The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-02-07

If nobody else does. There may be a
gang of thieves or counterfeiters starting
for all we know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee cup.
6 Timothy exclaimed his aunt severe
ly, "if you don't drink coffee without
dom it SO fast that you choke yourself,
you'll nave to go without it. I'll do my
best to bring you up right, whatever
comes of it. ="
Bring up Tim in the way he should go
was one of Mrs Wilkins strong points
He was the son of her niece, and Belinda
was married In opposition to her aunts
advice, Mrs Wilkin protested and then
washed her hands of the whole affair.
But when the poor man was so incon-
siderate as to die and leave Belinda with
half dozen children Just when she need
ed his help, Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his
general 6 slackness was verified. The
family were poor, of course. She didn't
Deheve IN sending III many things-self-
dependence was a duty-but she offered
to take Tim.
Having the boy to raise makes one
more careful about the morals of the
place, she said, returning to her origi-
I
thieves round here, I've thought for some
time that meat went pretty fast from our
/ smoke-house.
Don't now, 'Liz'beth, I'm sure
no ones stole any" said Mr.. Wilkin with
a startled, uneasy look. You couldn't
have counted the hams and everything"
"No, [ don't count, but [ can miss
EN- for all that, affirmed Mrs. Wilkin,
decidedly. :" know there's more 90
than we use"
wouldn't, Liz 'beth-there's plenty, you
! see, more than we want" advised Mr..
( Wilkin, urgently, but rather incOherent-
ly. Then he caught up his hat and
started for the barn.
Mrs. Willin looked at him with pitving
disapproval.
"When you've more than you want
! yourself leave it handy for somebody to
steal; well, that's q new commandment,
l do Declare she said
" Not SO dreadful new, either, Aunt
'Llzbeth,. interposed Tim, stoutly,
g cause the Bible folks was told to leave
some of their harvest so the poor could
1 come and get it. | read it myself; only
1t wasn't called stealing then, and was to
I
smoke houses. .
Timothy" began Mrs. Williams.
But Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for their break
fast, and chose to interpret the exclama-
ton as an admonition In that direction.
I" Yes, I'm going to feed 'em right
away, he observed, seizing a basket of
corn and darting through the door by
which his uncle had departed.
In truth it was not altogether easy to
mold Tim into the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Encasing him IN Mrs. Wilkins code of
manners was putting too large a boy into
too small jacket; he was always burst
ing out at the elbows or tearing off the
buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at this
new evidence of the number of things in
the world that needed her attention; but
England never expected every man to do
his duty more strongly than Mrs Wilkin
expected to do hers.
That evening the mysterious lights APP
peared again III the store-room Of the
mill She could plainly see them, for
just beyond her own back gate an open
field sloped directly and steeply down to
the building. The road afforded d pub
ing it, but from the hilltop the sus-
plclous store-roOm was directly in range
Mrs. Wilkin determined to take a more
thorough observation than the kitchen
window allowed, and throwing shawl
over her head she picked her way care
fully down the icy steps and crossed the
yard to the gate. The snowy field lay
white and glisteniug IN the moonlight,
Io che cha r
a post she watched the door below.
But before she discovered any one en-
tering there she heard sounds IN another
direction-steps in the yard behind her.
What if she should prove beyond al
doubt that her meat was stolen and de-
tect the thief? With that quick thought
she turned her head cautiously Yes,
some one tried the smoke-house door and
entered Breathlesslv Mrs. Wilkin wait
ed until the figure reappeared, passing
along in the shade Of the house and then
it emerged into the clear moonlight; she
leaned eagerly forward to catch full
sight of it. 1t was eagerly recognized
Mr.. Wilkin, beyond all question, stealing
meat from his own stores.
The revelation was astounding. In her
establishment she incautiously loosed her
hold on the gate post, took a step for
ward and her feet slipped on the treach-
erous ground She sat down violently.
and III an instant she was speeding rapid
~ down the Hill toward her original
point of investigation. For once the
path Of duty was smooth before her
entirely too smooth and icy She could
not check or guide her progress; her
feet struck with force against the mystic
ions door, pushed 1t open and she slid
into a hall.
Thieves, gamblers, or whoever they
were, she must not be discovered by
them, flashed through Mrs. Wilkins
mind-more an instinct OF self-preserva-
ton than a thought-and springing to
her feet she slipped behind some boxes
piled near her, The noise attracted at
tention. and in a moment the store room
door was opened and a boy looked out
Guess it's only the door blew open;
don't catch good, he reported.
Lock it then, James, and then bring
in the KEY" said a voice from within;
and to Mrs Wilkins CONSERVATION the
order was obeyed and she was prisoner
The boy left the other door slightly
alar as he re-entered. A CLEAN of light
shone into the hall, AMI there were sounds
from the room beyond scratching of
pens, and woman's voice; 1t sounded
wonderfully like that of the little knit
ting-woman, directing and encouraging.
Well done Susan :"