St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-09-16

see him tomorrow evening if possible,
at eight. Good-by" And Mi. Alex
ander Kingbolt, whistling sweetly:
.sThere's one more River to Cross
stepped into 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-
gether, the boy with his hand upon the
dog s 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?
HalIoa! white owl tluttered across the
lawn into an acacia.
Ford had long desired to ascertain
that particular owls private address.
He dashed after it, and Leo bore him
company. Up through the dark garden
bird, boy and dog sped. Presently
Ford slipped and fell He uttered q cry
when he rose, and found that he could
put his left foot to the ground only with
a pain that sckened him, so severely
had his fall strained it.
Very slowly and painfully Ford
limped into the garden again, his I'M
luck 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.
Maj or 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 hammer
Could it 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, "lie 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
wee better be quick about it, some
body was saying.
Arobbery 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
papers and any large sum of money he
happened to have in the house for a day
or so was rolled out to the middle OF
the room Over it leaned tall we'll
dressed man, impatiently directing an
other man who knelt before it, and was
working at the old-fashioned lock with
some tools he had evidently brought for
the purpose.
Ford caught sight of 4 profile, and
IF n
Cross" whistled very gently. The man
working at the safe door was Mr.. Alex
ander Kingbolt. An exceedingly fright
ened boy was Ford Bonner.
$50 then they can't possibly get over
the bridge2' said Mr. Kingbolt, play
ing his chisel.
"All the planks are up, and hid away
till we 90 down, / tell you,' replied the
other, land red lantern hung across
it."
"The BRIDGE" Ford knew at once,
must mean narrow rough structure
across a stream just before the road
from town wound up the mountain.
"They'r re likely on their way around
bv the other one. It'll take them till
midnight
There was pause. Then said Mr..
Kingboit. out of breath: =. Where do you
suppose that boy and the dog are:"'
"Lost on the mountain, | dare say.
But if they come back before we get
through, we can fix them somehow
Ford slipped from below the window.
The boy understood all. Many houses
in the town had been robbed lately. The
gang had in some way learned that
Major Pepper was occasionally Obliged
to keep large amounts OF money IN his
lonely country house. They had chosen
their day carefully, made or else al
tered their plans that very morning
thanks to Ford's own politeness in an
swering Mr.. Kingbolt's questions. By
trick they had sent Major and Mrs.
) Pepper around by their longest route
, for home The whole thing was has
i tily but cleverly planned scheme. Ane
, Ford could do nothing-a alone; the near
est houses in the village two miles VI
, the mountain; his swollen foot!
Had he forgotten Leo? The though
darted into his confused mind like
flash. He leaned forward into o ray OF
light, and drew out gently his pencil
and the envelope, still undirected, IL
which was his letter to Harry North
He managed to control his excitement
and terror enough to scrawl upon it
There are burglars in our house. Come
7 quick, somebody. Ford Bonner. -
The envelope was secured by Ford,
shoe-string to the grayhound's neck
t BE very quiet, Leo" he kept whisper
) ing, almost beseechingly. as he led tn
dog as well as he could down the ia
side of the garden, along the fence, am
: some distance up the road, lest Lex
should bark
r '.Quick. Leo! To the post-office-t'
the post-office," he cried, tremblingly
, pushing and pointing the dog off.