Freaks of Fortune

conscience, but because he wished to keep on the right side of the old man, from prudential motives. He was in doubt whether to exhib

to reach the path by a roundabout way, and approach the chasm as though he had just come from his house. When he reached the abyss, h

Fairfield?" demanded Dock.

groaned

r your mone

in," said the su

t happen?" asked Dock, wit

plank gin away, O,

you h

irfield, holding his breath,

ing bank above the water,

you hurt?

ke, and I'm jarred e

NT'S VICTI

oke; you couldn't stand up i

's broke

rock, and let me s

s limbs. He was badly bruised in several places, on the legs and arms, but no bones appeared to be broken, so far as Dock's surgical skill could disc

with the assistance of Dock, to walk home. He went to bed, and his

Fairfield?" asked Dock, when he had

earfully; for the idea of paying a physician's bill filled him with h

o doctor," added

his aboard my vessel, and I got along without any doctors

rain surprised if the house burned down over my head afore I got out agin. I shan't ketch no

such words of consolation as the occasi

uldn't gin away. I walked over that plank last night, and airly this morning. I see, when I stepped on to it,

, rather disturbed by this

body's been a movin' on it, or it wouldn

ve moved the plan

I stepped on was

all right in the mornin

and fixed the dory, ready to go

Who has been down to t

omebody's tryin' to kill

who should wan

who intended to kill him, but he did not wish to name the person. "If I hadn't been as tough

ve set such a tra

ou?" added the ol

t think I'd do such a thing a

didn't-

, Nathan?" interposed the old lady. "Go

did not comprehend that her disabled lord was only

eld didn't meddle with

n-was it? nor the

answer

, then-don'

eived from the beginning what the old man was driving at; and he w

'cept Sunday?-and he don't go then 'cause he's go'n' to jine the c

d Dock, opening his eyes as wide

over to Mr. Watson's new house w

aused to note the effect of the climax of

s that Levi went down to the

Dock, in rather deprecating tones. "He couldn't

man. "'Tain't no use o' beating round the bush

y. "There ain't no sense nor reason in sayin'

to her dough. Don't you know how he used me? how he fit me, and found fault with his victuals; and then got all the property took

o break your bones for, let alone kil

oman; and we can't expect women folks t

about things in general, Squire

helpmate, somewhat appeased by the delicate compliment

and mind. The sufferer rehearsed all the points bearing against his nephew in the heinous act under consideration, and he succeeded in satisfying himself and his visitor that the young man intended to shorten his uncle's life. Mrs. Fairfield,-grateful for the newspapers, which had given her a new joy in the desolate w

ant of perception. "I've been thinkin' o' what you said last night," he added, turnin

t to set you against the boy; only to hav

t opened my eyes so wide, I sh

mortem estate were explained, so that "women folks" could understand them. She did not believe Levi cared for the

r. "But I'll cheat him out of it; I'll make a will this very d

or you to do so," r

write a w

rong, or they'll break it, you know. Better se

xclaimed the invalid

dollars,

jest for writin' a

't charge you m

uther. I can't afford it. I'm e'en

ck left the house, promising