The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-23

pair of friends. Ford rose and stepped
out of his retreat,
Il beg pardon for interrupting you,
.,ir, y began the stranger, very pleasant
w, "but are your father and mother ut
acme to-dayP'
my father and mother are in Eu-
rope sir" replied Ford "but-"
"Ah-oh--I see, continued the civil
stranger. II had forgotten that my old
friends, Major and Mrs, Pepper hadno
children. Is your uncle at home?'
I'm sorry, sir, replied Ford, "but
they have both driven to town this
morning, and will not be back till eve
ming. BE quiet, Leo!' for Leo persist
ed in showing his teeth, and making
sundry impolite noises, not to say
growls, while he eyed the polite new
conner very much as if he had been a
snake.
"A fine dog that" remarked the
stranger, carelessly. "Well, since am
unlucky enough to miss your uncle,
could | see that excellent man he en-
ploys here, Amzi-Amzi-d dear me, |
cannot Just remember his name" The
strange gentleman had clear, rich
voice. He was by the way, stout,
well-made young man, with dark era
vat
Sorry again, sir" replied Ford,
''but AMI and Mira are away, too, un-
til late this evening. 1t just happens
so. Couldn't take your message for
uncle? Leo, be still, tell you!'
You're very kind, my dear boy"
said the unknown gentleman, looking
at his watch and backing out of the
summer-house gracefully, "but | won
trouble you. | should prefer riding
over from my place tomorrow evening.
Please tell your good uncle that Mr..
Alexander Kingbolt, he will remember
my name, called on business, and will
see him tomorrow evening. if possible,
at eight Goodbye And Mr. Alex
ander Kingbolt, whistlng Sweetly
There's one more river to cross, step
ped into a light buggy standing with
out the gate. Another gentleman sat
in it. and the two rode away, talking
rapidly.
The afternoon shadows grew long;
the twilight closed in; Ford and Leo sat
together the boy with his hand on the
dogs head. Both began to feel some
what lonesome, at least, Ford did. Why
in the world did not tie ph@lon come
toi.ing up the steep mountain road
Halloa white owl futtered across the
lawn into an acacia.
Ford had long desired to ascertain
that particular owls private address.
He-dashed after it, ana Leo bore him
company. Up through the DARK gar
den bird boy aud dog sped Presently
Ford slipped and fell. He uttered %
cry when he rose. aud found ina, j.,
could put his left foot to the ground one
" with a pain that sickenei him. SO
severely had his fall strained H.
Very slowly and painfully Ford
limped into the garden again. his IN
lucky foot feeling more miserable every
step. All at once he looked through ,as
trees and sow lights in the diuin--roou
of his uncle house.
Major Pepper and Aunt Helen were
back, doubtless much disturbed 90
know where in the world Ford and
Leo had gone, or since what hour Of tie
day.
As he drew nearer the closed shutter,
he caught the sound Of low, strange
voices, the faint clink Of hammer.
Could it be possible that anything was
amis,? Ford was frightened, but prI-
dent.
LEO" said he very softly, but al
most sternly, to the dog, whose ears
Were on the alert, too, lie down"
Leo obeyed.
Forgetting his painful foot in his
breathless excitement, Ford crepl down
along the back OF the house The voices
came clearly from within. And we'd
better be quick about it, somebody
was saying.
Hrobbery it surely was. Ford turned
the blind and looked within the dining
room. A lamp was it, The safe where
in Major Pepper usually kept his paper,
and any large sum Of money he happen
ed to have in the house for a day or 50,
was rolled out 70 the middle OF the room
Over it leaned a tall, wcll-dresscd man,
impatiently directing another man, VINO
knelt before it, and was working at
the old-fashioned lock with some tools
he had evidently brought for the pur-
pose.
Ford caught sight Of profile, and the
sound of "One more river to cross, "
whistled very gently. The man work
ing at the safe door was Mr. Alexander
Kingbot. An exceedingly frightened
boy was Ford Bonner
$50, then, they cannot possibly ut
over the bridge?' said Mr.. Kingbolt,
plying his chiscl
"All the planks are up and hid away
till we 90 down, tell YOU, replied the
other "and red lantern hung across
it,
"Tho bridge" Ford knew at once,
must mean a narrow, rough structure
across the stream just before the road
from town wound up the mountain
They're likely on their way around
by the other one. lt'll take them till
midnight
There was n pause. Then said Mr..
kingbot, out of heath, where do
you suppose that boy and the dog
arcPh
Lost on the mountain, dare say,
But if they come back before we get
| H., 4