Freaks of Fortune

and the deputy sheriff had visited the premises, and carefully considered all the facts, without affording the miserable man a particle

; and if he had been stripped of everything, he could hardly have suffered more. He felt poor, and wanted to earn money in some way. The dog-fish season had opened favorably, and he was actually p

n his money, and in his hatred of his nephew, he still persisted in suspecting him. There was no proof, and he could do nothing but

on of rocky peninsulas, extending out into the sea. Between these are the beaches, stretching in semicircles from bluff to bluff, as they have been fashioned by the mighty waves which roll in from

w York. The end of the headland curved round so as to leave a portion of the water behind it protected from the force of the sea, thus forming a sheltered landing-place. Of

cks, through which the water flowed at high tide. It was about ten feet wide, and rather more th

er, which was available at half tide; but Levi kept his boat at the old moorings, because the place was sheltered from the v

younger days, but it was a bitter necessity, in his view, which now compelled him to resume it when he was old and stiff. While he was stow

anything from your money yet?" demande

all, nuther," replied Mr. Fairfield, with

y idea what has

and that's all I know about it. I did think Lev

" asked Dock, with no little int

and was just goin' to see where he was; but I stopped a minute in the kitchen to tell my wife she was wastin' the wood, and Levi went out afore I see him. A litt

n't," added Dock

tson gal. But what does a city gal like her keer about

t," said Dock, who was evidently prepa

se of the fire. "My wife says 'tain't so, because the boy has all the money he wants, and don't have no occasion to steal; but Levi hain't no m

d to earn it, he wouldn't

s me like destruction; and that's what makes me think he done it. He's a bad boy, if he is go'n' to jine

have taken the money

st ways nobody but y

think I too

face of Dock. "I allers thought you set too much by me to sarve me sech

ur money, and I know Mat Mogmore didn't. I was with hi

en, that Levi took it; I

good many things to you

e? Chickens and turkeys, and surlines and ribs of beef, and sech truck! He knows I don't want sech things, and he does it jest to

," added Dock, who evidently had a theory of his own to propose. "They

money. I've got a little or sunt

it twenty th

ke all misers, he desired to conceal his possessions, as m

are worth

ed Mr. Fairfield, conceding t

e a will, Squ

I hain't got nothin' to le

this statement, but h

ke ten or fifteen thousand dollars by it. Don't you see now what he gives you chickens and turkeys for? He means to keep things smooth till yo

m die took fast hold of his shattered mind. Dock Vincent had produced the impression he desired; he had adde

iting only to wreak his vengeance upon Levi Fairfield, who had defeated his plan to swindle Mr. Watson out of twenty thousand dollars. The young man had exposed and

, the one whose testimony had sent him to the state prison. He did not care to meet him, and it was evident that Levi was coming for his boat. Stooping down, he adjusted the plank over the chasm in such a way that h

to a place of concealment near the spot, to wait for the disast

wards Mr. Watson's house. Levi had walked on the shelving rocks, and reached the landing without crossing the bridge. Dock was disappointed, and began to climb the rocks to readjust the plank. As h