The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-08-26

tie of whisky. I want to keep 1t by
my side. On my honor, / will not
touch a drop of it unless l feel the
tremens coming on. 1t will help me
out to know I've got 1t, If reach the
limit of endurance"
"Done!" cried Pearce, land / know
you'll conquer"
Elston did. At the end of a week,
once more clothed again in his right
mind, he took walk with Pearce. AS
they reached a quiet spot he took out
the bottle. It's contents were intact.
He gave it fling against rock ana
1t shivered into a thousand pieces.
That's the end of drink for me.
he said, quietly but determinedly.
Now queer thing came about.
Pearce got to questioning Elston about
his past. He found that his only liv1
ing relative was sister, milllne1,
in town fifty miles distant. Elston
had kept away from her on account
of his drinking. Pearce suggested
that he go and see the sister.
'Ive got an uncle living in Mar
den,'' he explained. 'Tll ge@ you work
there. You will be happier and safer
near your sister,
The first moment Pearce set his
eyes on Dorothy Elston, the pretty
milliner, with her sweet, winning
ways, he fell in love with her. He
1t Ill IN, No
ploy Elston. The uncle was an eccen7
trio recluse, something of a scientist
and had a vast collection OF curlos
and was good deal of naturalist;
Two months went by. Pearce made
a good many visits to Marden. He
got on famously with Dorothy Elston,
and her brother was keeping away
from strong drink. His employer had
sent him away from town on a mission
of importance one evening, and Pearce
stayed with his uncle that night, leav-
ing early in the morning before mis-
uncle was awake.
Serious news reached him In his
own town before nightfall. His uncle
had been robbed of a large amount or
jewelry. The fact of Pearce being at
the house and leaving as he did, led to
gossip, and then suspicion. Elston
could prove that he was absent when
the old man, now turned sour and
suspicious, had been robbed. The
latter did not prosecute, but he 1g-
nored his nephew and former heir
after that.
Elston returned to Marden greatly
perturbed over the charge that affected
the man who had been his best friend.
All one day he prowled about the
old house, trying to figure out how
and why his employer was robbed.
At last Elston rested suspicion
upon a stranger who had come to the
town the day before the robbery, and
had been found intoxicated on the
public streets the ensuing evening"
The man was serving a thirty days
sentence for the misdemeanor.
One day another stranger met Els
ton and scraped up an acquaintance
with him. He informed Elston that
Lu0 llldu III Jdll wa q AAACAU VI AA0'
II want to get some money to him
so he can buy little necessaries,' ex-
planned the man. You're acquainted
here and you can get into the jail.
Just give him the money, will you
ah, yes, and this cigar"
Elston assented. The mission would
enable him to get closer to the pris-
oner. On the way to the jail, how
ever, he happened to notice the cigar.
1t felt soft in the center. He sus-
pected something and investigated. 1t
was to discover a note packed into
small compass, and reading:
81 can't hang around here for fear
of exciting suspicion. Your share OF
the loot is hidden in the loft of the
old shed back of the house we rob-
bed"
Immediately Elston set the officers
on the trail of the man who had given
him the money and cigar. He was
captured confessed, and Pearce was
restored to the good graces of his
uncle.
Donald Pearce blessed the hour he
had reclaimed from the dregs the re-
formed derelict who saved his good
name, and led to his gaining the
dearest, sweetest wife in the world.