Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-04-28
back to do his share of the work.

back to do his share of the work. He
closed the window behind him and hur-
rled of to the rendezvous. There was
no n there. At that moment the re-
lief Of having been prevented from sin
overbalanced every other feeling. Some
thing must have happened to Whet:les;
perhaps he had been caught; perhaps
ne would say that his accomplice was
waiting for him under the elm! He
started on o swift run for home, to find
his wife watching for him in the noon
light.
She was too thankful at finding him
sober to worry at the lateness Of his
coming. Being a woman of tact, she
did not question, but went to sleep,
while Pete lay till daybreak in a cod
bath Of fear, expecting a rap and sum-
mons to jail at every tapping of Dough
or swapping of frost-bitten nail.
Whettles had fingered about Turner's,
a great house over the hill, in the hope
that the guests-for there was a party
that night-would take their leave. But
no; the house vas lighted from cham
bers to parlor, and sleighs came instead
OF going away. He walked up and
down in tho orchard, cursing himself to
keep warm. Later and later, and the
singing and dancing of shadows on the
curtains did not cease. He would hurry
over to the Poysetts' and see if the cats
paw had done his work there. He stole
up to the designated window, as Pete
had done. No one was there. He
listened, and whistled softly. The clock
struck one. He had no idea it was SO
late. Pete must be waiting for him at
the elm. And so he, too, hurried away.
But there was only a mammoth lace
work OF shadow under the elm. Where
was Peter The master-villain, himself
puzzled, reflected a moment. Perhaps
the fellow had the money and was hid
ing it at home. Lucky thought! He
would go to the house and call him up,
in spite OF disturbing wife and children.
Then see if he would refuse to share!
He took the road, and, passing Top
pans saloon, noticed a dim light IN the
bar-room. 1t was rather unusual that
it should be there 80 late, but he had
known it to happen before. He had
Just about money enough for q dram.
He tapped, and then tried the door; it
was unfastened, and he went in lightly.
A man in a great-coat rose from his
seat by the stove and swiftly, dexter
ously pinioned him. Toppan himself,
always on the winning side, was there
to help, and Whettles was arrested for
his last crime.
Mrs Poysett and Linda were afoot
early the next morning, putting the
house in holiday trim.
81 declare if faint an hour earlier n
l thought" said Mrs. Poysett as she
came down into the sitti4g-room, where
the little air-tight was already doing its
ardent best. "Lindy, you didn't strike
that clock round yesterday, after all. !"
."No, mother; 1 forgot it," laughed
Linda: II should forget my head,
nowadays, if 'twasn't fastened on"
"Tll tell you what it il" .said the
mother, beginning to spread the break
fast-table, I'm just about QUITO patience
with that clock, strikin' the hours away
afore they get here. 1t seems real ma
%licious, tryin' to hurry you off. Now,
perhaps it's only half a days job OF
so; let's send for Tinker Pete and have
him come up and fix it."
So the chore-boy was dispatched fol
Pete. He came like a culprit, uncer-
tain whether the message was feigned
to cover suspicion of him or not. But
no one could look into Mrs Poysett's
clear eyes for a moment, or hear Linda's
laugh, with even a lingering fear thae
either had anything to conceal. When
they described the clocks malady, I am
inclined to think Pete was near being
faint with surprise as ever man was in
his life, and l think he touched the
worn old clock case reverently, thanking
it for keeping his deeds honest, however
he had sinned in thought. He stayed
to dinner, and Mrs. Poysett put up q
pail Of goodies for the children. On
his way home he heard the news:
Whettles had been arrested and taken
away on an early train. Again he
walked in fear and trembling; his hair
grew used to standing on end in those
days. He expected an interview with
Nemesis concerning his intended crime,
but, whether justly or'unjustly, Neme-
sis stayed away.
The wedding? 1t was a very quiet
one, and the happy pair went away next
morning followed by blessings and old
shoes. Frank had had such an ex-
%travagantly good time in Boston that he
felt he could only counterbalance it by
plunging into work deeper than ever.
So he began cutting the timber in the
old wood-lot, and hired Tinker Pete to
chop there every day till spring.-AHce
Deeri"g, IN Lippimcott's Magazine.