The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-10

Martha "troubled win many CARES -
her. Dora, that the money Is III an olu s'ooN'
ncusder the old board by The south "ihuo"'
and silver in a iapaned box c!ooc 10 a., ,,d
"Yes, NM" said Dora, kissing her mana
~ ,be laughing baby, III remember
"Somc neoplc would say, my dear, maj
,ha, wasn't very sharp proceeding o. yours
sala MIR. Movers, as they drove away =.
"What do YOU mean: 2" asked his VIE
"To tell the girl just where our valuablcS
are kept" u-. ,oo,.r.,
Dora Just as implicitly as | would trust my
Mr. Movers whlslled and drove on, and his
;fe was yeyed with him for even thinking
such doubt of Dora Klein.
Rut as they were Jogging slowly homeWard
in the November starlight, a neighbor hailed
them, joyously, from the top OF a loau Oh
barrels. ,,.,No
"I saw. IFS time you were home said Ne
hemiah Hardbroke; "your gars got CON-
pany" ,., u,or,
"What do you mean" demanded Myers,
"Whv, the doors and windows were all
omen as came by the CROSSROADS, Jist where
We can see cross the medder 10 your PACK
door and there was two or three men Ia III, !ne
kitchen. thought ii was some of your tolks,
till see your wagon, just now.
James Meyers looked at his wiie.
Mrs. Movers white, anxious face returned
the gaze. u,..
"Dora is there" gasped the wife; she
would see that-that nothing happened.
"Dora IS there" assented Mr.. Myers, that's
the verv reason why I'm worried. Hold the
baby firm, and I'll see what speed Is lett IN
old Dobbln.' ,D..
hin oa,loping as if trying the turf, and the old
wood rushing past them like the scenic splen-
dors of n panorama, while to the anxious
hearts of wife and husband, every moment
seemed an age. The house was dark when
thew reached 1t. Mr.. Myers flung the reins
over the dashboard and sprung out.
"Dora, Dora KleiDw he called, but there
was no m ,wer save the faint echo OF his own
voice
And when the lamp was lighted, 1t shone
on a scene of dismay and confusion; Dut 'he
first corner at which the farmer glanced re-
yealed to him that the loose boards bcneatn
his south window had been torn away, ana
the treasure nook which had held the silver
spoons and the stocking full OF 0ank notes
their little all--was empty.
$50 much for your girl and her friend, Jan
ier, said MIR. Myers, in the bitterness OF his
first anger; and Mrs. Myers burst into tears,
not so much, after all, at the loss OF the money,
although that was a serious enough matter,
as to think thai little Dora Klein, OF whom
she had unconsciously grown so fond, was un'
worthy of tender thought
That was one side of the little, every day
life story at the cottage; and now let us take
a peop at the other. Her master and mistress
had been gone an hour, and Dora was chop
ming away at the heart, singing some rounde-
law as she worked, when there was creak'
ING on the floor, and turning her head, she
started to behold two very tall, and gruh look
ing men in the room.
aWho are youg" demanded Dora, with
fesned valor, "and what do you want!'
"Don't worry yourself, my lass" said the
taller of the twain, grufly, " and don't make
any noise, IL you don't want yoar neck twist-
ed round like chickens"
While the other, busyng himself in recon-
noiterng the cupboards and the shelves, turn
ed suddenly round with volley OF oaths.
Nothing but tin and pewter he snarled'
" Where is the silver, girl'"
owe have no silver" said Dora. faltcring-
ly. "What should poor people like TO do
with silver?"
"The money, then. know there is mon
ev. for saw HIM come out of the bank yes
terday with n wallet full Quick, we haven't
any time to lose"
aIrs-its up stairs, scwed in the bottom of
the feather bed, In the spare room" hesitated
Dora. Z" But you won't hurt me"
"What should we hurt you for?" scornidl-
ly demanded the ruflian. "Go up stairs, Ja ck,
and see, while | stay here to keep this girl
from raising the neighborhood."
al shall not Scream said Dora, clevating
her head little contemptuously. Who is
there to hear me, If did," We are two miles
from any house
"And that's true enough said the man
called Jack "Give us your knife, Casey,
and we'll stir up the live goose feathers to
some purpose. The gal WON'T trouble us"
But the heavy footsteps of the men had
hardly sounded at the head of the stairs when
Dora Kein's languid assumption of indiiier-
encc vanished. Like a winged sprite she flew
across the ROOM and noiselessly prying up
the loose boards with knife, she caught up
the iapaned box and the stocking, and hiding
them in her apron, jumped from the low win
dow to avoid the noise OF the rusty door hinge,
and struck into the woods at the back OF the
house.
No hare ever dartcd more swiftly through
the tangled paths of the forest than did Dora
Klein, until at last sale in the deepest recess
es, where no one who was not nimble as
deer and slender as herself, could follow. And
then, crouching down among the under
growth, she watched and waited. As night
approached, and friendly dusk crept over
hill and dale, she ventured by degrees TO ap.
proach the side OF the woods, where the north
star beamed overhead, reassuring her OF her
whereabouts. Aud when at last the Boarse
voices of the two men, hurrying down Sc
cluded by road struck momentary terror to
her heart, the afterthought followed with
blessed relief-the certainty that they were
gone and she was safe.
Mr.. Myers and jamie were seated by the
fire that they had Just rekindleG, neither oil
them with any heart 20 set about the prcpar
alton Of the frugal evening meal, when the
door creaked on its hinges, and something
glIded in pale ard silent
The next moment the iapanned silver box
and the stocking lay in Mrs. Myers lap, and
Dora Klein was sobbing on her shoulder.
"Why, Dora exclaimed the farmer, "wha
does this mean?"