Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-13
Fifty Pounds Reward.


that work can be had for the asking
in London; and so Mr.. Tom Craven
found himself still seeking employ
ment many months after his savings
had dwindled down to a few pounds.
The last resource of the young cou-
pie 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 valuable
namely, her husbands boots.
''The children must live," said the
young man, looking at two tiny fig
ures in the bed sand all my other
clothes are done for, so the boots
are no use to me. The only trouble
is that you should have to take them,
Clara"
'But, Tom, you can't go without
boots ~
"I've got slippers" replied Tom.
''Make haste, dear,-no one will see
you IN the dark. -
Resolved to keep up, Clara stoop-
ed for the boots. ''Something must
turn up soon-perhaps you'll hear
from Brown & Co., Tomorrow" she
said.
every likely" responded Tom, in
Respondent tone. Brown & Co.
were his late employers, and he had
written to them asking if they could
possibly take him back-with faint
hopes of success.
Quickly the boots were put into an
old leather bag, and Mrs. Craven
dressed herself IN a shabby water
| proof and bonnet, and covered her
face with a thick veil. Then she
crept down the creaklng old stairs
and out in the narrow street with a
heavy heart and eyes into which the
tears would come. 1t was one of
those old Westminster streets which
are so close to the dwellings of the
great and yet dirty and disreputable
themselves. The respectable persons
dwelling there had all been reduced
to the depths OF poverty. The other
inhabitants were chiefly remarkable
for their varied vices.
Gusts of wind made the street
lamps flicker and cast strange shad-
ows as Clara Craven sped on toward
the shop where ssleft off, clothing
was purchased. She paused a few
doors off to let some persons 90 on
their way, for she was sorely asham-
ed of her errand; and as she stood
thus her eyes fell on placard that
was fixed under the light of lamp
on the wall of a police station.
$3.50 Reward -
''Fifty pounds How nice to get
it," thought Mrs. Craven, and then
she took another look to see if the
coast was clear for the business she
had in hand. Two more people were
coming. Back went her eyes to the
placard. and she read that this re-
ward was offered to any person who
would give such information as would
lead to the conviction of the perpe-
traitor of a daring jewel robbery.
''Wish | could catch the thief ="
said Clara to herself, Ealf laughing,
half sadly, and when she looked
again toward the wardrobe shop she
saw that she might venture in. At
ter hearing her husbands boots de-
preciated in every possible manner,
she tlmidly accepted the pitiful price
offered, and then stole back into the
street where she purchased few of
the absolute necessaries of life, and
| ordered some coal, which q green
grocer's boy wheeled in a barrel be-
hind her until they reached the door
of the lodging house.
"Would you mind carrying them
up to my room in two basketfuls, If
| give you two-pence?" asked Clara,
gently.
The boy nodded by way of answer,
and the young wife opened the door
with her latch key and ran up for an
old basket. While she was getting
this out of her room a man had
swiftly entered the house and passed
up the stairs. The coal boy never
noticed him, for he was eagerly
watching the signs of an approaching
fight between two tom cats Oh an op-
posite door step. The staircase was
very dark, so when Clara came down
with the basket the man had squeez-
ed himself into a corner unobserved !;
and when she went on her way, the
stranger passed on to the top of the
house, and entered the room behind
that occupied by the Cravens.
An hour later a snug glow of fire
warmed the young couple and their
children, and the latter, having been
satisfied with meal, went sound
asleep. Tom watched his wife's busy
fingers mending shabby clothes for
awhile, and then he, too, went to
bed, sharing her fervent hope that
something would turn up to-mor-
row."
And so it came about that, when
all were asleep, Clara sat on by the
fire that still burned cheerily; and
after IL strokes had fallen slowly
from the big clock and the restless
roar of traffic was somewhat less in
the ever busy streets. her hands lay
, idle in her lap and she blew out the