The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-08


tant sea glistened like silver IN the moon
light. did not think how long had
been sitting there until heard the clock
strike IL. just then i heard, as 1
thought, footstep outside my door,
which evidently stopped there, and then
III few seconds passed on. did not
mind, thinking it might be one of the
servants. who had been up later than
usual, and was now going quietly to bed.
began to undress, not lighting the can
die again, as had light enough from
the moon. AS / came toward the win
dow to close it / saw, exactly rs in my
dream, female figure-evidently keep
ing in the shade of the trees-going
down the avenue. / determined to fol-
low and see who it was, for 1 now felt
the warning voice was not sent to me for
nothing, and / seemed to get courage,
girl though / was, to fathom the mys-
terry. / hastily dressed, threw dark
shawl over my head, and, going noise
lessly down stairs, opened the glass door
IN the drawing window, and left 1t
so that could come in again. l keptin
the shade of the trees as much as posi-
BILE, and quickly followed the path 1 had
seen the woman take. Presently heard
voices one was mans, the other a
woman's. But who was shes / came
close, and got behind large group OF
thick shrubs. could now see and hear
them quite WELL they were standing in
the light l was in deep shade.
Just then the woman turned her head
toward me. 1t was Martha.
What did she want there at that hour?
and who was that man? l was puz-
zled. Where had 1 seen that face be-
| fore for that had seen it before L
was certain but where aud when could
not remember. He was speaking in q
low voice, and 1 did not hear very dis
tinctly what he said, but the last few
words were:
"And why not tonight? Delays are
always dangerous, especially now as
they are beginning to suspect me"
because Mrs. Benson's daughter-in-
law is here, and she is sleeping in the
room over the plate-closet, and would be
sure to hear the least noise. Wait until
tomorrow night-she will be gone then.
But indeed, John, L don't like this bust
ness at all. / think we'd better give it
up. No luck will come of it, l am
sure"
"Look here, Martha" said the man.
CT have chance of getting safe off
now. have it all settled, if you will
only help me to get this old woman S
plate. With that, and few little trim
kets happened to pick up p few years
ago, you and may set up business in
America. The other fellows will help
me. Meet me here tomorrow night, to
let me know that all is safe for us. See
here. ] have brought you a valuable
present. Keep it until the plate is Sc
cure with me, for you must stay here
until all blows over; then make some
excuse for leaving, and come over and
! join me in New York. III you want
money, sell these diamonds in Liver
pool-they are worth no end of money"
could see quite well that he took
something out of his pocket and gave it
to her. She held it up to look at it !;
and there, glisteniDg IN bright moon.
light, [ saw-my god-mothers diamond
earring the one that had been stolen
over nine years ago with the other
Jewels from her room.
Here then at last was the mystery
solved, everything made clear, and all
through my dream Presently the light
fell on the mans face again, and / in
stantly recognized my god mothers very
respectable gardener. A decent man he
was believed to be, but thief all the
time, and one who hid his evil deeds I'M
der cloak of religion. And who was
this woman he seemed to have got such
power over? Evidently his wife; for 1
gathered thai from his conversation with
her. l waited where L was until they
were both gDne-Martha back to the
house, and her husband to the village !;
then as quietly as cOnld l returned to
the house and reached my room. Fall
ing on my kneee gave thanks to God
for making me the means of finding ont
such n wicked plot, and perhaps saving
the lives OF more than one under that
roof for it is more than likely that, hod
those desperate men been disturbed IN
their midnight plumber, they would ncs
have hesitated at any deed which would
enable them to carry oub their wicked
plans.
L slept little that night, and next
morning tried to appear calm and COM
posed, though was frightened and
really ill. / was longing fer my hus-
band to come, that L might tell him all,
and consult what was best to be done, to
prevent robbery and perhaps bloodshed.
At last, to my great relief, saw him
coming. l ran to the gate to meet him,
and told him what had seem and heard
the night before.
"Now," said, twill You ever laugh
at my faMcies again ?"
g No, my dear little wi6e," said he,
81 never will"
We then arranged that VIC should tell
his mother and sister everything, and he
was to go the nearest police station and
arrange with the chief officer to have q
number of men ready in the wood, near
the house, at IL o'clock THAI night that
after dinner we were to say "good-by I"
to Mrs. Benson and drive home, but
wodld return and join the police in the
wood, and wait there until we saw Mar
tina leave the house to meet her hus-
band. We were then to go in and wait
until the thieves came in, when they
were to be surrounded and taken prison
ers. My husband wanted me to remain
at our own house, but / wonld not do