Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-20
A Robbery Fooled.


lover, had danced out of sight behind the
headland; for they left with her an unusual
feeling of sadness.
A cold, blue bay; clear, pale sky;
heaps of yellow sand, and a road winding
away among the pines to singular gray
stone cottage.
As soon as she had waved farewell to the
pleasant face and stalwart young figure of
Ben Braleigh, the girl turned toward home
the gray-stOne house.
The petite figure, in its trim dress of dark
blue flannel, gave a picturesque effect to the
landscape. But Lizzie had little thought of
that. An unusual feeling of discomfort and
Loneliness stole over her. The walk home
seemed very dull and long.
Her lovers visit was ended; her jolly
father was away: her mother was sick, and
the reaction of week of unusual excite
ment and activity had come upon her.
The short nnile-walk to the cottage was
near its termination, when covered car
rage turned from cross-road into the path
ahead of her.
The two men within did not look back to
see her coming, and she was forced to walk
behind the vehicle-soon, to her alarm, lis
tening to their conversation.
Not SO easy, fancy" said one.
'Pahl nothing easier, if you've only
pluck enough. If you needed money
as bad as do, you would be glad of the
chance"
care you sure the moneys there?"
"pm sure the captain hasn't banked it,
for he hasn't been to town since he sold the
steers, an he always would be in the habit
of keeping considerable sums of money in
the house. There isn't much risk but what
the money is there"
"The captain is away. There is nobody
there but women, think"
"Nobody but his wife and daughter.
You wouldn't be afraid of them? They're
the timid kind"
+ "No."
Lizzies cheeks were burning with excite
ment. Her heart beat tumultuously under
the trim blue sacque.
She strained her ears to hear more, but
the horse had been whipped into trot, and
the grinding of the wheels in the sand made
It impossible to hear more.
But the child's face was no longer apa-
thetic and sad. The mems words had con-
Veyed to her q terrible alarm. Of what
money could they be speaking but the one
hundred dollars her father had received for
a pair of steers, the week before? 1t was
true that 1t was in the house, that the cap
tain Cher father) was away, and she and her
mother were timid.
''But father will be at home tonight, :"
thought Lizzie anxiously. ~ can tell him
all this, and he will take precautions. He
has often said he is never afraid of robbers
with good revolver in the house"
The carriage rolled past the stone cottage
and out of sight. Lizzie stood on the step
moment watching it and composing her.
self, for she did not want her mother to see
how she trembled. Mrs. Layton was very
nervous. Lizzie wi&hed she had seen the
men; but she recollected instantly that she
should certainly know their voices. One
was cultural; the other of rather surly
tone.
It was a pity they had not seen her.
They might then fear that she had over
heard them, and refrain from any attempt
at the robbery.
"But father viii be here" repeated Liz
ze.
Still he had not come when the tall clock
behind the kitchen door struck eight, and it
was quite dark outside the window, through
which Lizzie had anIously looked for three
hours.
She had tied white apron over her blue
dress, and prepared supper.
eve will have ours, Lizzie; you can
keep the tea hot for father" Mrs Layton
had said, and partook sparingly of the tea
and toast.
For her sake, Lizzie refrained from con-
6dlng In her mother, though 1t would nave
been a sweet relief.
Attending the invalid and putting the
house to order for the night, she conned
over all the circumstances of the situation.
With the exception of a few summer-houses,
which were untenanted at that time of the
year, there was no habitation within half a
mile of them. There was no likelihood OF
any visitor from among their acquaintance
that night. What if her father did not
come, and she and her mother must pass
the night alone there?
"But it's early yet; only half past eight, .
said Lizzie.
The sound of a knock at the front
door suddenly filed her with panic OF
fear.
$50 to the door, Lizzie. It is probably
your uncle, driven down to see father, and
get the news from up-country."
Devoutly hoping that it was, Lizzie gath
cred courage to go the door. No, it was moi
T1von1a ,,oo,, ,-,,o-