Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-01-31
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.

" FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.
When young married clerk sudden
Iy loses his situation in 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 stu seeking employment many
months after his savings had dwindled
down to Il 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
liable namely, her husbands boots.
1.-The children must live" said the
young man, looking at two tiny figures
in the bed; land 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 cant 60 without
boots!"
I've got slippers" replied Tom.
snake haste, dear-no one will see YOU
in the dark
Resolved TO keep up, Clara stopped
Tor the boots. Something must turn
up soon-perhaps you'll hear from
Brown 4 Co. tomorrow she said.
Very likely" responded Tom, in a
Responding tone. Brown and 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 has. and Mrs Craven
dressed herself in IA shabby waterproof
and bonnet, and covered her face with
thick veil. Then she crept down the
creaking old star and out into the mar
row street with n heavy heart, and eyes
into which the fears would come. 1t
was one OF those old Westminster
streets which are 50 clio e To the dwell
ings of the great, and yet dirty and
disrepu'able themselves. The respect
able persons dwelling there had all been
reduced to the depths of poverty. The
other inha bitantS 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 ''left-otl" clothing was pur-
chased. She paused few doors off to
let some persons 90 on their way. for
she was sorcly ashamed of her errand:
and as she stood thus her eyes fell on
placard that was fixed under the light
OF a lamp on the wall of Il police station.
ago Reward
Fifty pounds? How nice TO oct it,''
thought Mrs Craven, and then she took
another look to see if the coast was
clear for TIE business she had i'm hand.
Two more people were coming. Back
went her eyes to the placari, and she
read that this reward was offered to anv
person who would give such informa-
ton as would lead TO the conviction of
the perpetrator of a daring Jewel rob-
berry
''Wish could catch the thief" 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 ,imidlv accepted
the pitiful price offered. and then stole
back into the str ct, where she pur-
chased a few of the ab>out, necessaries
of life, and ordered some Goals, which
greengrocer's boy wheeled i'm bar
row behind her until they reached the
door OF the clearinghouse
''Would You mind carving them up
to my room in two basketsful, if l give
you twopence?" 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 ge ting this
out OF herroom man had swi tly entered
the house and passed up the stairs.
The coal-boy never noticed him, for his
back was turned TO the door. and he
was eagerly watching the signs of an
approaching fight between two tom-ca.s
on an opposite doorstep. The stair
case was very dark, SO when Clara
came down with the basket the man
had squeezed himself into corner un-
observed; and when she went on her
way. the stranger passed on to the top
OF the house, and entered the room be-
nlnd that occupied by the Cravens.
An hour later 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
tervent hope that something would
turn up tomorrow"
And so it came about that, when all
were fast asleep, Clara sat on bv the
6re that still burned cheerily; and after
eleven 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
Jap, and she blew out the candle to save
its light for another time, and turned
such sad young face, such troubled
blue eyes, upon the Pickering fire that
It seemed hard, hard SO young life
should be so old in sorrow.
A sound of voices in the next room
reused her. There was door of COM
munication between the two rooms.
which was Of course locked, but which