New Britain herald., 1921-08-20

gasped ejaculation, and he scrambled desperately upward, determined to | make the brink and safety with the woman he loved
 CHAPTER VIII. | Better Weather. 1 Cap'n Jonah was only half an hour or so behind Tom in reaching the ] house. Tom had brought into the kitchen something worse than the snow that stuck to his boots
 Whats got into you, Tom Petty? Don't you know enough to stomp your boots on the porch?' fretted Sarah "Ifs you air goin' to be a rich man some day, you better Farn how to be- have nice.'
 "Rich" exploded her son. finally getting his breath. Who's goin' to make me rich, I want to know?" l Your Uncle Jonah,' said Sarah placidly. If you manage to behave yourself"
 1 Uncle Jonah! That consarned old ] cheat?" bawled Tom.
 . Now, Tom Petty! I won't hear you Iuse sech language about your uncle. What mess have you managed to stir lup?"
 l ''I tell you what I have been doin |" vouchsafed the lout his voice trem- bling, his face inflamed. I've been l listenin' to Cap'n Cheatin Jonah and Abram SiI1 chucklin' over the way they've fooled us allan everybody else round here.''
 What do you mean, Tom Petty?"
 Sarah's voice rose almost to shriek.
 T mean that old scoundrel ain't got source a cent to bless himself with. I heard him say it!" Tom l panted. .. 1 "Goshamighty!" gasped Orrin
 What dye mean? Them securi- ties you told us about ?" demanded ! Sarah.
 | Was phony-make-beH He just said so. He an Cap'n Abe matched it all up to fool you-so you'd treat him nice, an treat Pearly nice. 1 "I can't believe it!" walled Orrin
 weakly.
 q tell you we've been done-an
 done good. That box was sent over from the bank for a joke. Cap'n Abe engineered it all, you bet!'' Pearl, who had been doing the up stairs work, entered the kitchen. With
 one accord the three Pettys turned
 upon her. Tom, in a single stride,
 reached the girls side and seized her
 by the wrist with a grip that brought
 a cry of pain from her lips.
 Here's one that knew it all the
 time, bet my hat" growled the son. } ''The ungrateful little baggage" snarled Sarah, coming at Pearl from the other side.
 Their attack was so sudden-so un-
 expected after the recent treatment they had accorded her-that Pearl was made speeches..
 l Let me go, Tom Petty!' she de- Imanded, trying to break away. Sarah seized the girls other arm and twisted it spitefully.
 Tell me!'' hissed the woman. l"Have you kowed this all along, you
 little viper, you? TeH me!'
 i She shook Pearl one way. Tom shook her another. Orrin demanded l 1 from across the table:
 Answer us, Is this here true? Has
 that old whelp been foolin' us? Ain't Cap'n Jonah got no fortune? "Cap'n Jonah?" Pearl gasped the name as the door was flung open allowing the old sea 1 man to enter.
 "Belay there!" he commanded. s Sarah flung around on him. An 3 Here yc be-" she cried. You're tht y rich Jonah Hand 1 hear tell? Yol e got box full of securities and money T wouldn't wonder? And who loaned e 1 en to you?'
 h Cap'n Jonah was for the momen l Staggered, but his grim old mahogan! r face showed no flicker of emotion. S We all know about it now, yo' = pauper!' the woman cried
 Easy! Easy!' murmured Cap. It Jonah. grim-lipped. "Ye ain't los
 nothin' by me, Sarah Petty.'' Il "Shet up,''- she shrieked at hin live been slavin' for you-ev'rybod = I-nows it.
 Sarah Petty." Cap'n Jonahs voic r. thundered through the room and si II fenced the woman. Sarah Petty,
 am your fathers brother. There wa e a time, as you well know when poe Il 1 John-and you and your mother y 1 might have been cast on a lee shor
 if it hadn't been for me standin' b l. an' seein' that you weathered tn ,r l storm
 l. '"If l had come to you when land a ed here from China and demand tha $ you take me in and do for m es 'twould ha' been no more than riSh st as you know, Sarah Petty. As 'ti: le I don't owe you nothin. d "If you let yourself be fooled int S. believin' I was a. wealthy man, yo d done it easy. I never said 1 was!
 He thumped his cane resoundingl ,t, on the floor and wheeled toward tn d foor again. Pearl started towar h him. both hands held out, appealing le ly. .,