The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-01-07
THE STOLEN LETTERS.

s.Reall of cause it's real-eighteen
carats and a thorough good one-goes
like one o'clock-and the albert too,
takes the shine out of the French mas
~ter's," and Tom Linton, s~choolboy,
aged fifteen, in the exuberance of his
satisfaction, shook the albert vigorously
in the face of his admiring friend,
BERTHE Chisholm.
"But who gave it to you? your gov
ernor?:" queried the latter. as the
owner of the watch proceeded
to detach the pendant from his
vest to allow his companion a closer
inspection.
mo; Bob's sister,"
s'Bob whog"
Bob Allerdyce. You don't know
him; he left before you came"
at is a sumner, though" said BERTHE,
as he took the shining toy in his hand
and examined it critically.
II was a small gold watch, exquisitely
chased and jewelIed, and had attached a
slender albert chain of the same metal,
exhibiting beautiful workmanship.
You're a lucky chap, Tom,'' said
BERTHE, IS he returned it. you're al
ways coming in for something better
than the other fellows. You've got bet
ter bats and cricket rig than Smith in
the Sixth, and you've better fishing
tackle than any other fellow in the
school. That last trout rod-my eye! it
Is a ~beauty!' and BERTHE relapsed into
a trance of admiration as he mentally
recalled the numoerless attractions and
PROJECTIONS of that last trout rod.
'T1l lend it to you, Bert" said Tom,
with an easy conscious superiority in
the matter of worldly possessions.
'Honor brightp"
"Honor bright, any time you want it.
If you smash it, as you did the last one,
l can get another where it came from"
1t may be here explained that BERTHE
was an enthusiastic disciple of Isaac
Walton, and was in the habit of ':going
fishing in the reedy stream behind the
village whenever he had a chance.
These excursions were to him produc-
tive of more enjoyment than success, as
he invariably-after decorating the trees
and bushes on the banks with various
separate casts of flies, and manfully try
ing to hook up boulders from the bot
tom of the water-returned with the
stump of a rod, some yards of line, and
the information that he couldn't get a
bite"
b On the present occasion the prospect
of an early indulgence in his favorite
amusement rendered him effusively
grateful, and it was not till he had in
Tom that he was a brick, at
least three times, that he returned to
the subject of the watch by asking
"But, l say, you haven't told me yet
who she is that gave you that thing"
Il did. She's bob's sister,"
Eyes, but that makes me Just as wise
as before, Who's Bob? and who's his
and who's"
''Shut up. What a fellow you are to
ask questions! But, it's rather a queer
the way l got that watch; so let's
sit down and I'll tell you"
Accordingly, Tom and his expectant-
ly curious crony seated themselves on
the twisted roots of an old, moss-grown
oak, and the former began his MARIA
ton.
You couldn't guess what 1 got that
was a reward, you know"
1T was something you did for her,"
1azarded Bert.
Eyes, but whatp'
"Well, maybe you saved her from q
ire, or from robbers, or she was drown
ne, and you plunged in at the risk of
''Stuffl" interrupted Tom, derisively.
Such things don't happen only in
Eyes, they do stoutly insisted
'ertie, because I know a fellow whose
'lg brother saved a young lady from
tramps-one dav. He
leard her screams, and ran into the
Vood, and they had knocked her down
nd taken her watch and purse, and
we're trying to get the rings other hand;
nd this fellows brother went for them
the spot, and licked them so that
hey couldn't move, and the police got
hem, and they got penal servitude, and
this fellows brother and the young
are going to be married, and that's
yot in a novel," concluded BERTHE,
riumphantly.
well" said Tom, obviously, sthat
be, but it doesn't often happen, and
ny way it wasn't for anything like that
hat l got my present"
''What was it for, them" asked Ber-
ie.
~''Thieving!!" was the startling reply.
esWhat:?"
':Pocket-picking," continued Tom, in
rmning enjoyment of his friends
stonishment. Climbed up the ivy to
fellows window when he was absent,
ummaged his pockets and stole a pac-
ct of letters. My eye! wasn't he wild
hat afternoon, when he found that they
7ere gomez" and Ubiquitous Tom chuck
ed with delight over the recollection of
is victims wrath.
How was it, Tom? Tell u.s." per-
BERTHE.
Tom, thus adjured, proceeded with
he following narration of his theft
Well, it was just a year ago last
christmas. 1t was Bob's last term, and
e was leaving for good when the school