New Britain herald., 1921-08-22

from inteI1upiing Cap'n Abe, although the wind was moderating He sat ] with Cap'n Jonah in the livipy-rco,,, 1 and discussed the lattc:'s financial ,f 1 fairs more earnestly than hcrctofora
 You say this hero money you got in your wallet is all you got in the " orld. Cap'n Hand?" "Whatever, Nor 10 more to be | had" said Cap'n Jonah I got som, lie sneers-but, psEaw. They air't 1 nothin'.''
 What air them sheers?" demanded Cap'n Abe, suddenly. T was ceadin' in the Globe paper only this morn 1 ing"-
 He got up and brought tho Boston l paper from the rack on the wall. Un- folding it he found the ina ncial page and pointed a horny forehnger to the heading of an article there print | ed.
 make of this, MT. Silt? Why. them's the very sheers! The Little Sandy Oil and Coal company 'Lemme see!" said Cap'n Abe eay eriy. ."D'you mean to say, Cap'n Hand, that you got some O then Little Sandy sheers?'
 Abe Silt!' calculated Cap'n Jonah, almost breathless. II got two thou sand of 'em! Right here in my pock- ct! Dyou s'pose they can he the same?'
 "Littlc Sandy Oil and Coal com panr'.' read Capn Abe, slowly. Lay ] dominant many years My soul, Cap'n Hand!'
 Why said the other, they told me two years ago that all I've ever got out of them wells was a bad sneH''
 "Hj-mishty!" shouted Cap'n Abe, skipping his knee in high delight That's exactly what they did git, Natural gas!'
 l Capn Jonah dragged from the ] breast pocket of his pilot coat long envelope, much stained and worn From this he produced the ornate l certificate of the Little Sandy Oil and Coal company, whic', stated upon it's 1 face that he was the owner of D. l 900 shares in the capital stock of the l concern.
 Two thousand!' naurmured Cap'n Abe. "Hi-mighty! Look here! This paper says the shecrs have gone to $15 already. By tho great jibboon. Cap'n Hand. That there document
 
 l Cap'n Jonah stared at the store keeper in utter bewilderment at first. He repeated slowly: Thirty thousand Idol1ars? Whatever"
 ! There's your fortune, Capn l Hand!" cried the storekeeper in vast delight. An a fortune that's wuth while. You needn't worry about tho IPettys no more. Nor about Pearly-''
 "Belay all' gasped Cap'n Jonah, hoarsely. and laying restraining hand on the storekeeper's knee. Don't say word to nobody" =. 1 "FIuh!"
 Not word,'' repeated Cap'n IJonah, sternly. "I don't want folks to know about this fortune. Above all, don't let that fish trainer, Helm ford, hear a word about it. For if he does, like as not he'll slip his moorings again and run out to sea. He's got a fool conviction, like Lip halet Truitt, that if a woman's got "a little tad of money he nustn t marry her."
 The gale abated toward evening. The sky was clearing when 'Liphalet Truitt came out of his door and start ed down the Shell road toward the store.
 
 else that took him to Cap'n Abe's. The cloud that had for these past few weeks overshadowed the lonely ba cho1or who dwe1t beside the Marin CTS chapel, rested more heavily than 1 ever upon his mind and heart this Christmas Eve.
 So he tramped down the Shell road in a gloomy frame of mind; and upon entering intok the warmth and light and hustle of Cap'n Abe's store was as much in the doldrums as ever.
 The greetings showered upon him from those present, men and wome1 alike, were heartier than usual. Why , it seemed just as though they were
 waiting for 'Liphalet's appearance
 The cheerful smiles, the hearty greet
 ings one to another as other neigh f bors entered. began to impress more f deeply the apostate Santa Claus. Re , tiring to an upturned nail keg be
 hind the stove, 'Liphalet tried agair
 to wrap himself in gloom. He fel , meaner than he had ever felt be f fore in all his life. :, Suddenly from Cap'n Abe's living
 room behind tho store sounded th' l opening bars Of the Fishers Horn pipe" played on fiddle and played i better tnan L1pitdieL ndu ever Aedlt F # rendered before. He sat up straight , CT, his ears pricked, and his eye f | began to glisten.
 , A silence had fallen upon tn | thronged store. 'Liphalet did no , notice now the smiling and signifi , cant glanccs cast in his direction. H was attending with all his music-lov o ing soul to the medley of old-tim
 sea -ditties that the master violinis , was playing.
 By Hannah. Who's that fddiins?'
 gasped 'Liphalct, as tho music ceased |, A moments pause. Then rose tn - air of Black-Eyed Susan," played b. . what the deeply moved ex-stewar' o. would have called a "brass band The orches accoinpaniinen