New Britain herald., 1921-08-18

aellnIoro arose promptly. His mild l LOOK was gone and his she'll -rimm ed :! spectacles did not hide the sternness CT ms expression as he asked Tom: Dld you wish to see me for any | thing?"
 Nav. I don't want to see you"
 sneered the scowling youth. when next you come to my room,
 knock said Helmford. He turned
 his shoulder to them both and sat down again in his easy chair before the ire, picking up the book Pearls slim fingers had so recently held.
 Hoh!' snorted the admonished Tom But his mother pushed him out Of the room and retired herself without making the boarder any re- ply.
 Capn Jonah, nearly crippled under an attack of his rheumatism, hobbled downstairs next day in season for the monday dinner. After the meal he insisted upon going out of doors
 Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
 muttered Cap'n Jonah in Helmford's ear. II mean the sauall in the house."
 Oh" Helmford's expression changed. Sarah and them pickin' on Pearly the way they've been doin' has got to be stopped
 "Oh!" T had to put my foot down." went on Capn Jonah, boldly "She sha'nt be brow-beaten no more. What I've got shall be that gals when I'm dead an gone and then she sha'nt be be- holden to no Petty" @... "Oh"
 "Whatever" exclaimed Cap'n Jo- | nah, exasperated. ''Ain't you got
 nothin' but 'Os' left inside you?' "Er-not much, guess, Cap'n Jonah. You take my breath away. Do you mean you are going to make
 Miss Pearl your heir?"
 That's what mean to do,' the old man said firmly. "I might do better willin my property to Pearly than leaving it to Sarah Petty and her lout of son What do you , think. Mr. Helmford?"
 "I-I do not feel myself qualified to advise, Cap'n Hand. It is a deli cate matter" said Helmford slowly, and left him at the highway When Cap'n Jonah reached Abe
 Sits store the usual loungers, en- clrclcd the stove. They made room for him while the storekeeper him. self halted to warm his hands at the fire.
 We're in for spell of Jack Frost,
 Cap'n Jonah," remarked Washy Gal lup.
 II shouldn't wonder! I shouldn't wonder" agreed the mariner ad- dressed. But he gave little attention to the several greetings of the loung- CTS. His mind was fixed upon the errand on which he had come. He into a corner and sound him upon the
 subject of "foolin them Pettys. Cap'n rAbe was his only hope
 Tt was jest such another spell of dry cold as this," began the store | keeper ruminatively. when Uncle
 Joe Hanna over to Freedom was | turned out O house an home years
 ago by the sheriff.
 | The shuffling of feet, clearing of l throats, and other indications of dis l taste for the expected yarn did not halt him at all. Uncle Joe Hanna owned leetle place where he'd lived all his life,
 and he mortgaged it to Jonathan Cof- fin. Coffin was as hard as nails, and
 his wife. Mig Coffin. was as hard as l spikes. Hi-mighty! they was a pair.
 Wal, when Uncle Joe Hanna got too old to work much he couldn't
 keep up the int'rest on the mortgage ! Uncle Joe might jest as well have grappled with death as to have Jona-
 than Coffin for a creditor. He was
 turned out, hoss an foot, an didn't
 have place to lay his head. Course
 the nelghbors took him in, turn an
 turn about, and he was made com
 fortabie. But Uncle Joe was proud and he wanted his rights. l "Ye see," said Cap'n Abe, "at tha, time Freedom didn't have no poo1
 farm. So they begun boardin' Uncle Joe around at the town expense. Plen. ty of folks would take him. Uncle
 Joe was partic'lar about his food Nobody seemed to suit his appetite but Jonathan Coff1ns wife herself She was a master hand to cook; bu ! as she sai6. what the selectmen al lowed for Uncle Joe's up-keep didn'- lscurse pay for the grub he ct.
 But by an by everybody noticed
 how much nicer the Coff1nses began to treat Uncle Joe They took hin r | him tobacker. and a new suit 0
 clo'es. And you could see him sit I l in out under the trees in the Cof , hnses' front yaro takin' it easy, an
 all. Folks began to say they'd neve
 Isuspicioned what rel kind-heartet Ipeople Jonathan Coffin and his wifi,
 was. They treated Uncle Joe lovely.' sI Capn Abe chucklad reflectively But the old mar died finally. The, r ] give him a nice fCl.'ral -~ iona thai Coffin. they say. helped pay for thu
 ,xtrys. Hadn't had a pauper funera n Freedom for two generations, S, they just spread themselves. You'<
 ca' thought Jonathan an Mig Coffi1 ? had lost a close reItive. Then tn, l lweek after Uncle Joe was laid away l ! hey hustled down to Arad Peck, wh, 5 was a lawyer, and took with 'em al 9 old black satchel Uncle Joe had SC o rrn for hxy Tvo To