The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-06
ESQ del;chtedi Really. how mic

"Run up stains dear, dop said my
wife. "You know the room-my room,
right hand, at the top Of the stairs"
/ heard the flutter of female wings on
the stairs. What was I to deY If / could
have managed the other leg, / wouldn't
have minded, but I couldn't. hadn't
worn these dress things for good while,
and don't get any thinner as grow
older No, for the life of me, l couldn't
dispose of that other leg at such short
notice. What could I do? could only
rush to the door, and set my back against
it. Did tell you this was our house
warming party? I think not. Did I tell
you our landlord had altered the house
for us, making our bedroom larger by
adding slip that had formed separate
room9 l think not. And yet / ought
to have told you all these circumstances,
to enable you to understand the catas-
trophe that followed. In word, the
door opened outward. I'd forgotten that
peculiarity, never having had room so
constituted before, and never will again.
The door went open with a crash, and |
bounded backward into Mrs. Markby's
arms. Smelling salts and sal volatile, was
there ever such an untoward affair!
The music struck up for the dances as
hopped back into my room. | hid nay
head among the holsters and muts and al
most cried; for Pm such delicate-mind-
ed man. Yes, it hurt me great deal
more than it did Mrs. Markhy, for, would
you believe it?--she told the story down
below to the whole company, with pam
tomimic action, and, when showed my
self at the door of the drawing-room. was
received with shouts of inextinguishable
laughter.
think l called the Yorkshire people
dense just now, didn't l? Well, I'll add
another epithet-coarse-- and
coarse. I told 'em 80, but they only
laughed the more.
The guests were gone, the lights were
ont, slumber had just visited my eyes
when right into my brain, starting nae W
as if I'd been shot, came noise, a sort ol
dull bursting noise wasn't really Ger
tain at first whether had heard d noist
or only dreamed of it. sat up in bee
and listened intently. Was it only my
pulse humping in nay cars, or We're those
regular beats the tramp OF somebody's
mutiled feet? Then I heard an unmis
taxable sound-creak, creak. creak-s
door opened slowly and cautiously. All
in moment the idea flashed into my
head-922, 900. You see, al this dancing
and jnnkeling, and laughing and chat.
fing, had completely driven out of my
mind all thought of the large sum | had
in my possession. | had left it in great
coat pocket, which was hanging up in the
hall down stairs.
Puff! gust of wind came through the
house, fattling the doors and windows,
and then | heard q door slam and a foot
step outside Of some one cautiously steal
ing away.
| Away down stairs, I went like mad
man, my one thought to put my hand or
that great coat. It WAS brown great
coat, with long tails and two pocket, b..
hind, and a little cash pocket Oh the left
hand side in front, and this breast pocket
in which / had put the bag of money.
This pocket wasn't, as usual, on the left
hand side, but on the right. There was
no other coat hanging on those rails, only
my wife's waterproof. What swoop |
made to get hold of that coatI Great
heavens! it was gone! ....
| had carefully barred and chained the
front door before I went to bed, now il
was unfastened. / ran out into the stree
and looked up and down, hopeless and
bewildered. 1t was dark, damp light
the lamp at the corner threw long
sickIy ray down the streaming pave
mont, but there wasn't soul to bt
seen. Everything was still and colt
and dark. ..
The money was clean gone-yes, it wa
gone. Irepeated 'ose words mechanic
ally to myself as I drawled up stairs. Al
the results of this loss pictured themselve
clearly before me--dismissal from th
bank, ruin of all my prospects, utte
ruin, in fact9 What could | do7 Fl
. what turn? The blow that had fallel
upon me was 50 heavy and sudden tha
) it had benumbed my faculties. My chic
utslfC WdS W CRAWL lHto peu a'iu iai
, asleep, hoping never to awake. Blu
morning would come surely enough
| morning and IT'S attendant mseries.
Then the thought came to me: Shoul'
go to bed and sly nothing at all abou
it? No one knew of my having received
that money, not a soul but Black, tn
man who had deposited it. had give
him no receipt for it, no acknowledge
ment. Black had gone to America
hundred things might happcn--he Nigh
never return; at all cyents there WAS II
spite, immedi te relief. l could go t
, the bank next morning, hang up my ha
5 as usual, everything would go on a
: before. If Black returned, my word WI,
, as good as his. The notes and check
: would never be traced home. But
don't think retained this thought long
{ Did you ever consider how much resolu
ton and force Of will it takes to Initial
ia course of crime and deception? L
neither the one or the other. sl,oul
: have bcoken down at once. ] coul,ln
+ have that fellows eye On me and tell hil
r had never had his money.
Y ] woke NY wife; she'd slept throuc
oil Nh. troirhIa. .0Aarvv solid Eua,,