The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-31
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.


-ha'e u. SpsHse. a. Chsmbors' Journal.
$50
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.
When a young married clerk sudden.
~ loses his situation in a provincial
bank where employers are reducing
their ha0lls, il does not follow thai
work csn be had for the asking in Lon.
dom and SD Mr.. Tom Craven found
himself still seeking employment many
months after his savings had dwindlc,l
down To u few pounds. The lat ~.
source OF the young couple was the sale
al every available article of value they
possessed, aud when my story opens
Young Mrs. Craven was ON the point o.
starting To- sell the last remaining val.
ul0lc-namcly, 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 10
me. The only trouble is that you
should have To take them. Clara"
But. Tom. You cant 20 without
Two got slippers" replied Tom.
Make haste, dear-no one will see you
in the dark"
Resolved TO keep up. Clara stopped
Tor tue ooo,s. something must turn
up tn-pcrhaps you'll hear from
BrpNn X Co. tomorrow she said.
Very likely" responded Tom. in n
desponding tone. Brown anil Co. were
his late employers, and he had written
4 them ASKING il they could possibly
take him back-with faint hopes Of
success.
Quickly tho boots were put into an
old leather bas. and Mrs. Craven
dressed herself in shabby waterproof
and eonnct. and covered her face with
a,aick veil. Then she crept down the
crraking old stairs anil on; into the mar
row street with heavy heart, and eyes
into which the tears would come. IL
was one az those old Westminster
streets which are so close 10 the dwell
ingS of the great, and vet dirty and
dlsrcpu able Themselves. The respect
able persons dwelling there had all been
reduced TO the depths of poverty. The
other inhabitants were CHIEFLY remark
ablc 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 of To
let some persons 90 on their way. for
she was sorcly ashamed Of her GRAND;
and rs sho stood thus her cycs fell on
placard that was fixed under the light
OF lamp ON the wall of "a police station.
'%s.O Reward"
"Piity pounds? How nice 10 get IT,"
thought Mrs. Craven, and then she took
another look 10 see ii the coast was
clear for tie business she had In hand.
Two more people were coming. Back
went her ewes To the placard, and she
read that this reward was offered to any
person who would give such informa-
ton ~ would lead TO the conviction of
The pcrpctrator of daring jewel rob-
berry.
.wish could catch the thieir' 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
husband boots deprecated in every
poss bile manner. she timidly accepted
the pitiful price offered. and then stole
back intp the street. where she pur-
chased few of the absolute nccesssries
of life. and ordered some Goals, which
n greengrocer's boy wheeled in bar
row behind her until they reached the
door OF the lodging-house.
would YOU mind carving them up
tony room in two basketsful, II give
YOU twopencc.' asked Clara, gently.
The boy nodded by way Of answer.
and the Young wife opened the door
with her latch-kcy. and ran up for an
old basket. While she was getting this
out other room man had swi tly entered
the house and passed up the stairs.
The coal-boy never noticed him, for his
lack 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 n corner un-
obseryed; and when she went on her
way. the stranger passed on TO the top
of The house, and entered the room be-
hind that occupied by the Crayens.
An hour later u snug glow OF tire
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
menlinp shabby clothes for awhile; and
then he, too. went TO bed. sharing her
iervent hope that something would
turn up tomorrow. :,
And so il came about that, when all
were fast asleep, Clara sat on by the
fire that still burned cheerily; and after
eleven strokes had fallen slowly from
the big Cock, and the restless roar oil
traffic was somewhat less in the ever
busy streets her hands lay idle in her
Ian and sheNolew out the candle to save
it, LIGHT for mother time. and turned
such a sad yong face. such troubled
blue eyes. upon the dickcring hire that
II seemed hard. ard so young life
should be so old in orrow.
A sound of voices n the next room
ro,,ssd her. There Wa door of CON-
,o,n;ca,jon between IT, two rooms.
,.hiah ,yas of course looed. but which
,naJa somnds easily heard Clara knew
that their nelgheor was an elderly
woman; she had met hcr = the stairs
sometimes, and she wonoe,' who her
visitor could 10 at such an no. Then
the sound OF frightened sooug and
sxnostulat;o ON made her listen aentive-
, .P.or shc feared her neighbours In
trouble. aud determined 10 r0uS her
husband. Il necessary. -.
.Not yet. Joe. oh. don't say y
must 60 YETI -, 400 long ,
r.,dy THEY'LL be after me sharp. no u,
the rewards out! Think OF "a
mother, The men who tempted N
ana rot the jewels. would round on
now ana rot the reward