Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-07
The DEAD HAND.

A servant found it under the front
door early in the morning. large,
coarse sheet of letter paper, intricately
folded and sealed with red wafer. The
simple superscription, " Charles Client,
Wildlands," was legible enough, despite
the cramped, irregular penmanship. So
also were the following lines, destitute of
date, address AID signature:
Years ago you did me q kindness,
which vowed never to forget. In re-
turn 1 now pen the warning that your
house will be entered tomorrow night.
It is well known to certain thieving
gang that you have large sum of money
by you. Be wise, and have it removed
to place of safety. Above all things,
employ some trustworthy person to act
for you. So surely as you neglect this
charge, suspicious will be excited, and
your life possibly pay the forfeit of your
folly.
"Be careful also to provide a good
and open reason for any journey you
may deem it advisable you should make.
ments is closely watched. And, lastly.
do not be foolhardy enough to give
battle. The money is all that is
wanted, and no personal injury will be
offered if you keep quiet. Whether or
not your servants have been tempered
with I can't say"
Heavy lines of anxiety marked Mr..
Clients fine forehead as he read, and it
was not surprising, the region being at
that period a rough one in every way.
Its locality and the circumstances which
sent him there with his family it is need
less to mention.
"Strange how the thing ever leaked
out, P" he muttered to himself, sbut l
suppose through Oscars folly, and now
what am I to do? Oscar will be off in
ten minutes glancing from the letter
to the pale, jaded countenance of his
dissipated step-son. who stood at little
distance, making hasty preparations for
a journey. "And perhaps it is as well
those gambling bells have sunk him
too low for any honest employment"
The entrance of the two remaining
members Of his family, with the hurried
adieus and departure of Oscar Layne,
ended, for the time, his uncomfortable
reflections. But the morning cup of
coffee, just then served, fully discussed,
he passed the letter to his wife and
daughter
Mrs. Client sat in mute horror. The
daughter, noble-looking creature of
some 20 years, was stronger nerved
She read the letter slowly and critically.
Tomorrow" she commented,
thoughtfully. ''That may either mean
tonight or tomorrow night, papa. You
see there is no date. We don't know
whether it was written twelve or TWEEN
ty-four hours ago."
You are right. That never occurred
to me. We have even less time than l
supposed. But see nothing for it but
to let the money co.
at is too badly needed, papa, to be
quietly yielded to those wretches," Bes-
sic quietly answered.
"True. But what is to be done? IF
you and your mother were not here I
would risk my life in taking it to the
Bolton Bank. But, as it is, can't con-
scientiously do so, and there is no one
upon whom [ can call
eyes, there is [ will take it.
"You!" exclaimed both parents, ut
erly aghast for the moment.
eyes, 1 am going" was the cool re-
joinder.
"You are demented, Bessie !'' cried
her stepmother. cit is far better to
lose the money than for you to run so
great a risk.
Determined, mamma, not dement,
ed, said Bessie, as her father said:
"You, forget, Bessie, that you will
haua a 6Tixro Of tbraa ,,oi1aC Ox,o,, n woo 7
too lonely to make you feel quite at
ease, considering the character of those
about us.
81 am too much like yourself to be a
coward, she answered, firmly. "And
indeed don't believe there is the slight
est danger, except in imagination. My
best protection, I think, will be our
market-basket, and that [ shall take and
bring home well filled. Your vest pistol
would not, however, be out of place in
my pocket, and / will take it also. since
L can handle it as dexterously as your
SELF"
A few more objections were urged
only to be sklllfully overruled, and Mr..
Client, feeling also that there was nc
actual danger, at last fully consented.
"Why not send for assistance.
Charles?" suggested the not very per,
spicacious Mrs. Client.
"That would never do in such region
and under such circumstances, unless We
intend to keep an armed force about us. .
Bessie answered promptly, Mr.. Client
echoing her opinion most emphatically,
Owing to various trying delays, nearly
two hours passed before Bessie could