St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-02-02
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.

When young married clerk sudden
ly loses his situation in a provincial
bank where employers are reducing
their hands, it does not follow that
work can be had for the asking in Lon
don; and so Mr.. Tom Craven found
himself still seeking employment many
months after his savings had dWindled
down to a few pounds. The last re-
source OF the young couple was the sale
of every available article of value they
possessed, and when my story opens
young Mrs. Craven was on the point of
starting to sell the last remaining val
uable namely, her husbands boots.
tThe children must i've" said the
young man, looking at two tiny figures
in the bed; sand all my other clothes
are done for, so the boots are no use to
me, The only trouble is that qou
should have to take them, Glars"
"But, Tom, you can't go without
I've got slippers" replied Tom.
Make haste, dear-no one will see you
in the dark. =
Resolved to keep up, Clara stopped
FOR the boots. Something must turn
up soon perhaps you'll hear from
Brown Il Co. tomorrow she said.
Every likely" responded Tom. in q
responding tone. Brown and Co. were
his late employers, and he had written
TO them asking if theycould possibly
take him backWith faint hopes of
success.
Quickly the boots were put into an
old leather bag, and Mrs. Craven
dressed herself in shabby waterproof
and bonnet, and covered her face with
a thick veil. Then she crept down the
creaking old stairs and out into the mar
row street with d heavy heart, and eyes
into which the tears would come. Tt
was one of those old Westminster
streets which are so close to the dwell
ings of the great, and yet dirty and
.disreputable themselves. The respect
able persons dwelling there had all been
reduced to the depths of poverty. The
other inhabitants were chiefly remark
able for their varied vices.
Gusts of wind made the street lamps
flicker and cast strange shadows as
Clara Craven sped on towards the shop
where tleft-of'' clothing was pur-
chased. She paused a few doors off to
let some persons go on their way, for
she was sorely ashamed of her errand;
and as she stood thus her eyes fell on
plaeard that was fixed under the light
of lamp on the Wallof a police station.
1880 Reward. y
Fifty pounds? How nice to get it!'
thought Mrs. Craven, and then she took
another look to see ii the coast was
clear for the business she had in hand. |
Two more people were coming. Back
went her eyes to the plaeard, and she
read that this reward was offered to any
person who would give such informa-
ton as would lead to the conviction of |
the perpetrator Of daring jewel rob
berry.
Wish i could catch the THEIR said |
Clara to herself, half laughing, half
sadly; and when she looked again
towards the wardrobe shop she saw she
might venture in, After hearing her
husbands boots deprecated in every
possible manner, she tin1idly accepted /
the pitiful price offered, and then stole
back into the street, where she pur-
chased few of the absolute necessaries
of life, and ordered some Goals, which
q gFeengrocer s boy wheeled in bar
row behind her until they reached the
door Of the Iodging-house.
Would you mind carving them up
to nv room in two basketsful, if / give
you twopencePn asked Clara, gently.
The boy nodded by way Of answer,
and the young wife opened the door
with her lateh-key, and ran up for an
old basket. While she was getting this
outofherrocm man had swiftly entered
The house and passed up the stairs.
The coal-boy never noticed him, for his
back was turned to the door, and he
vas eagerly watching the signs Of an
approaching fight between two tom-cats