Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-09
KHlTTAKER'S
PLACE
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN

By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton 9 Co.
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 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 gentleman's making the most
Of his money"
"He! Who? Not HemanT'
"Yes. Heman Atkins But so far as
that goes futher started him toward
wealth. ! suppose At least he was
poor enough before the mine was sold"
"What are you talkin' about? He
man got his start tradin' over In the
south seas. selIin' 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
common sailor who had run away from
his ship und was gold mining In Cali
fornia And when he and his partner
struck II rich father borrowed money.
headed u company and bought them
out. That mine was the Excelsior, and
It's just as 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 q
word about 1t at home. don't be-
lieve there's soul in BaypOrt 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
1t. It's one Of the old gentleman's 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 tmes-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
about the claim convinced father that
they had valuable property. So he
went to see q few we'll to do friends
Of his, and the outcome was that a
party was made up to 20 and inspect
The young fellows were willing to sell
out, for It was quartz working. and
they hadn't the money to carry 1t on
"The inspection showed that the
claim was likely to be even better
than they thought. 80. after some bar
gaining, the deal was completed. They
sold out for $4,000. and it was the
best trade father ever made. Hes SO
proud Of his judgment and foresight
In making It that wonder he never
told you the story"
He never did. When was this"
I'm "a. WhatY'
81 didn't speak. The date seemed
kind of familiar to me. that's all
Seems as II | heard 1t recent, but
can't remember when. Seventy-hve
thousand. hey2 Well. that want sc
bad. was it? With that for nest egg
no wonder Heman's managed to hatch
a pretty respectable brood Of dollars"
"Oh, the whole seventy-fve wasn't
his. of course. Half belonged to bis
partner. But the poor devil didn't live
to enjoy it. After the articles were
signed and before the money was paid
over he was taken sick with fever
and died."
Hey? He did? With q feverT
"Yes, but be left a pretty good leg
acy to bis heirs. didn't he? For com
mon sailor or second mattel believe
that's what be was-$S7. 800 Is doing
we'll. It must have come a. 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 ill?" asked the congress
man anxiously. 'Take some water
Shall CALI
The captain waved his hand.
mo. nor' he stammered. mo! In
all right. DO you-for the Lords sake
tell me this. What was the name Of
this partner that died?
Mr.. Everdean looked curiously at bis
friend before he answered
"Sure you're not sickT' he asked
"Well. all right. The partners name
Why. I've heard 1t often enough. It''
on the deed of sale that father ha!
} framed In his room at home. The ole
gentleman IL as proud Of that as any
thing in the house. The name was
was''-
"For God sake" cried Captain Cy
don't say twas John Thayer. cause
Il you do l shan't believe it"
THAT'S what 1t was-John Thayer.
How did you guess? Did you know
him? remember now that he was
another down easter. like Atkins"
The captain did not answer he
clasped his forehead with both hands
and leaned his elbows on the table
Eyerdean was plainly alarmed.
"I'm going to call doctor" he be
gan. rising. But Captain Cy waved
him back again.
"Set still" he ordered. "Set still,
tell you! You say the whole seventy
Eve thousand was paid to Heman. bu
that John Thayer signed the bill Of
sale afore he died as half partner ant
,, your dads got the original deed and
. and-he remembers the whole busi
ness2"
"Yes. he's got the deed-framed. IT.
., on record, too, Of course. Remembers
. I should say he did! He'll talk for
week on that subject II you give hin
. a chance"
The captain sprang to his feet. Hi