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

Come, wife, come! cul'e" "N' ava
band. from the wagon. .,,.
,,ir1," added this prudent little edition oil
mnr1tba "tro,1bled with many cares, '"remem-
her Dora. that the money is in an Old stock
rupler the old board by the south WINDOW
nnl silver in iapaned box close to H.
"Ycs. MN" said Dora, kissing her hand
n the laughing baby, III remember
"Somc people would say, my Gear ma
that wasn't very sharp proceeding OF yours,
salu Mr.. Meyers, as they drove away -
What DO YOU mean" asked his VIE
"To tell the girl just where our vaIuaDIcS
are kept" ,,-, 1,.,u
Dora just as implicitly as | would trust my
self"
Mr. Movers whlstled and drove on, and his
wife was vexed with him for even thinking
such doubt of Dora Klein,
But as they were jogging Slowly hotne" %IG
| in the November starlight, nclghpor hai!eu
them joyously, from the top OF a !oao o.
| barrels. ,,,~
Il say, it's time you were home, SAID Ne
hemah Hardbroke; "your gals got com
! pany.' ,,,,u-
! "Whv. the doors and windows were all
omen as | came by the crossroads, Jlst where
VIZ can see cross the medder TO your back
| door, and there was two or three men In the
| kitchen. thought il was some OF your tolks
| till see your wagon, just now.
James Meyers looked at his wife.
Mrs. Movers white, anxious face returned
the gaze. u.,..
would see that-tbat nothing happened"
"Dora 10 there" assented Mr. Myers, that's
the verv reason why I'm worried. Hold the
bobv firm and III see what speed is left in
old Dobbln.''
How they ratified over the frosty road, Dob
bin galloping as if trying the turf, and the Ole
wood rushing past them like the scenic splen
doris Of panorama, while to the anxious
hearts of wife and husband. every momen
seemed an age. The house was dark when
they reached IT. Mr.. Myers flung the reinS
over the dashboard and sprung out.
"Dora! Dora Klein" he called, but there
was no answer save the faint echo OF MS own
voice
And when the lamp was lighted it shone
on a scene Of dismay and confusion; but the
first corner at which the farmer glanced re
yealed to him that the loose boards beneath
his south window had been torn away, and
the treasure nook which had held the silver
spoons and the stocking full OF bank notes
their little all-was empty.
$50 much for your girl and her friend, Jan
iev' said Mr. 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 Il serious enough mater
as to think that little Dora Klein, OF whom
she had uuconsclously 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
n neap at the other. Her master and mistress
had been gone an hour, and Dora was chop
ping 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 grufi look
ing men in the room.
"Who are you" demanded Dora, win
feigned valor, "and what DO you want
"Don't worry yourself, my lass" said inc
taller of the twain, gruiily, and don't make
any noise, If you don't want your neck t"lst
ed round like a chickens"
While the other, busylng himself in recon
noitering 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'"
awe have no silver" said Dora, faltcring
ly. "What should poor people like to dc
with siver?'
"The money, then. know there is mon
ey, for saw HIM come out OF the bank yes
teriay with wallet full, Quick, we haven't
any time to lose"
"Its-it's up stairs, scwed in the bottom OF
the feather bed in the spare ROOM" hesitated
Dora. But you won't hurt meY'
"What should we hurt you f'or?' scorniul
" demanded the ruflian. $50 up stairs, Jack
and see, while l stay here to keep this girl
from raising the neighborhood."
81 shall not scream said Dora, elcvatlng
her head n little contemptuOusly Who is
there to hear me, if dds" We are two miles
from any hoCse.
"And that's true enough" said the man
called Jack "Gvc 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 Kieiu's languid assumption of inditcr
encc vanished. Like winged spritc she ilew
across the room, and noiseessly prying uI
The loose boards with knife she caught ur
the iapancd 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 ut 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 nlmbic rs
deer and slender as herself, could follow. And
then, crouchlng down among the under
growth, she watched and waited. As night
approached, and a friendly dusk crept ovel
hill and dale, she ventured by degrees TO ap
proach the side OF the woods, where the north
star beamed overhead, reassurlng her OF hel
whereabouts And when at last the boarse
voices Of the two men, hurrying down a Sc
cluded by road struck momentary terror tC
her heart, the ailcrthought followed will
blessed rclief-thc certainty that they were
gone and she was safe.
Mr.. Myers and jamie were seated by thu
fire that they had Just rekinaleG, neither o.
them with any heart 20 sci about the prcpar
alton of the frugal evening meal, when Tho
door crcakcd on its hinges, and something
In Y,o1p atI .ilgvt