The Press., 1884-06-12
UP THE FLUE.

l Lieutenant Russell, while we waited TOT the small stage. ''You have been at this frontier post ever since Captain Boutwell, was stationed here?
 ''Yes we have been here eight years. kshe replied, with the rare smile that glorl fled her face. ssI have passed through many trying ordeals here, but really think that had an adventure in the east, before I married the captain, equal to any that l have experienced"
 "Will you relate it, and oblige us ?" urged Russell.
 ''Thank you" said our little hostess 'sI don't mind"
 l Three of Us were sitting in an inner apartment of the small frontier hostelry. The bar-room was packed with miners, and we had chosen to have our supper served by ourselves, as we had appointed to go on to Custer City in company. This was her story:
 It was in 18-. I had just made the ac- quaintance of Captain Boswell, as he, hay ing some business matters to arrange with father, had called at our place. Finally there came rare day in autumn, and he and father were closeted the greater part of the day, ,overhauling papers, memoranda, deeds, and receipts. My father at the time was doing great deal of business as an attorney. At tea-time father said to me: "Bess, you won't mind an evening alone, so long as Thomas is about, will you?"
 I said no, for although there were many robberies being committed in the neigh boring cities, private families in the sub- urbs felt no fear. Our house was 8 mile from the city proper, and half mile from neighbors' either way.
 We tind,' he continued, 'that the cap- tain has got to hunt up some more papers concerning the estate before he can give Barron satisfactory title. We shall go to Judge Whitcomb's office, and our search may be so successful that II o'clock may find us home again. Shan't call and tell your cousin M,lly to come down and spend the night with you ?"
 "No-yes," contradictorily answered. Do as you please 1 am not timid in the least, with Thomas about
 "But Captain Boswell is going to leave $5, 900 here until he returns''
 "Does any one know about the money 2
 "Only ourselves"
 ''Then l am not afraid. Besides, you are likely to be back before yards yawn and thieves do walk abroad ''
 Thomas brought the horse around, an6 while father spoke to him touched the captains sleeve
 "Where is your money left ,"
 s'In your fathers desk in the library. Then he looked with tender, inquirins glance into my face, Chow the the little woman's cheek flushed at the memory ) and said: "Little girl, if you are in the least afraid we will not go tonight, altho it is necessary. I told him, honestly, that I was not afraid never had the stratum of timidity in my makeup peculiar to wo. mankind, and so they rode away.
 sang about my work as J put things in shape about the room, and viewed the brilliant sunset without fear or care. Thomas, our new man-of-all-work, was very busy pottering about the grounds, tying up the grape-vines and mulching evergreens. IkIew there was some coarse aftermath upon the hill that father was anxious to have put on the strawberry beds, and seeing Thomas go up there with his basket tied scarf over my head took another basket, and went up to helI him. As I passed up the hill, saw mar lin the highway speak to him. I hesitated about going on, but the man made only 6 moments pause, and then went down the hill, and was soon concealed by a turn ir the highway.
 "Who was that, Thomas ?" I inquired.
 "Oh, miss, 1t was a man from the mills saying that my brother had had bad fal
 
 come and see him. His legs are broker entirely"
 'sWhat will you do ?"
 ssl told the man could not come to sec him to-day-but if I went, miss, I would be sure to be back by II o'clock, if moi earlier"
 ssYou may go, Thomas, if your brother is hurt so bad. Papa will not be away long,"
 "But, my young lady"
 "Never mind me in such case as this" always was tender hearted. 'sYo,1 may go and will run right back to the house."
 He talked few minutes more, was pro fuse in his thanks for my kindness, an6 then started down for the city. I took uI the two baskets and went singing to the house.
 sat an hour by the open window, ell toying intensely this being alone, and the quiet beauty of this cold autumn evening
 But directly I chided myself for being rather careless, as the road was thorough fare, and 8 chance straggler might sur prise me. l arose, closed my window, and obeying some strange, impressive power, I walked through the hall into the library, took my fathers key from its accustomed place, unlocked his desk, found the pack. age of $5, 900, and, placing it in my bosom, relocked the door, and returned to the sitting room did not light lamp; had no need of a fire, as that from the kitchen stove warmed the sitting room sufficiently in this mild weather.
 The house was old-fashioned, very, with 8 fireplace in the sitting room opening ur into the chimney of capacity sufficient fol a foundry stack. We had cheerful open fires later on; but the house was getting dilapidated, and the partition separating the fues in the large chimney had fallen in. Men had been sent out to clear the rubbish and make repairs, but the work, half done, was suspended on account o1 the arrival of Captain Boswell and this business affair. would have enjoyed i'm mensely to kindle sparkling fire in the huge wide fireplace, but as affairs were could not. So unused in darkness fo1 hours. really took no heed of time, un. til my ear detected the sound of Q footfall approaching, close up to the doorstep, could have taken my oath. It was SC light an echo that I sprang to my feet, thinking that my cousin Milly, absent when my father called, and returning later, had come down to stay with me. sprang up with smile to answer her knock; but no knock came, and the echoes died out, and all together concluded I had deceived myself in regard to them. Anyhow, would light the lamp II did so and was