West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-02-01
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.

FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.
when young married clerk sudden
~ loses his situation in n provincial
bank where employers are REDUCING
Their hands, it does not follow thai
work can be had for the asking in Lon
don; and so Mr. Tom Craven found
himself stu seeking employment many
months after his savings had dwindlcd
down to n few pounds. The last re-
source oil the young couple was the sale
OF every available article of value they
possessed and when my story opens
young Mrs. Craven was on the point of
starting to sell the last remainino val
uable-namely, her husbands boots
"Thc children must live" said the
young man, looking mt 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 1ou
should have TO take them. Clara"
boots!' "''"o"'
I've got slippers" replied Tom.
Make haste, dear-no one will see Won
in the dark
Resolved to keep up, Clara STONED
Tor the boots. Something must turn
mp soon-perhaps you'll hear from
Brown X Co. tomorrow" she said.
very likely" responded Tom. in a
responding tone. Brown and Co. were
ms late employers, and he had written
10 them asking if they could possibly
take him back-with faint hopes of
success.
Quickly the boots were put into an
Glu leather bas, and Mrs. Craven
dressed herSelt IN shabby waterproof
ana bonnet, and covered her face with
thick veil. Then she crept down tba
creaking old stairs and out into the mar
row street with heavy heart. and ewes
into which the tears would come. II
was one of those old Westminster
streets which are so close to the dwell
lngs OF the great, and yet dirty and
uiSrepu'aDle themselves. TIE respect
apie persons dwelling there had all been
reduced TO the depths of poverty. The
other inhabitants were chiefly remark,
able for their varied vices.
Gusts of wind made the street lamps
1lcker and cast strange shadows as
CARA Craven sped on towards the sbon
where ''left-off7' clothing was NM,
chased. She paused few doors off 10
let some persons 90 on their way for
she was sorely ashamed of her Grand.
and as she stood thus her ewes fell ON a
placard that was fixed under the Hoht
oil lamp on the wall of police station.
"EjO Reward"
FIFTY pounds? How nice TO ret it,''
thought Mrs Craven, and then She took
another look to see if the coast was
Ciear Tor the business she had in hand
Two more people were coming. Back
Meht her eyes to the placard. and she
person who would give such infor1na-
ton as would lead To- the conviction ~
the perPetrator Of daring level rob
berry. '''
wish ! could catch the thiefr' said
CARA TO herself, half laughing. half
sadly; and when she looked AGAIN
towards the wardrobe shop She saw she
might venture in. After hcaring her
husband boots deprecated i'm ever
poSsi pie manner, she timidlv accented
me ptful price offered and then stole
pach INTO the street. where she mr.
chased few Of the absolute nocessa1.es
OF life. and ordered some Goals. which
n grecngrOcer's boy wheeled I'm q bor-
row behind her until they reached the
door Of the lodgiug-house.
Would you mind CARVING them -,
=" my room in two baskct.ful. If rive
You twopcnoe'' asked Clara. GENTLE.
he 10y nodded by way Of answer
ana the young wife opened tho door
with her Iatch-kcy. and ran up for aD
"'I basket. While she was reifino End.
out %. herroOm man had witIvog,rrrd
inc house and passed up the stair.
nc coal-Doy never noticed him. for bis
taes was turned TO the door. and he
was eagerly watching the ign- of an
approaching tight between two fom-rafs
on ah opposite doorstep The Stair
case wa very dark, so when Clara
came down with the basket fIc man
h.o -Iueelcd himself into corner un-
observed, and when She went ON bnr
"aE' nc stranger passed on to she tor
Ni lno house. and entered the room To-
mind That occupied br tho Crq.rp.
an hour later % Duy glow Of fire
warmed .Ue Young rouDIc and nn..
children and The latter. having baer
.aii-u,d With meal went sound a.1rep
Tom watched DIS wIe busy fnyrrs
r"n1iug ha.uv cloth. for awhile. and
Then hc. TOO. wont t0 bed. sharing b..
I'rrenf hope Chat ..prlrfufny ,ggulI
turn up tomorrow
And 10 ~ came about rrf eIrr ain
were asleep. lara at On r1a
I.'c 'H4i l.i burned rHa.iI.. and after
eleven rak"- bail iaIm s.swI. from
iEo Dig clock. anl 'tn n.t.,-. rosro,
Traffic "as -omcwhaf ... .r Ie cgo..
busy streets DER baud Ia. dIa n Ier
JAP and I'D. blew ONT t.o card.. tg .a.,
l' light ior another time and turned
t1on % sad young fa.r uca troubled
blue c.o. upon the f..kerug sra that
it seemed hard bard -o Young Hfa
should 1e So old iu orrow
q sound Of voice. Boo tla next r..ro
r.H her There Wa 90 door Df CON.
mHr'rnt.ou between tho tuY room
Which "a II course locked. 0uf Which