Mr.. Drummond, who desired, for this
day, at least, to keep up appearances,
frowned with vexation.
Joshua" he said, II desire that you
will act in a more gentlemanly way or
else leave the table. Have you ever been
in Stapleton before. Mr.. Conrad?'
mo, sir; never"
1t is not a large place, but 1t is grow
ing; the people are plain, but they have
kind hearts. / hope you may like the
town after a while. If you feel inclined
to walk, Joshua will 60 out with you af-
ter supper, and show you the mill dam,
the church, and the school house. He will
also point out the store-it is only across
the way-where, in my humble way, try
to earn a living l shall be very glad
If you will come in and take look inside.
/ may be busy, for work has accumulated
during my absence, but Joshua will show
you around"
Thank you, sir"
MAY l ask, Mr.. Conrad-excuse my
intruding the questionable Is left execu-
tor of your fathers estate?"
"Mr. Shaw. the lawyer In our village.
He is an excellent man. very honest and
upright. He was an intimate friend Of
my father"
II am glad to hear you say 50. So
many lawyers, you know, are tricky. We
have no lawyer here" pursued Mr.. Drum
mond. you will perhaps be surprised to
hear it, but my humble services are fire.
quently called into requisition, In admin
istering and settling estates"
Indeed. sir"
YES; but 1 am glad you have got a
man you can trust. Mrs. Drummond, l
think Mr.. Conrad will have another piece
of pie"
Supper was over at length, and Walter,
by invitation, went out to walk with
Joshua.
CHAPTER V.
Walter did not anticipate very pleas
ant walk with Joshua. The little he had
seen of that young man did not prepos-
sess him in his favor. However, having
no other way of spending his time, he
had no objection to the walk.
That's the old mans store Just across
the street." said Joshua, as they emerged
from the house.
"Your father's"
"Of course. Don't you see the name on
the sign" Walter did see it, but never
having been accustomed to speak of his
own father as 1.-THE old man." he was not
quite sure he apprehended Joshua's mean
ing.
''You were an only child, weren't you ?"
said Joshua.
YES" said Walter, soberly.
$50 am l." said Joshua adding. com
placently, Between you and l, the old
man has laid up quite a snug sum. OF
course. It'll all come to me some day"
II am glad to hear it." said Walter,
wondering that Joshua should have made
such communication to a comparative
stranger.
ITO hear the old man talk" pursued
Joshua, you'd think he was awful poor.
He's stingy enough about everything in
the house. There isn't family in town
that don't live better than we do
Il thought we had a very good supper, !"
said Walter, who experienced not a little
disgust at Joshua's charges against his
father.
THAT was because you were with us.
The old man laid himself out for the oc-
casion. It's the first decent supper I've
eaten at home since the Sewing Circle met
at our house three years ago."
Though these communications did not
raise Joshua in the estimation of Walter.
the latter could not help thinking that
there was probably some foundation for
what was said, and the prejudice against
Mr.. Drummcnd, for which he had blamed
himself as without cause, began to find
some extenuation.
When / talk to the old man ahout III.