Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-11-06
For A Reward.
CHAPTER I.
BY MAGGIE BROWNE.

OhAFIEh 4.
Il was the Christmas week, ant
"things" had come to the worst
When young married clerk sud
denly loses his situation in provincial
bank where employers are reducing
their hands, it does not follow tina
work can be had for the asking in th'
city; and 80 Mr.. Tom Craven fount
himself still seeking employment many
months after his savings had dwindlec
down to few dollars.
The last resource of the young coup
le was the sale of every available ar
ticle they possessed, and when my
story opens young Mrs. Craven was OF
the point of starting to sell the last re
naming valuable-namcly. her hus
bands boots.
"The children must live" 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 yor
should have to take them, Clara"
"But, Tom, you certainly can't go
without boots"
"I've got slippers" replied Tom;
"mske haste, dear-no one will be
likely to see you IN the dark
Resolved to keep up, Clara stopped
for the boots.
"Somethlng must turn up soon.
Perhaps you'll hear from Brown & Go.
tomorrow, she said.
"Very like" answered Tom, in a
desponding tone.
Brown & Co. were his late employ
ers,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 shabby waterproof
and bonnet, and covered her face with
thick veil; then she crept down the
creaking old stairs and out into the
narrow street, with heavy heart, and
eyes into which the tears would come.
1t was one of those old streets
which are so close to the dwellings of
the great, and yet dirty and disrepu-
table themselves. The respectable
persons dwelling there had all been re-
duced to the depths of poverty. The
other inhabitants we're chiefly re-
markable for their varied vices.
Gusts of wind make the street
lamps flicker and cast strange shad-
ows as Clara Craven sped on towards
the store where seco d.hand clothing
was bought and sold.
She paused few doors off to let
some persons 60 on their way for she
was sorely ashamed 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.
"$25O Reward"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars -
how nice to get it #" thought Mrs.
Craven.
And then she took another look to
see if the coast was clear for the bust
ness she had in hand. Two more peo-
pie were approaching.
Back went her eyes on the placard;
and she read that this reward was Of
fered to any person who would give
ouch information as would lead to the
conviction of The perpetrator of a dar-
ing jewel robbery.
"Wish | could catch the thief!'
said Clara to herself, half laughing
half sadly; and when she looked again
toward the second hand store she
saw she might venture in.
After hearing her husbands boots
deprecated in every possible manner,
she timidly accepted the pitiful price
offered, and then stole back into the
street.
There she purchased few of the
absolute necessaries of life, and or
lered some coal, which grocer's boy
in cart behind her until they
reached the door of the lodging house.
"Would you mind carrying the coal
up to my room. if give you five
cents7" asked Clara, gently.
The boy nodded by way Of answer,
md the young wife opened the door
with her !atch-key, and ran up for an
I'D basket. While she was getting
his out of her room man had swift
y entered the house and passed up
stairs.
The coal-boy never noticed him,
or his back was turned to the door,
md he was eagerly watching the signs
# an approaching fight between two
,ats on the opposite doorstep.
- The staircase was very dark, so
When Clara came down with the
,asket the man had sqeezed himself i
nto a corner unobserved; and &
vhen she went on her way, the
tranger passed on to the top OF the '
house, and entered the room behind