The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-12-11


having aliehted in the middle of
lilac bush, which slightly scratched
him, there's always something to in
terfere with fellows business
Having extricated himself from tn,
bush, he crept stealthily toward tn
yard door, applied his ear to the key
hole, and listened.
He produced an augur from one ol
the numerous pockets in his coat, an(
then began to bore hole-so quietly
that you could hardly hear it-in the
door. When he had finished, he put
his arm through the orifice, :quietly
withdrew the bolt, and entered the
house.
When he was inside, by the aid of 6
dark lantern, he grouped his way to
the bottom of the basement stairs and
then began ascending them, glancing
with keen and penetrating eyes at ev-
cry object around him. On dumb.
waiter near the dining-room door q
fork had been left, no doubt by the
carelessness of one of the servants.
His eyes rested upon it; he went to il
and examined it carefully.
Plated!' he exclaimed, in tone OF
disgust, and put it down again.
Quietly, and as cautiously as be-
fore, he ascended the next flight OF
stairs tries the handle of door; 1t
yields to him he pushes it slowly and
noiselessly open; puts in his head,
finds it only a bathroom; he closes
the door, and ascends the next flight
of stairs.
He hears key being put into the
lock at the hall door; he holds his
breath and listens attentively. Who
ever it is closes the hall door behind
him, and begins to climb the hall
stairs he does the same.
At last the top of the stairs is reach
ed the footsteps are coming nearer,
and at last actually begin to ascend
the last flight, at the head of which he
is. He pushes open a door, glances
around the room, finds it is
vacant, rushes to the bed and crawls
At a late hour at night Fred Grover
to his clearinghouse, tired
aud disconsolate, He had been un-
able to raise any money, consequent
ly In the morning he would have to
seek other quarters to live in.
When he entered his room he threw
into chair, lighted his pipe
and puffed out thick clouds of smoke,
muslng as he did so:
what fool I've been spent all my
money, and must either beg, borrow
Or cheat during the next six months
to live. By JoveI 1 must leaYe off
this spreeiDg. It's unfair to my faith
or to spend his money in the way
have been DOING
Fred started up, aud placing his
forehead against the window pane,
ooked upon the cold, dark night.
What shame 1t is that money is
1ot more equally distributed; now
hat old fellow down stairs, they say,
IS running over with money. 1 won
Ter if he would lend me little if 1
we're to ask him? Pshaw! the idea is
absurd. How the deuce 1 am to face
Mrs. Jackson in the morning I don't
lnow.'
'Ah-catch-chew
What's that? Itsounded confound-
IDLY like a sneeze. Ahv And Fred
'ushed to corner of the room, seized
sword cane, drew it and looked eau
iously under the bed.
The first thing that met his gaze was
he gentleman, who, short time pre-
7iously, had climbed over the garden
ence,
what do you want? Come out
rom there?'
The man came from under the bed,
TODD upright, and glared sullenly at
fred.
sNow, my good fellow, what were
'ou doing there2'
whats the good of talking? You
NOW as well as I do what I was do
mo- there said the man.
'You wanted to rob the house, 1
uppose?'
sThis amt a police court, is It'll Take
ne to one if you are going to, and
hen I'll tell you what I want to do,
'erhaps.'
Suppose 1 were to let you 60, what
would you dol?
Make tracks as fast as 1 could
Umph! have you any money about
'ou?'
sNo.'
sAh, then. I can't let you go. 1 must
Vake up the house and get police
man,
Hold on. 1 think haye little
tWill you lend me some?'
How much do you wantP
FIFTY dollars, and assure you on
ny word of honor I'll return it to you
8 soon as 1 get a remittance from
ome.'
The man offered to lend him twenty
ut Fred insisted upon having fifty or
one at all. So, after deal of talk
ng, the man reluctantly drew roll of
ills from his pocket, counted out fif-
Y dollars, and handed them to Fred,
Tho scrutinized them carefully.
tUmph! they seem good. Now
ou may go, and don't let me catch
ou here again. When I'm ready to
eturn it I'll Put an advertisement in
ome paper to that effect
The man sulkily left the room, Fred
olitely lighted him down stairs, clos