The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-11
Daily Short Story
AFTER THE YEARS.
BY Arthur Wallace Peach.

ScnaHner settled himself comfOr
taoly in the one chair the room af-
friend and partner.
1T was the queerest sort OF a hole
Just village. you know and there
wasn't much sign OF anything going
on. thought / could rest there for
while until the smoke blew over
and they began TO forget about that
bank deal OF ours" he was explain
ing;
"But. coming 10 that point. I ran
on to the strangest deal you ever
heard OF. ! got in with the preacher
there. kind, eood-natured old fell
low, and got wise TO the whole thing.
A woman came there; she was about
rs. they guessed. and settled down
She was alone most OF the time. and
no one knew anything about her. The
minister got into her ways, however.
and they grew to be chummy. She
died hye years later and left with
the old minister a boN-a small box
made OF steel. and gave him the key.
She said IL was TO be given TO a man
scribed him. and the old man gave
me the description. But the chap
never came, She had quite a little
money. and the old fellow was sure,
from things he had heard from the
people who might know she had il
put in the box. II she did. it's worth
trying for. It's funny all around
when you come to think II over"
What's your game?" inquired
Freddy.
Simple enough. You're about go,
and with that phiz OF yours and your
gray hair. you'll get by after I've
put you wise. It's easy. for the wo-
man was tight as a drumhead. so
heard. You'd have TO make up the
rest OF it-be her lover. you know,
returning after the years. having
traced her whore she is-no. you'd
have TO dope IL ont a different way"
Shafner said thoughtfully.
Here you have IL: She wrote Won
10 come, but she wrote TO a wrong
place or place where you had been.
and no word reached you. see? Fin
ally, going back one DAY. some one
had kept the letter for you, and you
learned-there YOU have il: anyth ing
will get by. however, If you look a
little pious. and talk up stiff on the
with"
Enough, Enough, It's worth the
end"
.I'll swear 20 IT, Trust me-"
Fully prepared " carry out the part
OF the long-absent and returning lover
John u. Trakner. Freddy left for the
northern village.
Snafner. smoking I'm the room and
reading the evening paper. was arous.
ed by a familiar step on the landing
The next moment Freddy. looking n
little travel worn and weary. entered
Shafncr welcomed him with open
arms. BILLY, old boy. what luck?"
Freediey unStrapped his suitcase
and held out the strongbox II was
answered enough
Looked into it," Sharner asked.
Freedley's face sobered and he
shook his head as he handed the KEY
10 Shafner. "TEe devil o. 1t Is. Shat
he went on, Il couldn't do IL. I was
got me nm there. That Old white
headed fellow and 7 got 10 he pretty
good friends before got through. ne
made me stay at his house. and was
the FIRST man ] ever met. not counting
you out. Shat. who acted as n 10
thought ! was the man.
He took mo ont 10 the grave of
Of the woman. and he told me stories
OF her-how good she was n the kids
In the village. and the sick. and so
forth. and the up-hOt and end or {.
Nas.I couldn't monkey with that
snafn"r inserted tho toy and opcped
IN" box. In Wow CTma 70 thick. tight
large roll Of bile. 90. OF LARGE dououi.
nations
Witt q mui'orad vrrI Of as.onirrad
ioy Sl'furr Ifod the roll: Do ya.
heavy and solid "5ad. man. there.
70 bunch 90 worcvH
From tho bottom o. the box shat
NOT grow two picturaa and lsffor.
yellow with a~'. addressed 90 "rfr
John -. Tr.. utr."
'lf'rc Irye 'offo-. b'rum." said
1G1'Trr. opening 10 un
u vas written ir tr' dainty hand