Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-28

feeling the dull, heavy beating of her
own heart and the throbs of pain in
her weary head, but speaking no
words of repining, eXcusing her pallld
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 flights of
stairs to plod home through drilling
rain following the late snow-storm.
AS Dollie passed down the staircase
she saw IN toe counting-hOuse her re
creant 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 in
dustry was to furnish an excuse for
escorting her home at the unusually
late hour.
But, if so, Dollie felt it was but an
added insult to his dishOnOrable con
duct, and she hurried on, hoping he
had not heard her step.
She had gone some few streets from
the shop. when, passing church she
slipped upon a treacherous piece of
ice, and twisted her ankle.
The sudden pain made her faint for
a moment, and she sat down upon the
stonework supporting the ratings to
recover herself. Beside her, not
stone's-throw away, a dark, marrow
allevway ran along the high brick
wall of the churchyard, and the girls
heart sank with chill of terror as
she heard a mans voice in the alley
say:
Didn't you hear a step, Bill?"
"a woman. She's turned off some
where. He amt come yet, ;" was the
answer.
He's late tonight" said the first
voice, in a gruff undertone.
You are sure he's taking the dia-
monds home?'
''Sure as death, was ats when
he gave the order. Send them to my
shop at 9 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 he will. He lives in the
next street. He'll come"
Suppose he shows fight?"
''You hold him, and I'll 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 out upon him as he pass
ed and strike him down before he knew
there was danger
He must not come alone, Hnprepar-
ed. False lover, false friend as she felt
he was, she could not 60 on her way
and leave him to death
When she stood up the pain of her
ankle was almost une ndurable; but
she chung to the railing and so limped
along one street. The others seemed
interminable.
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 cOunting-hOuse still burned
The side door for the working girls
was still unfastencd, and Dollie enter
ed there, reaching the counting-house,
soaking wet, white and trembling, to
confront both Edgar Bainbridge and
his father.
Unheeding their ordinations of
dismay and surprise, she told her
story with white lips, but a steady
voice.
Waiting for me?" cried Edgar
Bainbridge. The scoundrelsp'
=, !
day." asked his father.
"A parure for Miss Wilson, sir. [
wish to present them, with your per-
mission, on Thursday. Oh, look at
that poor grill"
For, overcome by pain, fatigue and
mental torture, poor Dollie had stag
gered towards the door and tainted
upon the floor.
A hasty call summoned the porter,
and IN a few minutes the porter's wife
rubbing her eyes, but full
of womanly resources for the comfort
of the girl.
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 a little for caring to get up.
But before noon, sitting in her par
lor, her lame ankle upon a cushion,
she was surprised by two gentleman
callers-nO other than Bainbridge
and son in person-aud lady who
herself as Miss Wilson.
1--WE have all come to thank YOU"
the lady said, land l have come to !
carry you home with me. These gen !
tlemen owe you their lives; [ owe you
my diamonds"
But what did you do?" asked
Dollie
1--WE captured the robbers by a !
stratagem, said the old gen
tleman. Edgar sauntered past the
with a revolver all ready
in his hand while I with three no |