Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-17
Gales aud Sketehes.
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.

When Young married clerk suddenly
loses his situation IN a provincial bank
where EMPLOYERS are reducing their hands,
il does not follow that work can be had
for the asking in London; and so Mr.. Tom
Craven found himself seeking employ
ment MANY months after his savings had
dwindled down to few pounds. The last
resource of the couple was the sale OF
every available article of value they pos
sessed. and when nv story opens young
Mrs. Craven was on the point OF starting
to sell the last remaining valuable--name-
". her husbands boots.
THE children must live," said the
Young man, looking at two tiny figures in
the bed land all my other clothes are
done for, so the boots are no use to me-
The only trouble is that you should have
to take them, Clara"
but, Tom. you can't 60 without boots ~
1--we got slippers replied Tom.
make haste, dear-no one will see you
in the dark"
Resolved to keep up, Clara stopped for
The boots. Something must turn up soon
perhaps you'll hear from Brown u Co.,
Tomorrow" she said.
VERY likely" responded Tom, in a
responding tone. Brown e. Co. were his
late employers, and he had written to them
asking if they could possibly take him
backSwith faint hopes of success.
Quickly the boots were put into an old
leathern bag, and Mrs. Craven dressed
herself in shabby waterproof and bon
net, and covered her face with thick
veil. Then she crept down the creaking
old stairs and out in the narrow street
with heavy heart and eyes into which
tears would come. 1t was one of those
old Westminster streets which are so close
to the dwellings of the great and yet
dirty and disreputable themselves. The
respectable 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
flicker and cast strange shadows as Clara
Craven sped on toward the shop where
.slett off" clothing was purchased.
She paused few doors off to let some
persons 90 on their way, for she was sore
ly ashamed of her errand and as she
stood thus, her eyes fell on placard that
was fixed under the light of a lamp on the
walls OF police station.
Fifty pounds sterling reward
Fifty pounds! How nice to get itn'
thought Mrs. Craven. And then she took
another look to see if the coast was clear
for the business she had in hand. Two
more people were coming. Back went
her eyes to the placard, and she
read that this reward was offered TO any
person who would give such information
as would lead to the conviction OF the
perpetrator of a daring jewel robbery.
wish could catch the thief said
Clara to herself, half laughing. half sadly,
and when she looked again toward the
wardrobe shop, she saw she might venture
in. After hearing her husbands boots
deprecated in every possible manner. she
tmidly accepted the pitiful price offered,
and then stole back into the street, where
she purchased a few absolute necessaries
of life, and ordered some coal, which a
greengrocer's boy wheeled in barrel
behind her until they reached the door
of the lodging house.
Would you mind carrying them up to
my room in two basketfuls, if | give you
two pence?" asked Clara, gently.
The boy nodded by way of answer, and
the young wife opened the door with hel
latch key, and ran up for an old basket
While she was getting this out of hel
room, man had swiftly entered the house
and passed up the stairs. The coal boy
never noticed him, for he was busy watch
ing the signs of an approaching tight be-
tween two tomcats on an opposite stair
way.
The staircase was very dark. So wher
Clara came down with the basket the mar
had squeezed himself into corner unob
served and when she went on her way
the stranger passed on to the top of the
house, and entered the room behind tina
occupied by the Cravens.
An hour later a snug glow of fire warm
ed the young couple and their children
and the latter, having been satisfied with ;
meal. went sound asleep. Tom watched
his wife's busy fingers mending shabby
clothes. for awhile, and then he, too, wen
to bed. sharing her fervent hope tina
something would turn up tomorrow"
And so it came about that. when al
were asleep, Clara sat on by the fire tina
still burned cheeriy; and after clever
strokes had fallen slowly from the biz
clock and the restless roar of traffic wa
somewhat less in the ever busy street, he
hands lay idle in her lap and she blew GU
the candle to save its light for anothe
time, and turned such a sad young face
such troubled blue eyes on the Pickering
fire that it seemed hard, hard that so youn!
life should be so old in sorrow.
| A sound of voices in the next room
reused her. There was door communi
eating with the next room. which of cours,
was locked, but which made sounds easil'
heard. Clara knew that her companion
was an elderly lady. She had met her or
the stairs some times, and she wondere,
who her visitor could be at such an hour
Then the sound of frightened sobbing ant
expostulation made her listen attentively
for she feared her neighbor was in troubl,
and determined to rouse her husband i
| necessary.
Not vet, Joe! Oh, don't say that yo'
must 60 yetH'
Mother, I've stayed too long already
They'll be after me sharp. now the re
wards out. Think of 80 pounds sterling
mother! The men who tempted me t
get the Jewels would round on me nov
and get the reward"
This was it,then But one slight woodel
door stood between Clara and the thief sh,
had wished she could find. Only to stel
round the corner. There, she knew, wa.
the police station, and for the news sh,
brought them she would get so pounds
sterling. She clasped her hands ii ght ant