The Iola register., 1889-08-16

NAT GLANCED BACK INTO THE DARK PIT.
dangerous place. If you value your life
don't go into that place again. Pull up the
sapling and then help me to the house"
Young as he was Nat realized that some-
thing was not just right. He pulled up
the sapling to please the man, whose black
eyes and sinister face were not pleasant to
look upon. Then Nat assisted the fellow to
shelter IN the old house. "Now," said Nat,
''rll go for doctor"
"No, let me alone, now, I'll get on all
right" said the man.
Nat, however, did not mean to follow the
mans advice in this.
He hurried outside, and once more
reached the mouth of the old we'll Peer
ing into it, the bright, sparkling object
still smiled up at him from the gloomy
depths
1t was but the work of minute to thrust
back the novel ladder, and down into tho
well Nat went once more.
He gathered up the object that attracted
his notice. and once more climbed to the
surface. Here he examined his find-a tray
of rich jewelry.
s'Must be diamondsr exclaimed Nat,
thrilled at the sight of the sparkling gems
in the morocco case. There's half dozen
of 'em, and they must be valuable. My
goodness! What if they were the dia-
monds Hudson lost two nights ago!'
The lad was trembling with excitement.
Hudson was the city ieweler, and his shop
had been burglarlzed two nights before,
of which Nat had heard through his friend,
Tom Adams, who received daily paper
every morning.
"Tlltake this to town and call on doctor at
the same time" thought the lad, closing
the Jewelry-case and thrusting it under his
coat.
Stop, stop there, you young thief!'
Nat turned about as hoarse, angry voice
fell on his ear. The man he had rescued
from the old well had crawled TO the door,
and was regarding him with ferocious ex-
preston of countenance.
No time was to be lost. Nat hastened
away with the man in the door of the old
house shaking his clenched hands, and call.
ing on him with many curses to return.
The fellows actions satisfied the lad that
he was bad man, and doubtless thief, at
least
All thoughts of visiting the Squire van
ished from the mind of the boy. He hur-
ried as fast as his legs would carry him to
the city, distance of nearly two miles.
While rushing down the street toward
Hudson's jewelry house, ne met young
man who had just come from store.
'Ah. Tom, l am glad to see you," cried
Nat, at the same time drawing him into q
stairway. ''Sce what have found"
The lad exhibited his treasure. Tom
Adams eyes glistened as he opened the
case Of diamonds.
'Are they valuable, Toma" was the
earnest question Of the finder.
Valuable! should say so. It's the tray
Of diamonds Hudson lost. He values them
at twenty thousand dollars. Nathan Bright,
you're in luck. Where did you find them"
Nat at once explained. Instead Of going
for doctor, Tom Adams at once called in
the officers of the law, who hastened to the
old house IN the woods, accompanied by
Nat.
The injured man was found, after little
search, hidden in a thicket. He glared
furiously at Nat when he found himself in
limbo. He was recognized by the officers as
an old offender.
"You're in luck, Nat" again declared
Tom Adams, as they rode to the city. ''Mr.
Hudson has offered a thousand dollars re-
ward for the return of his diamonds and
arrest of the thief"
1t seemed almost too good to be true, poor
Nat thought. However, on the day Sandy
Cover was sentenced to the peniten tiary
for burglary Mr.. Hudson paid over the re-
ward to Nat. This was but the beginning
of better times. The old home was re-pur-
chased, and the orphan boy has now good
position, while Aunt Ruth presides happily
at the old homestead.
]. NJ MERRILL.