The Worthington advance., 1879-05-29

"Ned noticed with panS that the olu
cowcd, frightened look had come back
to her eyes. HIS mother had always
feared her bad son quite rs much as she
had feared his bad father. There was no
conversation that night. Dick talked and
cursed awhile, and then went to bed !;
and then his mother crcpt to her bed,
afraid to discuss his return within his
hearing. Poor Ned sat by the cmbcrs,
his face buried in his hands. and a cruel
pressure on his heart.
Had Dick come back to disgrace them
again, to make them ashamed to lift up
their heads among their neighbors9
The shadow had crossed the threshold
once more, and were they
to sickcn in it again! But as he sat
there, other thonghts began to stregthen
him for the conflict he felt was impend-
ing.
II have my employers confidence, he
thought, ''and he will uot turn me off
because Dick has come home, even if he
is bad. Ifpossible, I'll do my duty more
strictly"
Had his mother been stronger woman,
he knew that Dick would not have bean
allowed to bring the leprosy of his life
among them again. She would have sent
him off; but, as said, a long course OF
bad treatment had broken the poor
womans will; and beside, she feared her
son.
so wild Dicks got back said Mr..
Erlcss the next morning to Ned. "Re-
formed, ell!-or has he come because he's
nowhere else to go?'
II don't know, sir" he answered, frank
ly. ave asked him no questions last
night"
"Bad thing for you and for your moth
err said the merchant Better have
nothing to do with him. If your mother
knew her duty, she'd ship him to-day.
I've one warning to give you, Ned, and
you must heed it,-ncver speak Of the
business Of the store before that man.
trust you,' looking keenly at Ned, "and
you must show yourself worthy Of my
confidence
He distrusts me already" thought
poor Ned, with swelling heart, ''or he
would not put my duty before me with
that look on his face"
He went to his work with his usual
alacrity, but his step was heavier, and
his face very grave
But somehow, as the day passed away,
Dick Alvord seemed so much quietcr than
usual that Ned's forcbodings were forgot
ten. Dick was still lazy and shiftless,-
he did not try to make living, but spent
most Of his time at the grog shops; but he
did not get as drunk rs formerly, and was
less quarrelsomc and noisy. In fact, he
seemed to have settled down into one OF
those nuisances who loaf around bar
rooms to be treated by weak customers.
and who die oftener in cutters than in jails.
Yet he was seldom seen really intoxicated
and was no longer the brawler he had
been.
One night two respectable looking
strangers stopped at the bar where he
was drinking. There was no sign Of
greeting between the vagabond at the bar
and the two wcll-drcsscd men. They
had entered to ask some question as to
the locality of certain boarding house
in that street, but when Dick lounged
out they not only folio u cd him down the
street, but out Of the to IN to bridge in
an unfrequcntcd spot. There he stopped
and waited for them.
"You'vc kept me waitin' cverlastin'ly, "
he SAID, with an oath, sin this sleepy viii
lage!"
"Had to get up an outfit" laughed
one. "You see we're surveyors, come to
stake off a government claim, and we had
to learn some Of their lingo. What have
you got for us? Of course you've been
prospecting while you've been waiting!'
1.-TWO or three of the farmers here have
got lots of money in their houses, and
don't even lock their DOORS I've man.
aged to get plan Of some of 'cm, and
learned where the valuables are kept.
Then there's Erless's store; but can get
the key Of that, and we'll walk in quietly
and help ourselves. You see my broth
er's clerking there and keeps the key.
"One of us, eh?' said the man.
''Not much! A good boy, and I'll have
to steal the key. We'd better put off that
job for the last, as it's the easiest"
After some more conversation the men
separated. The two surveyors went qui-
city to their work the next day. Before
the end Of the week two of the wcalthiest
men in the neighborhood were robbed of
plate, jcwelry, and large sums Of money.
No suspicion rested upon either of the
two quiet men, who seemed to work so
steadily, or the bar room loafcr, whose
desires were bounded by drink. Ned,
however, watched his brother sharply,
for he knew he had commenced to STAY
out all night, and when he did come in
he was not intoxicated.
"Where is he, if he's not in tho bar
room2" he thought. "He certainly is not
there, for when he goes there he never
comes away wholly sober"
Yet he did not connect Dick with the
robberies in the neighborhood.
One evening, on closing the back shut
ters of the store, the bolt was found to he
broken, so Mr.. Erless and Ned fastened
the shutter as securely rs they could on
the inside.
"Any one from the outside could enter
by this window" said Mr.. Erlcss, "but
then, no one knows of the broken bolt, and
it the thieves visit me tonight, they will
probably come to the front window. l
think that after tonight, Ned, you must
sleep in the store"
About midnight Ned was awakened by
a step on the floor. He sprang up in bed
and listened. He thought he heard the
front door open and close. With an
instructive forboding he placed his hand
under the pillow where he had placed the
key Of the store. 1t was gone. His fore
bodings were realized
Mr.. Erless lived at the other end of the
town, and he could not reach him to give
him warning in time. The self possession
and GOODNESS of the boy returned to him
in this extremity, and throwing on his
clothes hastily, he left the house.
On the way to the store lived the port
er, stalwart colored man. He called
him up, waited for him to arm himself,
and the two hurried on to the store. He
took no arms himself. Was it not his
own brother who was the robber?
In a few minutes they were at the
broken window, and had entered the
store.
Thou xvoi<o1 fcr n cror%,~ 49,