Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-04-20


there was not ray Of light-bnt she
heard q step on the floor
WHO is that2" she cried.
There was no answer, but she felt that
some one was leaning over her bed Then =
hand elasped her throat and held her down.
aud dragged out the bag of money, and she
was released. Half suffocated, she for a
moment found herself motionless and be-
witdered, conscious only of drarght of air
from an open door, aud of some confused
noises.
Then she sprang to the door and hurried
to the shop.
Dick! Dickp she cried; "Dick. helDl
wake mp! am robbedr'
But there was NO answer; the door into
the street was wide open, and by the moons
light that poured through it she saw, as she
peered under the counter, that Dicks bed
was empty.
The boy was gone!
Gone! gone! Oh. that was worse to Gran.
ny Briggs than even the loss of the money;
for she had trusted him, aud he had de-
ceived her. She had loved him, aud he
abused her love. The neighbors were right;
she was fool to trust strange street boy,
aud had been served rightly when he robbed
her.
When the dawn broke, the wise neiehbors
crying and rocking to and fro, and they told
her they had told her so, aud she only shook
her head.
The shop took caro- of itself that day. Life
had lost its interest for her. Her occupation
was gone, but not with her savings. Money
was but money after all; he had come to be
the only thing she loved. and Dick had
robbed her.
1, was 10 o'clock. Granny sat moaning
by the empty hearth. Good>natured Mrs.
Jones from upstairs was seeing to things,
aud trying to cheer her, when suddenly
there came rap on the door, aud police.
man looked in.
"Mrs Briggs" he said.
"Here she is. said Mrs. Jones'
Eyes, am that wretched critter," said
Mrs. Briggs.
"Some one wants to see you at the head.
quarters" snid the policeman. "There's q
boy there and some money"
"Dick!" cried Mrs Briggs. "Oh, can't
bear to look at him"
But Mrs. Jones had already tied on her
bonnet, and wrapped her in q shawl, and
taken her on her arm.
THE wretch" she said. "I'm so glad he
is caught. You will get your money back"
:, And she led Mrs Briggs aloDg-pOor Mrs.
Briggs, who cried all the way and cared noth-
ing for the money. Aud soon they were at
their destination. Then, and not before, the
policeman turned to the two women.
'He is pretty bad" Ito said ''They will
take him to the hospital in an hour sup.
pose you are prepared for that7 He is nearly
beaten to death, you know2"
Did you beat him, you cruel wretch3"
said Mrs Briggs. 81 wouldn't have had that
done for twice the money. Lot him go with
1t, it il is any comfort to him"
81 beat him." said the man. "well, wo,
men have the s.upidest heads. Why, if L
hadn't got up when did, he'd have been
dead. He held the bag Of money tight, and
the thief was pummeling him with a loaded
stick; and the pluck he had for Q little sha>
ver-I tell you l never saw the likel"
"You shan't take Granny's money from
her," said he, and fought like tiger. If.
IFS your money. old lady. ho has given his
life for it. for all know"
"Oh, Dick! Dick! knew you were good.
l must have been crazy to doubt you," and
then she wrung her hands and Dried: ooh,
Dick, for just paltry bit of money!
And so she knet beside the pale, still face
upon the pillow, and kissed it, and called il
tender names.
And Dick, Fever guessing her suspicion of
him, whispered:
RI was SO afraid he'd get of with 1t if be
killed me, Granny, and you in such high
hopes last night"
He did not know what was meant by beg
ging him 10 forgive her. Il would have
killed him if be had, for he was very near
death.
But Disk did not die. He got we'll at last.
aud came back to the little shop; and though
Granny Briggs had her savings, she never
went to the Old Ladies' Home, for long bo.
fore she died Dick was one ofthe most pros
porous merchants in the city, and his hand
some home was hers,and she was very happy
in it.