Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-03-05

one of the small squad of girls told off |
for the extra work. "Miss Brown says |
so. But these must be ready to deliver
In the morning"
Talk, talk, talk! Whir, whir, whir!
Dollie folded and basted, working with |
rapid mechanical precision, hearing the |
noise of voices and machines, feeling |
the dull heavy beating of her own heart
and the throbs of pain in her weary head,
but speaking no word OF replning, ex-
cusing her pallid face by the plea of
headache.
It was after II o'clock when the last
stitch was set in the hurried work and
the girls ran down the long flight of
stairs to plod home through drizzling
rain, following the late snowstorm.
AS Dollie passed down the staircase
she saw in the counting house her rec
reant lover, busy over some account
books.
But for the heavy news she had heard
that morning she would have felt sure
that this sudden spasm of industry was
to furnish an excuse for escorting her
home at the unusually late hour.
But, if so, Dollie felt that it was but
an added insult to his dishonorable con-
not heard her step.
She had gone some few streets from
the shop, when, passing church, she
| slipped upon treacherous piece of ice
and twisted her ankle.
The sudden pain made her faint for
moment and then she sat down upon
the stone work supporting the ratings
to recover herself. Beside her, not a
stones throw away, g dark, narrow
alleyway ran along the high brick wall
or the church-yard, and the girls heart
sank with chill of terror as she heard
mans voice in the alley say:
''Didn't you hear step, Bill?"
GA woman. She turned off some
where. He amt come yet, was the an
swer.
''He's late tonight" said the first
voice in gruf undertcne.
''You are sure he's taking the dia-
monds homer"
''Sure as death. was at IS when
he gave the order. Send them to my
| shop o'clock, says he, 'and will
take them home with me, and he gave
the address of cambridge & Son."
'But are you sure he will pass here?"
''Of course be will. He lives in the
next street. He'll come"
Suppose he shows fght?"
''You hold him, and I'U soon stop his
fight"
Every word fell on Dollie's ears clear
and distinct in the silence of the night.
They would rob him, these dreadful
| men, if nobody warned him. They
would spring upon him as he passed,
and strike him down before he knew
there was danger.
He must not come alone, unprepared
False lover, false friend as she felt he
was, she could not go on her way and
leave him to death.
When she stood up the pain of her
ankle was almost uncomfortable; but she
chung to the railing and so limped along
one street. The other seemed inter
minable.
Often she crawled through the wet
Slush of the streets; often on one foot
hoped painfully along, till the shop was
reached at last and the light in the count
ing-house still burned.
The side door for the working-girls
was still unfastened, and Dollie entered
there, reaching the cOunting-house
soaking wet, white and trembling, to
confront both Edgar Bainbridge and his
father.
Unheeding their exclamation of dis
may and surprise, she told her story
with white lips but steady voice.
''Waiting for me?" cried Edgar Balm.
bridge. ''The scoundrels!"
''You bought diamonds at 5 to-
day?" asked his father.
ga parure for Miss Wilson, sir. I
yJTch 10 fboY,
sion, on Thursday. All, look at that
poor girl!''
For, overcome by pain, fatigue, and
gered toward the door and tainted upon
the floor.
A hasty call summoned the porter,
and IN a few inmates the porter's wife
appeared, rubbing her eyes, but full of
womanly resources for the comfort of
the girl.
A cab was produced, and clothed in
dry garments, furnished by the good |
hearted woman, and, escorted by the |
porter, Dollie was driven home.
The next morning walking proved to |
be impossible, and Dollie was obliged |
to call upon her landlady for assistance
to dress, wondering at herself little for |
caring to get up.
But before noon, sitting in the parlor, |
her lame ankle upon the cushion, she |
was surprised by two gentlemen callers
no other than Bainbridge and son in
person-and lady who introduced her
self as Miss Wilson.
''We have all come to thank you, the
lady said, ''and have come to carry |
you home with me. These gentlemen |
owe you their lives and I owe you my
diamonds.
''But what did you doP" asked Dol
lie.
GIVE captured the robbers by mas
terly stratagem,' said the old gentle
man. edgar sauntered past the alley |
way with a revolver all ready in his
hand, while I, and three policemen,
went round and entered the alley softly
behind the villains. Taken by surprise |
the retreat cut off, they were easily
made prisoners. You understand, we
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