The Red Cloud chief., 1882-10-20

~ 'RtubSSs ta hb- way ~ VIZ
became. in a limited sense. the messcn
lger and po.tman Of the family when 90
casion prompted. and n very quick and
faithful one.
II was the last Thursday in Angus,
when Major Pepper. finishing his sec
ond cup Of coffee nj breakfast exclaimed
20 his wife: There. Helen. ! forgot q
tell you last night that II you want Il
go down 10 the town in the phaetof
with me to-day and give this afternoon
to picking out those carpets. it'll suit ms
c~apitslly."
Aunt Pepper laughed. why does ,
man always choose just the wrong da,
OF all others?" she sad. merrily, .Amz
and Mira Mira was Amzi's vie and
Aunt Peppers cook) ''wanted ~ go "a
New York to-day 10 attend that wed.
ding-bcr sisters you recpllcct. They
started early lat four o'clock) for the
station. and ] don't expect them baci
until long after we're in bed tonight
cant leave the house and Ford 10 take
care of themselves"
"Oh yes. you can" laughed Uncle
Pepper. Ford might 20 along il Il
wouldn't be n hot and stupid day il
town for him-we shall b. 80 busy.
Leave him n good luncheon. and lei
him keep house by himself for oEce Lee
viii help him. You wouldn't mind it
eh, ford?"
Ford laughed, too. and said that be
rather guessed not.
Wei not be later in getting bach
home than six o'clock. | suppose
said Aunt Pepper. reluctantly consent
ing.
.'Oh dear no. replied the Major.
land Ford will just have q fine appetite
for a late dinner"
A balf-hour later Ford and. Leo. the
one with his hand and the other with
his active il unimportant tail, waved
Major and Mrs. Pepper goodbye from
the broad piazza, and then turned them.
selves about TO begin the work of pass.
ing a jolly day together. Ford did no,
like to leave the house for any length
of time.
A wooden swing he was contriviny in
the garden, the arrangement Of his col.
lection Of Indian relics. and a letter to
his room mate at the school-one Harry
North-tOok up all the forenoon.
This latter. or letter bus mesa, wa
still on hand, and Ford wa, scratching
away at it in the summer house. when
Leo suddenly growled. Then he sprang
up. barking violently. 4 strange gen
tleman was lei>urely drawing near the
pair of friends. Ford rose aud stepped
out If his retreat.
al beg pardon for interrupting you,
sir" began the stranger. very pleasant
ly. but are your father and mother at
home TO dayP'
MY father and mother are in Eu-
rope" replied Ford. '.bnt-"
All OH see" continued the civil
stranger. II had forgotten that nv
old friends Major and Mrs Pepper had
no children. Is your uncle Mt homer"
I'm sorry. SIR" replied Ford. ..but
they have both driven to town this
morning. and will not be back till even
ing. BE quiet. Lco!'' for Leo persisted
in showing his teeth, and making sun
dry impolite noises. not TO say growls.
while he eyed the polite new conner
very much as il he had been n snake.
"A fine dog that" rem irked the
stranger. carelesSly. "Well. since |
am unlrcky enough 10 miss your uncle.
could ! see that excellent man he m
ploys here, Amzi-Amzi-dear me, /
ear not just recall his name" The
ST 'angc gentleman had n clear, rich
voice. He was, by-thc-way, n stout,
well-made young man, with a dark blue
cravat.
"Sorry again. sir" returned Ford,
"'bia AMI and Mira are away. too. un-
til quite late this evening. II just hap
rcncd 81. Couldn't l take your mes
sage for uncle? Leo. be still, l tell your'
YOU'RE very kind, my dear boy"
said the unknown gentleman. looking
at his watch. and backing N from the
summer house gracefully. "hut I'won't
trouble you. | should prefer riding
over from my place to morrow evening.
Please tell Nour good uncle that Mr..
Alexander Kingho.t--hc will remember
my namc-callcd on business. and will
see him tomorrow evening il possible.
at eight. Good-by." And Mr.. Alex
amber kingbo't, whistling sweetly:
There's n more River to Cross"
stepped into Il light buggy standing
without the gate. Another gentleman
sat in it, and the two rode away talking
rapidly
The afternoon shadows grew long;
twilight closed in: Ford and Leo sat to-
gethcr. the boy with his hand upon the
dogs head. Both began To feel some
what lonely-at least Ford did. Why
in the world did not the phaeton come
toiling up the steep mountain road?
Halloa! n white owl iiuttcred across the
lawn into an acacia.
Ford had long desired 10 ascertain
that particular owls private address.
He dashed after il, and Leo bore him
company. Up through the dark garden
bird. boy and dog sped. Presently
Ford slipped and fell He uttered a cry
when he rose. and found that he could
put his left foot to the ground only with
n pain that sickened him, so severely
had his fall strained it.
Very slowly and painfully Ford
limped into the garden again. his un-
lucky foot feeling more miserable with
each step. All at once he looked
through the trees. and saw lights in the
dining-room of his uncle's house.
Major Pepper and Aunt Helen were
back, doubtless much disturbed to
know where in the world Ford and Leo
had gone. or since what hour OF the day.
As he drew nearer the closed shut
tiers. he caught the sound of low strange
voices. the faint clink of y hammer.
Could il be possible anything was amiss?
Ford was frightened. but prudent.
"Leo." said he. very softly. but almost
sternly. to the dog, whose ears were on
the alert too. ''lic down"
Leo obeyed.
Forgetting his painful foot in his
breathless excitement. Ford crept down
along the back of the house. The strange
voices came clearly from within. ..And
we'd better be quick about it" some
body was saying.
Arobbcry it surely was. Ford turned
the blind and looked within the dining
room. A lamp was lit The small safe
wherein Major Pepper usually kept his
nonorS and any lsrs-a Sun Of panrar ko