The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-28

said Pete. doggedly. '"Things can't be
much worse off than they are now"
And if amt there by twelve you'll
knew something has happened and
can't come, so you'll have to go on your
own hook. But be sure you are at the
big tree by l."
Whettles, like many another skillful
tactician, did not tell his cats paw all
his plans. He had no intention of doing
what might be done for him. It was only
polite to assure Pete of helping him out
should his courage fail him, for fear,
under too great dread, that he might
break away from the plan altogether.
Whettles, who had as little right to his
name as to many another article he had
possessed at various times, was as truly
an arrant coward as a william. All of his
ill-deeds, and they were numerous, had
been done, as far as he could manage it,
at the expense of somebody else. If the
robbery at Turner'S seemed feasible
without too much danger, he would keep
his word if not, there was the excuse of
having been watched and prevented, and
Pete could he coaxed or threatened into
sharing what spell he had from the Poy-
sets.
That night Mrs. Poysett and Linda
had an early tea, and having done the
indoor work, and sat down for one of
those quiet talks that was so precious
because they were soon to cease. The
Journey to Illinois was so long, and
Linda's beginning a new life such a seri-
Gus matter that it seemed the two would
never have done talking over it. Hen
ry, the nearest neighbours BOY, had shut
up the barn long ago, the milk had
been strained, and tho pals were washed.
"Tve laid out dozen of them coarse
crash towels for your dishes, Linda"
said Mrs. Poysett. Eyes, know you've
got lots O. new ones, but you cant have
too many O. such things. There can't
be any such thing as bein' extravagant
about keepin' your dishes clean and
shiny. You grandmother Poysett
used to say she believed I'd like clean
towel to every cup. Linda, how glad
am you amt got to live with your moth
erin. lawr
A husky sigh of relief was here Mrs.
Poysett's tribute to the memory of the
woman who had made the first ten years
of her own married life season of dis.
cipline.
ITO think John and Frank will be
here tomorrow night at n" said Linda,
dreamily. "We'll have ounce for sup
per, won't we, mother"
eyes, and guess we'd better be abed
just as early as we can Ct there. You
be fastenin' up and I'll wind up the
clock" Mrs. Poysett did that in the
dark, for Linda had taken the lamp into
the kitchen.
Eight! Well, declared" said the
good lady as the clock struck after she
had CROPPED her way up stairs. "And it's
right, too, for Indy put it round this
good while," she went on, as Linda came
what YOU went thro' some extra fastenin'
up. now, we're Alone"
"Not bit. mother" said Linda. with
a smile cut short by ayawn." 1 stopped
to put the cat out"
~ always think OF what your father
said" unused the old lady. 1t was after
the Hampstead murder. We never had
our doors fastened in the world till then;
and soon as the news of that come every
body was scared to death, and your
father put q button on the back door.
And the first night he turned it, he laid
awhile a.thinkin' and he says, IF there
is one wooded button between me and
death, I guess I'll trust in the Lord and
not the button So he went down stairs
and turned the button back. What lot
of hair you've got, Lindy, and how quick
you braid It'll"
When Pete crept up to the house at
10, the women had been soundly asleep
for two hours. He tried the kitchen
window; il had No fastenings and went
up noiselessly. He stepped in and stood
trembling. The clock in the next room
licked with appalling loudness. His
knees smote together. but it required a.
much courage to fee as to remain. Per
haps for ten minutes-perhaps hours,
judging by his own exaggerated reckon
ing-he stood in fear; and then, as the
clock licked on steadily, as if it had no
reference to him, his courage crawled
back and his heart beats great fainter.
He crept toward the sitting room door
en- his hands and knees. There stood
the old desk, with its high spindle legs,
half OF it exaggerated shadow and half
thrown into light by shaft from the
moon. Probably the key was in the
lock. He had eeen Frank bring in fat
roll of bills after selling his oxen, toss
them in there and put down the cover
without turning the key. There had
been no robberies in Belburn, and SO
people trusted more in human nature
and less in wood and steel. But the sit
ting room was 80 light! He never should
dare to go in there; the very thought OF