The Red Cloud chief., 1912-02-29
A House of Surprises
BY MARTHA ENDICOTT EATON

o"u q ie" HuHuTeu OOiaTS III DanK.
People thought there might be some
money hidden in the house. as Daniel
mad been called miser. The village
lawyer closed the house and adver.
tised In the papers for relatives of one
Daniel Rodcll.
Weeks heightened into months, and
nothing was heard from any kith or
kin. Then John Black, the lawyer,
sent advertisements to the New York
papers. and one day there came let.
ter from a young woman who said
her mother was niece OF Daniel
Rodell.
Mr.. Black replied and asked her to
come to Barstead and in few days
young lady alighted from a train
at the little station.
She was stylishly garbed. and had
way with her." so Jed. the village
hackman. said. He obeyed at once
when she requested him to drive to
Mr.. Blacks office. She had brought
papers with her TO prove her kin.
ship.
WELL" said Mr.. Black II suppose
the house Is yours, unless other heirs
are heard from. have heard him
say he had sister out west and a
nephew somewhere"
They went and looked the house
over. Miss Strong was we'll pleased
with 1t and the dear old furniture. as
she called It.: the fireplace. too. de-
lighted her.
But" she said. II can't live here.
am a journalist in New York. and
can't leave now. I shall have to wait
until my summer vacation"
One cold wintry day an old lady.
rather poorly clad. called on Mr..
Rodell's sister. She had come from
the west and spent nearly all her
money. thinking she would like to end
her days in her grandfathers house.
for such it was before Daniel Inherit
ed It.
So John Black telegraphed Miss
Strong. Lady claiming to be Ro.
dells sister come to live in house.
What shall do?"
The answer came. III proven. let
her by all means.
FRANCES STRONG"
Mr.. Black was in a quandary. How
could anyone live without money?
Other heirs might spring up He did
not dare to touch the money in the
bank. He wrote to Miss Strong. and
nsked her what he should do. Miss
strong send him check for $50. say.
ing: "She is my great.aunt. can't
let her starve."
So the old lady took possession. She
had only one trunk. She looked like
q Dresden china shepherdess.
He had happy thought. An old
lady lived in the village who was
threatened with the poor farm"
Now. thought Black. she can 60
and live with Mrs. Jones and work a
little for her room and board.
Mrs. Jones consented, and the old
woman, whose name was Tabitha
Snow, agreed to 60 II she could furnish
her room with her own furniture.
Frances had to be consulted again.
"She telegraphed: Yes. II clean"
All was satisfactory and Mrs. Jones
and Tabitha. with the help Of Jed. who
was a man.of.all work as we'll as
Northumberland out a pleasant room
at the back of the house.
The room had been used by Mr.
Rodell as q sort OF storeroom; as they
were moving a small chest OF drawers,
such as spools OF silk or cotton are
kept In in shops. Mrs. Jones knocked a
drawer out such rattling and jang.
ling noise II made when 1t fell! 1t
was full of dimes, loosely thrown In; a
scrap of paper had fallen with them.
She picked 1t up and read: "These
dimes belong to the finder!
DANIEL RODELIA"
Being generous. she thought she
would divide with Jed and Tabitha.
There we're 200 dimes. Mrs. Jones kept
q hundred and gave Tabitha and Jed
SO apiece.
When Tabitha was settled. the two
had happy afternoons together. Now
and then Mrs. Jones had a CHEEKY let.
ter from Frances. who was glad to
have found an aunt. She sent them
papers and magazines. 80 the winter
passed pleasantly. Then one day quite
carly In the spring Frances ran up to
spend a weekend with her aunt.
All day long Sunday she poked
around trying to hnd will which Mr..
Black was sure had been made years
before. At last In an old desk In her
uncle's room she found II. She sent
for Mr.. Black. He came hurrying In
1ust at dusk. When the lamps were
lighted he read the preliminary sen
fences, and then got down to business
"The house l live in give and be-
uueath to my niece. Frances Strong
and my nephew, John Rodell. who is
somewhere In the west The money In
the bank to my sister. Elizabeth Jones
now in Montana. Around the house ir
various places (having not much faith
in banks) ! have put sums OF money
with slips OF paper telling for whom
each sum is intended.
(Signed and sealed)
DANIEL RODEI.I.."
They all listened In silence when he
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