The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-06-30

extreme north end OF Lonely island
At tho end Of another month Ralph
had cleared q tlve-acre stretch Of IL
uuderbrush. preparatory TO doing
some real farming tho next season.
One day he received q visit u
was from q man familiarly known az
Quaker Wilson. The latter was an
intensely religious and industrious
man. an old bachelor. odd In some Of
his ideas. but thoroughly honest and
dependable
"Dering." he said, in his quaint,
open way. II want you to SGT me at
work"
Ralph smiled at tho nero sugges.
tlon.
why. Mr.. Wilson. flnd II hard to
occupy myself"
Il know that" nodded Wilson, but
| I've got a contract to bring you that
may change conditions. You know
thoy are building a levee down be-
You'd Millville."
I heard so. yes"
They are looking for material to
fill In. Rock 10 too scarce and ex-
ponslve. l got an idea, Nothing is
than willows. have convinced the
contractors OF this. Thoy have agreed
to supply scow and pay we'll for
every boatlOad we supply. The out
ting is easy and | will stick right with
you and live here for twenty-five per
cent OF the returns"
It was u better bargain than Ralph
had ut first calculated. At tho begin.
ming of November. after thirty days
hard work, ho had tho satisfaction
of having cleared over Ave hundred
dollars from this unexpected windfall.
Then came a second seeming stroke
Of fortune A stranger rowod over to
tho island ono day and introduced him.
Hclr to Ralph Rs tho agent OF for.
| nign government. lie wished to buy
III the standing timber on tho island
| Ralph was puzzled and amazed at the
| 'XtrnvnEant price named and said 80
| "lt's simple" was the prompt OK
| PLANTATION. Our hardware factory
mas big war ordor-.for guns We
want your walnut to supply the
| stocks"
The ann orforsd dozzIed RaInb aa
was induced to GO to town and sign o
contract. His eyes glistened as he
anu donos,,od in tha bonk tho con.
,roc, tbo, colIod ,or ono ,houaona dol.
| lara n month for tho n,xt ,wo vea,a
| flo ,h,naht n, Mvr,,o-,ba ,r,uro
Iookcd bright. All kinda of ertrays.
| gant dronma of fortuna and auecess
filled hIa mind Then there came a
dnmpeuer that set him IN thinking
| A moetIup with some sr,epds on the
wov IN tho ,aland gainsa for him thu
Information that MYRTLE was nj tbe
head of tho movement for sendinR
clothing and general supplies to Euro
pean wnr aufferera. In n flash his
mind recoiled from n realization of
| tho good she was ATTEMPTING and the
nordId bargain he was lending him.
solf TO.
RaIph woa onIv balf.bearted about
hi. imno,uoua nIupga x,,hou, ,binl.
Iny into tho wnr order nronosi,,op aa
no told Wilson OF what no had done.
The latter was amazed and shocked.
He bluntly cited that his principles
were against any announcement of
strife. oven in an indirect sense. He
seemed greatly moved as he gave his
views and after no had retired Ralph
| caught the echo OF a fervent but sub
duod voice and know that Il was Will
Ron, praying.
Mr.. Wilson," he said, first thing
| next morning. "I am going 10 town
to cancel that contract" and tho old
| man clngped bis hand siIentIy. but
with n look of relief and Rladness on
| hig furrowed face.
RnIpb did not return that day nor
| ,bo ncyt Tbree dava Inter onaker
vVu,np r.coivod n jctter II told him
I'm, RoInb Ind mt found n m eaav
ma bo Ind fnnciod canceIinR thu com.
tract Tho town bank had no prov.
uco I'm tho busIness except an trus-
tee. Whom he got to tho city he
found that tho manufacturers intended
to hold him strictly to his bargain.
IL am henrtsick over II ALL" he
wrote. "Oh, to recall tho impulse
tho result OF which hangs over me
| llkn burdenl"
| A grim look came over the face of
old Wilson an he returned to tho ia.
land. The glow OF what tho world
would call fnnaticigm was In his eye
nH he looked over the dcaolato OK.
pnugr Everything was dry as tinder
high wind was blowing Then
Tho little town witnessed terrific
cpnnngrutIon that night. They lined
the river shore, viewing tho wild
llnmcs lick up the great mass OF will
lows and then the noble timber
stretch Ralph got back two evenings
later, to reach the Island ana Bthhu
amazed at tho devastation before MIN
doorway stood Wilson.