The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-12-31
"Dickl Dick~ she cried, "Dick! help

"Dicki Dickp she cried, "Dick help
wake up am robbedp
But there was no answer the old door into
the street was wide open, snd by the moon
light that poured through it she saw, as the
pcered 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, and he had deceived
her. She had loved him and he abused her
love. The neighbors were right; she was a
fool to trust a strange street boy, and had
been served rightly when he robbed her.
| When the dawn broke, the wise neighbors
came into poor Granny's shop, to find her
crying and rocking to and fro, and they told
her they had told her so, and she only shook
| her head.
The shop took care 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.
1t was 10 o'clock Granny sat moaning by
| the empty hearth. Good natured Mrs. Jones
| from upstairs was seeing to things, and try
| a rap on the door, and a policeman looked
| in.
Mrs Briggs" he said.
Here she is" said Mrs. Jones.
"Yes, am that wretched critter," said
Mrs Briggs
Some one wants to see you at the head
quarters, said the policeman. There's boy
| there and some money.
"Dickr cried Mrs. Briggs. "Oh, can't
bear to look at him."
But Mrs. Jones had already tied on her
bonnet, and wrapped her in shawl, and
taken her on her arm.
"The wretch" she said "Im so glad he is
caught You will get your money back"
And she led Ma. Briggs along-poor Mrs
Briggs, who cried all the way, and cared
at their destination. Then, and not before
the policeman turned to the two old women.
''He is pretty bad" he said "They will
take him to the hospital in an hour. l sup.
pose you are prepared for that? He is near
ly beaten to death, you know"
did you beat him, you cruelv viper ?" said
Mrs Briggs. 81 wouldn't have had that done
for twice the money. let him go with it, if
it is any comfort to him."
81 beat him ?" said the man. "Well, wo-
men have the stupidest heads, Why, if
hadn't got up when did, he'd have been dead
He held the bag of money tight, and the thief
WAS puinllellnP nun Will II lOautu SUCK anu
the pluck he had for a little shaver-I tell
you | never saw the likcw
"You shan't take granny's money from
her. says he, and fought like tiger. If it's
your money, old lady, he has given his life
for it, for all know"
"Oh, Dick Dick l knew you were good
l must have been crazy to doubt you, and
then she wrung her hands and cried: "Ob,
Dick, for just paltry bit of money"
And so she knet beside the pale, still face
upon the pillow, and kissed it, and called it
tender names.
And Dick, never guessing her suspicious
of him, whispered:
81 was so afraid he'd get off with it if he
killed me, granny, and you in such high hopes
last night"
~He did not know what was meant by beg
ging him to forgive her. 1t would have kill
ed him if he had, for he was very near death
But Dick did not die He got well at last,
and came back to the little shop and though
Granny Briggs had her savings, she never
went to the Old Ladies' Home, for long be-
fore she died Dick was one of the most pros
porous merchants in the city, and his hand
some home was hers, and she was happy in