The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-30

g / don't see as the mill folks have
done any mischief yet, Liz beth.
"Of course you don t see. and nobody
| else sees, but / know there's something
going on, when the lower part of the
mill-the old empty store-room back
there, it can't be seen from the street
is lighted up two or three nights every
week, said Mrs. Wilkin, triumphantly.
give watched the twinkling through
the shutters. tight as they're shut, and
seen folks slippin' in through the door
| too. It's time it was looked after, and
FL do my duty if nobody else does.
There may be a gang of thieves or
counterfeiters starting for all we know.
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee
| cup.
Timothy" exclaimed his aunt.
severely, sif you can't drink coffee
without dom it so fast that you choke
yourself, you'll have to 60 without it.
I'll do my best to bring You up right,
whatever comes Of it''
Bringing up Tin III TIE ray he
should sc was one OF Mrs. Wilkin' s
strong points. He was the son of her
niece, and Belinda had married in OPP
position to her aunt's advice. Mrs.
Wilkin protested and then washed her
| hands of the whole matter.
But when the poor man was so in
| considerate as to die and leave Belinda
with half dozen children just when
she needed his help, Mrs. Wilkin' S
opinion of his general ''slackness' was
verified. The family were poor, of
course. She didn't believe in sending
many things -self-dependence was a
duty-but she offered to take Tim.
Having the boy to raise makes me
more careful about the morals of the
whole place. she said, returning to
her original. subject, "and as for there
being no thieves round here, I've
thought for some time that meat went
| pretty fast from our smoke-house.
| Don t-noW Liz beth, II m sure no
ones stole any," said Mr.. Wilkin, with
a startled, uneasy look. ''You couldn't
have counted the hams and every
thing"
"No, I don't count, but l can miss
'em for all that" affirmed Mrs Wilkin,
decidedly. Il know there's moro 90
than we USE"
Anyway, it's no difference. I
wouldn't Liz beth-there plenty, you
see, moro than we want" advised Mr..
Wilkin, urgently, but rather incoher-
emily. Then he caught up his hat and
started for the barn.
Mrs Wilkin looked after him with
plying disapprovaL
"When you've more than you want
yourself, leave it handy for somebody
to steal. Well, that's new commands
1nent, do declare" she said.
''Not so dreadful new either, Aunt
Liz BETH" interposed Tim, stoutly;
"cause the Bible folks are told to leave
some of|their harvest so the poor could
come and get it. read it myself only
it wasn't called stealing then, and was
to be left handler than all slowed away
in smoke-houses. ~
Timothy" began Mrs. Wilkin. But
Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for breakfast
and choose to interpret the exclamation
as an admonition in that direction.
'Yes'm, I'm going to feed 'em right
away" he observed Selling basket Of
corn and darting through the door by
which his uncle had departed.
In truth it was not altogether easy to
mold Tim to the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Incasng him in Mrs. Wilkins code of
manners was putting too large boy
into too small jacket; he was always
bursting out at the elbows, or tearing
off the buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at
this new evidence of the number of
things in the world that needed her at
tention; but England never expected
every man to do his duty more strongly
than Mrs. Wilkin expected is do hers.
That evening the mysterious lights
appeared again in the store-room of the
mill. She could plainly see them, for
just beyond her own back gate an open
field sloped directly and steeply down
to the building The road afforded
public and more c;rcuitous mode of
reaching it, but from the hill top the
conspicuous store-room was directly in
range. Mrs. WilkiL determined to
take q more thorough observation than
the kitchen window allowed, and
throwing "a shawl over her head she
picked her way carefully down the icy
| steps and crossed the yard to the gate.
The snowy field lay white and glisten-
ing in the moonlight and standing in
the sheltering shadow of a post she
watched the door below.
Before she discovered any one enter
ing there, she heard sounds in another
directlon-steps in the yard behind her.
What If she should prove beyond all
doubt that her meat was stolen and de-
tect the thief? With that quick thought
she turned her head cautiously. Yes,
some one tried the smoke-house door
and entered. Breathlessly Mrs Wilkin
waited until the figure reappeared,
passing along the shade OF the house,
and as it emerged into the clear moon
light she leaned eagerly forward to
catch a full sight of it. 1t was eagerly
recognized. Mr.. Wilkin, beyond all
question, stealing meat from his own
| stores.
The revelation was astounding. In
her establishment she incautiously
looSed her hold on the gate-post, took
a step forward, and her feet slipped on
| the treacherouS ground She sat down
violently, and In an instant she was
speeding rapidly down the Hill toward
her original point of investigation.
For once the path of duty was smooth
before her entirely too smooth and
icy. She could not check or guide her
progress; her feet struck with force
against the mysterious door, pushed it
open and she slid into hall.
Thieves, gamblers or whoever they
were, she must not be discovered by
them, flashed through Mrs. Wilkins
mind-more an instinct of self-preser-
walton than thought-and springings
to her feet, she slipped behind somet
boxes piled near her. The noise at
| tracted attention, and in moment the
store-room was opened and boy
| looked out.
Guess it's only the door blew open;
don't catch good" he reported.
" Lock it then, James, and then bring
in the key" said voice from within:
and to Mrs. Wilkins CONSERVATION the
srder was oeeyed and she was pris-
oner,
The bow left the other door el;rbt1v