Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11

one thlng to smell rat ana another
to nail its tail to. the floor. But I'm
mighty obliged to you. all the same.
And I'll think 1t over hard. Say. l
can see one thing-you don't take
very big shine to Heman yourself"
mot too big, no. DO your"
well. ! don't wake up nights and
cry for him."
Everdean laughed
That's characteristic" he said.
You have your own way Of putting
things. captain, and it's hard to be i'm
proved on. Atkins has never done
anything to me. just--I just don't
like him, that's all. Father never liked
him either in the old days, and yet,
and it's odd, too, he was the means Of
the old gentlemans making the most
Of his money"
He? Who? Not HemanY
Eyes, Heman Atkins. But so far as
that goes father started him toward
wealth. suppose. At least he was
poor enough before the mine was sold"
what are you talkin' about7s He
man got his start tradin' over in the
south seas. sellin' the Kanakas glass
beads and calico for pearls and copra-
two cupfuls of pearls for every bead
Anyhow. that's the way the yarn
goes
II can't help that. He was Just a
common sailor who had run away from
| his ship and was gold mining in Cali
| fornia, And when he and his partner
struck 1t rich father borrowed money,
headed company and bought them
out That mine was the Excelsior, and
it's just rs productive today as it ever
was. rather think Atkins must be
very sorry he sold suppose. by
right. should be very grateful to your
distinguished representative"
We'll. | do declare, Sho. sho. Amt
that funny. now? He's never said a
lieve there's a soul in Rapport knows
that We all thought twas south sea
tradin that boosted Heman. And your
own dad! | declare. this is small
world"
ITS odd father never told you about
I ~ II D Vic vi tie Oit pet
stories He came west in 1850 and
was running little shipping store in
Frisco. He met Atkins and the other
young sailor, his partner, before they
left their ship. They were in the
store. buying various things. and
father got to know them pretty well.
| Then they ran away to the diggings-
you simply couldn't keep crew in
! those timeS-and he didn't see them
again for a good while. Then they
came In one day and showed him
specimens from claim they had back
in the mountains They were mighty
! good specimens. and what they said
I about the claim convinced father that
/ they had a valuable property. So he
went to see u few we'll to do friends
| OF his, and the outcome was that a
| party was made up to go and inspect
The young fellows were willing to sell
out, for it was n quartz working, and
they hadn't the money to carry it on
The inspection showed that the
claim was likely to be even better
than they thought. SO, after some bar
gaining. the deal was completed. They
sold out for $4,000. and 1t was the
| best trade father ever made. He's SO
proud of his judgment and foresight
in making it that l wonder he never
told you the story"
He never did. When was this?"
in "a What?
bn Ioto ,nI
kind of familiar to me. that's all
Seems as if heard it recent, but
cant remember when. Seventy-ive
thousand, hey? Well. that want sc
bad. was it? With that for nest egg
no wonder HemaH's managed to hatch
pretty respectable brood Of dollars"
oh, the whole seventytive wasn't
his, of course Half belonged to his
partner. But the poor devil didn't live
to enjoy it. After the articles were
signed and before the money was paid
over he was taken sick with a fever
and died"
Hey? He did? With fever?"
YES. but he left a pretty good leg
acy to his heirs. didn't he: For com
mon sailor or second mattel believe
that's what be was-$3I 200 is doing
well. 1t must have come as big
surprise to them. The whole sum was
paid to Atkins. who What's the
matter with you?"
Captain Cy was leaning back in his
chair He was as white as the table
cloth.
Are you il?' asked the congress
man anyiOusly. Take some water
Shall CALI
The captain waved his hand.
mo. no. he stammered. mo, I'm
all right. Do you-for the Lords sake
tell me this. What was the name OF
this partner that dlcd?"
Mr.. Everdean looked curiOusly at his
friend before he answered.
Sure you're not sick:' he asked
well, all right The partners name
Why, I've heard It often enough, It's
on the deed of sale that father has
fra med In his room at home. The ole
gentleman is as proud of that rs any
thing in the house. The name was
was"-
For God Snse." cried Captain Cy
uon't say TwHs Jonn mayer. cause
IT you do ] shan't believe It,"
That's what 1t was-,Iohp Thayer
How did you guess? Did you know
him? | remember now that he wal
another down easter, like Atkins"
The captain did not answer, FL