Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-01
GLOW wrong the nelghbors

were, snc saius nat DOJ 10
the comfort Of my life"
So she went to bed with the
treasure under her pillow, and
slept. Far on in the night she
awakened. The room was ut
terly dark; there was not a ray
of light-but she hearda step
on the floor. =
"Who is that?" she cried.
There was no answer, but she
felt that some one was leaning
over her bed. Then a hand
clasped her throat and held her
down, and dragged out the bag
ofinoney, and she was released.
Half suffocatod, she for a mo-
mcnt found herself motionless
and bewiIdered, conscious of a
draught of air from the open
door, and confused noises. { y
Then she sprang to the door
and hurried into the shop.
S"Dick! Dickl" she cried; !;
"Dick! Dick Help wake up |!
Pm robbed"
But there was no answer; the
door into the street was wide
open, and by the moonlight that
poured forth at that moment
through The clouds she pecrcd
under the counter, and saw
that Dick $ bed was empty. The
boy was gone.
When the dawn broke, the
wise neighbors came into Gran
ny's shop to find her crying and
rocking to and fro, and they
told her that 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 "oc-
cupation was gone," but not
without her savings. Money
was but money after all; all had
come to be the only thing she
loved, and Dick had robbed her.
1t was ten o'clock. Granny
sat moaningby the empty hearth.
IGood-natured Mrs. Jones, from
up stairs, ,was"secingthe things
and trying to cheer her, when
suddenly there came a rap on the
door and a policeman looked in,
Mrs. Briggs" he said.
"IIere she is" said Nlrs.J ones
eyes, I'm that wretched crit
ter" said Mrs. Briggs. il.
"Some one wants to see you
at headquarters" said the po'
liccman. "There's a boy there
and some money"
"Dickp' cried Mrs. Briggs
"Oh, / can't bear to see him"
But Mrs. Jones had already
tiled on her bonnet, and wrap
ped her in a shawl, and takcr
Iher on her arm.
"The wretch!" she said. N
am SO glad he is caught. You'll
get, your money back"
And she led Mrs. Briggs a
long--poor Mrs. Briggs, wh'
cried all the way, and careC
nothing for the money: An'
) soon they were at their destlna
) ton. Then the policeman turn
ed to the two women.
"He's pretty bad," he said
They'll take him to the hospi
tai in an hour. | suppose yo
are prepared for that. He
; nearly beaten to death, yo
know"
sDid you beat him, you crue
: wrctch?" asked Mrs. Briggs. 6
: wouldn't have had that done fo
half the money. Let him 6
with it if it is any comfort
, ;, him."
81 beat him?p cried the al
, tonishcd officer. "Well, won
: : en- have the stupidest head
y Why, if 1 hadn't got up when
: did, he'd been dead. He he
= = the bag of money tight, and Il
thief was pummeling him vii
. a loaded stick; and the pluck !
: = had for a little shaver--I te
= YOU L meyer saw the'like. "
= : shan't take Granny's none
! from he" J" says he, and foug
= - like a little tiger. If it's yo1
: money, old lady, he's given h
{ life for it, for all l know"
!, lnOh, Dick, Dick! / kne
= you were good. | must ha'
i been crazy to doubt you," al
:, ~ then she wrung her hands al
:, ~ cried: "Oh, Dick, for just
sr paltry bit of money!!
X .And,so she, knclt beside t
le pale, Still face upon the pillo
IS and kissed it, and called it te
I'd der names. 'A'-4.---
And Dick, never guessing b
* suspicious Of him, whispered /:
w 81 was SO afraid he'd get @
It with it if he killed me, Cram
and you in such high hopes Ii
cs night"
id He did not know what "
he meant by begging him to f
a give her. 1t would have kill
III him dead if he had, for he v
nd very near to death.
or But Dick did not die.
=, -. IL 1oDoa 1>o