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—Y HAPPY DAYS<
5
*““No—no, my child,
“Then I do love hin more than my own
soul,” she sai
She caught, the girl in her loving em-
brace, and sa
“Oh, you dou Know bow happy you
have made me
“A few days ‘later, ‘Walt asked her to be
his wife, and she said she w
The Engagement was kept. a “profound
secret for month:
In the meantime, the Widow Irwin kept
up a series of weekly socials at her splen-
did residence, and always insisted on Walt
and his mother attending them. She
never invited Bessie, nor any other very
pretty young lady, though she did havea
number who were not so beautiful as her-
self.
One evening in her back parlor, when no
others were present, he asked her why she
did not marry agi
“Tam waiting for’ the right man to come
along,” she said, and then in turn asked
him why he did not take a wife,
“Tam too young,” he re lied,
“ Nonsense,” she lau;
“T am not old enough, to vote yet,” he
asserted, “and am trying hard to raisea
mustache.
“ Women don’t vote at all—except for
matrimony. You are old enough to marry.
How old do you think aman ought to
when he marrie
“ He ought to be at least thirty.”
“Oh, my! Are you going to wait ten
years before marryin
“*T- don now,” he laughed. ‘I may
fall_in ove and yield to temptation, A
pretty woman can turn a man’s head and
heart, you know.”
“Would you marry a widow?”
loved
aifterence, with me if whe were three times
a wi
“Then’ I ing to wait and give you
achance to a, Reins too with me, Walt,”
she said, laying a hand on his arm, “ Will
you tell meso when you think you love
me groagh to want me to be your wife?”
“Yes,” he said, quite ill atease. ‘“ But
I now. I never thought of you in
that light, though I have admired you as
a good friend and a brilliant w oman.”
ecame away that evening half vexed
with himself for not telling her of his en-
gagement to Bessie. ut he had not com-
promised himself, anyway, and kept the
secret locked in his bosom.
‘Six moths later Bessie’s father died, and
the mother and daughter were alone in
the world, A year later Mrs, Hamil, to
the surprise of all her friends, marr ied
again.
“* Now marry Bessie and bring her home,
Walt,” said Mrs, Whitney, and he did, It
created a sensation among his friends.
Mrs Irwin took a trip to Kurope a week
Jater and remained a year. When she re-
turned she looked ten years older than
when she went away. She never men-
tioned the Whitneys to any of her friends,
and did not meet them in society except
by the merest accident,
Walt is now in middle life, and ranks as
one of the ablest lawyers of the metropo-
. lis, and“has frequently been honored b:
the people with offices of great trust an
responsibility. Heis the happy father of
three children, and his wife is regarded as
one of the lights of select society. Tlis
mother is still: living and yet a widow,
having no desire ever to leave the home of
her only child—the Boy Lawyer of New
ork, . ~
[THE END,]
peewee
JAS. D. MONTACUE’S NEW SCHOOL
STORY BECINS IN THE NEXT NUMBER.
04
(This story commenced in No. 220.)
Cheek al Chance:
TRAVELING ON HIS WITS,
The Story of al a ta Boy Outcast.
“By R. Ter EMMET,
Axthor of “ Nobody's Son,” “ The B. B.
“Talking Tom,” _‘** Remember
the “Maine,” ** Hal Howe, the
Boy Reporter,” ele, etc, etc.
CHAPTER XIL
TREASURE HUNTING,
ONE-THIRD the buried treasure Dr.
Markham had Nodteat to Andy. This
was about seventy-five thousand dollars,
e poung outcast reflected upon this
fact, he lt giddy. All the dreams of his
life seemed to fin ‘instant realization,
|
Certainly fortune seemed to award him
her kindest smiles. Such chances come to
t few men. Andy { felt the distinction of
being one of that
Seventy-five thousand dollars made of
him a money prince, He reflected upon
yhata a 2am that would be in the slums of
ew
What would Nellie Spencer say now?
Tle ictured himself calling upon her in
ingy little attic in Hester street and
placing himself and his fortuneat her feet.
Vhat would she say? What would she
“All such fangies ran rampant in Andy’s
brain, They were accompanied by a curi-
ous sort of fever, which | made his skin
burnand his throat parc!
* Well,” he reflected, ‘* good clothes and
good living will make a fine lady of Nellie.
I dare say she will be prettier than ever in
her fine silks. Oh, jolly! It seems to me
as if I must be dreaming.”
ut he was not dreaming, A hard, stern
reality was before him,
was a golden lining to the cloud, but that
did not lesson its weight and blackness.
“Well,” muttered Andy, “there's my
chance, and I’ve just got the cheek to take
t. If I don’t find that money and bring it
safel out, I'm a fool, that’s all.”
So he went io work with a will. He hit
had four Hundred dollars of his own
money. He boughta rifle anda hunter's
suit. Then he announced his intention of
cing into the Maine woods to hunt for
be | upon a shrew
He
‘The autumn was on, and hunters flock-
ing from every where, Andy advertised
for a guide,
His first purpose was to locate and visit
the spot where the gold was buried. This
done he would be able next time to find his
“He to the spot alone,
or it would not be safe togo in quest
of such a treasure accompanied by others,
The temptation was too great, and human
cupidity is powerful.
ven if he was obliged to bring away the
treasure in smal! quantities, he would do
To be sure there | act.
{the mound open with his hands, ~ What
was to be done?
He looked about him in the vain hope of
finding : something that would assist him.
As he did so a startling sound smote upon
his hearing.
rouistingtly he heard the crunching ofa
foot in the underbrush near, He fancied
also that he heard a deep-drawn breath,
Something, animal or human, was there,
Mis heart almost stood still, and his brain
throbbed with intense excitement.
r what w
Had he been followed ?
Ifso, by whom? He thought of the
murderer, DariusSmith. Perhaps he was
even now concealed by yonder under-
growth, ready to shoot him down and pos-
sess himeelf of the buried treasure,
ndy shivered as this occurred ‘to him,
He was wholly unarmed.
In this case he Seemed at the mercy of
he unknown. Again he beard the deep-
drawn respiration. This decided him to
He stepped back behind a tree, At that
momentit would not have added to
surprise in the least if a rifle ball had come
speeding that w. aye
The crunching footstep was heard again,
hen Andy peered cautiously from behind
the tree,
nd he experienced a thrill.
‘Through the green leaves of the under-
growth he distinguished the outlines of a
man’s form. He was certain then that he
had been tracked. But who was his
tracker? He was determined to find out,
and that at once,
CHAPTER XIII.
A VILLAIN’S GAME.
Ir is difficult fo depict the Sensations
experienced by y Dunn when he
covered that he had been tracked, and that
his pursuer, doubtless well armed, was
close upon him,
There was the treasure mound almost
at his feet. There was buried over two
hundred thousand dollars, a large for-
it to be assured of safety. Thus his plans | tune
were cleverly laid.
‘0 execute them was the next thing. In
answer to his call for a guide who should
turn up but Joe Oxley, the four-horse
w every foot of them woods,” he
declared, “T've hunted ” em with the doc-
tor. T'll guide ye if pe say say
Oxley seemed to avery honest and
faithful fellow, Andy engaged him on
the spot.
Equipments were
Andy and his guide out. .They
crossed the boundary line. into” Maine and
went down by rail to Houlton, Thence
the y took: stages for the Moosehead woods,
days were spent in traveling thus,
But c one day the last stage office was left
behind, and the two hunters found them-
selves in the woods,
~ The
theirbacks and made camp by purling
streams and in secluded spots. The life
had a positive charm for
It was easy to Subsistence. Game
was plenty of all kinds, and Oxley was an
excellent cook, Day after day passed
urchased, and then
One day, however, they came out upon
the banks ofacreek. This Oxley declared
to be Moose creek, Andy experienced a
thrill, He was now quitenear the hidden
treasure.
I d taken careful note of the trails
through the forest, He believed that he
could easily find his way to this spot.
ept on down the course of the
creek until its intersection with White's
brook was formed. Trout was plentiful,
and Andy took his rod, saying
“I'm going out for a tramp up the
brook, Oxley. You can stay here and
smoke if you want to, Take a rest.”
Oxley was not Joath to agree ie this.
Soon Andy was following the bro
He filled his creel half full of trot, “Then
he suddenly diverged from the brook and
struck into the woods,
in he went, until suddenly the trees
grew less dense, and he came to a clear-
ings Then he saw the three-forked pine
she approached this landmark he felt
intensely excited. His hand trembled as
he lined the compass west and made four-
teen paces,
This brought him to a little mound cov-
ered with pine needles. Near by was a
blazed tree. Undoubtedly here was the
buried tre od over the
mound for some while in rumination, The
desire was maddening to open the mound
and verify the presence of the treasure
there.
It seemed as if nothing could be safer.
ihe possibility of being disturbed by
human be ne was one ina million.
Surely Ox xley would not put in an ap-
pearance, Andy reflected that he needed
money and it would be a capital thing to
secure some of the treasure now that the
opportunity was at han
t he had no tools. Hecould never dig
carried their packs strapped on|see y
une,
Did his unknown pursuer know that?
Andy could think of him as no other than
Darius Smith.
tain
reasure in this spot, or that he was even
aware that this was the object of Andy's
expedition into the w' Cods.
‘0 the contrary, it was quite certain
that Smith was ignorant of all this, else
he would have possessed himself of the
reasure long since. It wasa secret which
Andy alone possessed,
This reflection gave courage to Andy.
He realized that to show timidity would
gain nothing. Cheek would fare better
than cowardice her
Accordingly he ‘changed his tactics.
Carelessly y, stepping out from behind t
tree,
“No. > joke this time, Joe Oxley. I can
There w was a faint suspicion in Andy's
mind that it really might be Joe Oxley,
ut this was quickly dispelled.
e undergrowth parted and an
strode forth, He was powerfully. built,
and dressed ina hunter's suit. Lis face
was clean shaven and his complexion very
dark. Andy took in all these things ata
glance-and with a breath of re
“It is not Darius Smith,” he reflected,
“ ie Was of very light complexion and red
You s spoke just in time, friend!” he
cried. ‘I thought you were a deer, and
you might have gota bullet, How-d'ye-
dot Hunting, eh?”
“No, fishing,” replied Andy, rather curt-
ly. ‘*You ought to make more sure of
your game.
The man’s eyes darkened a bit,
““No one expects to find fuatan beings
in plenty in this part of the world,” he de-
clared. “There is no wilderness in Africa
reaver than this. Is your camp near
ot ‘But ashort distance,” replied Andy,
““ Where are the rest of your party f”’
“ ar nam, alone !"
“Bes you, I want no guide. Not a
‘oot of these woods is unknown to me.
My name is Sam Fraser, and I amem-
ber of the Saree cut gate Fs sports:
men. May I be favored with y
“ Andrew Dunn, of
“ Ah, glad to meet you, ue Dann, Are
you also alone?”
“My guide is at the camp. Iam due
there now.” Then Andy hesitated, Back-
woods etiquette demanded it, and he
said : * “ “Kerhaps you'll come down and eat
with
“ty ‘am a bit t hungry,”
with alacrity. “I h had nothing bu
dried beef for two days. Iwill follow rou."
efore the camp was reached, Andy
found Fraser not an unsociable man. At
the same time he was ready to congratu-
Jate himself upon the fact tnat he had n
opened the treasure moun:
It impressed upon him’ one startling
fact, however. It was going to be no easy
task to get the gold unaided out of the
“ie was decided to make no attempt to
recover any part of the treasure at the
present time, It was his best plan to con-
tinue the hunt but a short ‘time longer
and then return to civilization,
He knew how to make his way to the
ot now with ease. He could mature
P jans later on for recovering the gold. He
would part with Oxley, and the next time
return alone,
As winter was coming on, this might
not be until spring. In the meantime he
must continue traveling on his wits, and
at thesame time keep a lookout for the
lost bein as Dr, Markham’s will re-
queste
Oxley | had the evening meal ready when
Andy and Fraser reached ca
guide seemed to readily fraternize with
the stranger, and the latter puton very
pleasing manners,
Seated about the camp fire, sipping cof-
fee and eating juicy venison, Fraser told
many wonderful stories of former hunting
trips.
dn the the fourse of his conversation he sud-
lenly
“ One. tas
hunter,
moose u
tracked him to a big where
were others. Dr, Mark ram, I think his
name was——”
Oxley looked at Andy, and before the
Japter ould give him a significant glance,
on I ran across a man who
one Markham ? Why, he was my employer,
Fi ine oldchap, He died but a ‘short time
sine
‘ “e Dead gasped Fraser. “The old doc-
or
“Yes,” replied Andy. ‘And he left
nota chick ora child, and so far as known
only money enough to bury him.
Fraser contracted his e eebrows He did
a look at Andy, who had turned a bit
pa
eth is queer,” he said. ‘Markham
a man of great wealth, Who was
with him in his last hours ®
xley looked ai ‘.
“IT was,” said hudy quietly,
Fraser turned to the young outcast,
“Oh,” he said, fixing a penetrating gaze
upon him. “Did he say nothing of any
property of} of his, or its disposition
tin the room when Dr, Marke
ham died.” eplied Andy,
one else,
sician,
“ And he died without siving any facts
as to. his private affairs ?”
ou are wrong,” replied Andy. ‘He
told me what disposition to make of his
effects a short while before. They sold for
barely enough to bury
there was silence. indy felt as if the
stranger was jooking bim through and
But h e kept his poise
well,” said Fraser, Nightly vie isa
matter of small moment to me, Mark
was a singular man. Eccentric, as han
might sa say, lam sorry he has gone, for I
i
Then, ‘to Andy’s relief, the subject was
changed. Fraser proved a rare entertainer,
He sang songs and told stories about the
camp tire pail a late how
en it became time. ‘to retire Oxley
rolled himself up in his blankets and was
at once sound asleep, Fraser apparently
did the same.
But Andy could not sleep. Try as he
would to woo the gentle oddess, * che
would not come to his embrace. After
awhile, however, he dropped off inte a sort
of half conscious, trancelike sta
How long he lay thus he noree “knew. A
sound near him woke him entirely, and he
opened his eyes without moving. The
Tent of the camp fire dimly illumined the
vicinit 1
And by it, he saw that which gave him
a th ‘Gina start, the same time
held him s etiboand
‘aser, the stranger, was moving about
the camp noiselessly, He seemed to be
searching among the effects of the ca
ers, and now thoroughly aroused, “Andy
watched
Silently and swiftly the fours outcast
saw him go through the clothing and other
effects. Again and again he went over
them apparently with a disappointed air,
Then Andy’s blood grew cold.
The stranger turned and glanced toward
the forms by the fire, His eyes glistened
like burning coals, and he seemed to medi-
tate an approach. In his right hand glit-
tered the keen blade of a knife.
~~“ Heavens!” muttered Andy, with hor-
rble fascination. ‘Does he mean to kill
“Nor was any-
He was found dead by his phy-
replied Fraser, us
"Then witha
a move which
as well as that of Oxley. He sneezed,
and at the same time reached out an
grasped the barrel of his rifle,
Ww en he looked. again, Fraser was
gone, » Only gloom and shadows were
where he had be:
owerful effort Andy made
oubtless was his salvation: