The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-10


"Fools alone let themselves be- caught. q"
Impressed with this thought Claude
would ponder upon the surest means oi
entering Pcrc llndry's without being
seen, and the safest precautions 10 be-
taken To divert suspicion from himself.
Ills work was planned slowly aud with
care. lie did not neglect the slightest de-
tail. Long beforehand no had decided
upon the hour, and that the weather must
be dry and the night dark. lie knew al
ready the very place in the hedge where
lac meant to leave his snbois and tho mo.
ea.s .sse.s ~ 80 Z ~ s.ic5, lot the o'i
man might escape him and lac did not
wish Ia risk being recognized. To strike
the old man, to kill him possibly. was
fearful thing, hut how 10 rumnage the
straw mattress otherwise? That was ter
riblo necessity that caused Claude TO hest
tate long time.
However, he heEtaicd no longer. A
hiding place Tor the money was rcldy-a
deep hole In one OF the most unyisitcd
corners Of tho forest
There are some people who no sooner
grasp coveted money IN their fingers than
they scatter Il clumsly all around. They
bctruy themselves alone 10y their way ui
living II shall not be- ~ with ms.
shall have the strength Of mind not ~
touch the old mans gold. II shall remain
hidden II necessary, years aud years aud
appear only at the moment when can Use
it without danger. q, | am not the ono
\" make such mistakes, | must have an al
ibi, ] wiN Rui one"
Exalted above his ordinary self by In.
tcrcst aud revenge, his rustic Imagination
was lu'l OF plans aud resources. No prc-
caution escaped him. first OF all, who
would be inspected? Those who ircquenied
the house, the ono who had visited il
lately, and With AN apparently selfish pnr.
pose, Ia short, Francois, his rival. Claude
nj that thought, smiled n wicked smile.
One evening whom his preparations we're
well assured, when ho iclt certain that
nothing, absolutely nothing could bctray
him, Claude cnolly sct out for pcrc
Landry'S The night was pitch dark. an
additional aid 90 robbingan Isolated house.
near which nobody over passed. at that
hour The ground WIS dry, us Claude had
hoped, rs u heaven itself seemed TO all
his designs, Tor the strong wind blowing
the dust about, cilaccd all trace Of his
steps. 40 the place be- hal Fixed upon. hp
let his sabols, aud, baCiu0tcd, reached
thr tree which hc had t0 climb ID got to
gnarird trunk. Broken Ia L. topmn,t
branches by some violent gale, Il had
grown lop-s.drd In the direction of tho
house, showing still In ils split and mutt.
lated condition what its former solidity
had hccn
Il was quite easy for Claude 10 scale the
slightly bout trunk of the old oak. Then
hc got into tho branches. Suddenly his
foot, IN stepping ON u dead b0ugh, caused
n cracking noisc. llc had broken slmc
csss in nest Carefully Wipugh is foot. he
augrlIy gave another kick, but Willuly
lhls tnc, aud it went through the nest.
NJ TIE same moment dismal cry arose,
aul Claude felt on his iacc the Tapping ui
the wings OF SOME uight-brd
1T Wa an OWL thought Claude. and
continuing h.a Ascent, fought 10 away. but
The bird, with the same sinister scrcoch,
ascUuicd with him
Cursed birl. she will awake the old
man.
From branch to branch the bird still
followed him.
80, u l only had aslickV"
AZ last he reached the opening Of the
garrett and drew breath. Once inside his
tiwi caro- was 10 smear his face with SCOT
which hc had brought with him. thpn hr
looked around, aud feeling his way 10 the
door lac opened u gently, and holding his
breath descended the stairs. Hut iust
then q violent whirring OF wings rcsoundcl
over his head.
THE OWL" exclaimed Claude impa.
teutly. "Why does she follow mcl Tbos,
were her eggs broke climbing up her, %
Claude quickcncd his stops; Inc bird
bounced upon him.
Cursed cUaiurcl" cried Claulc "a.
pu.sing the owl with all his strength; 'she
Is furious with me-"
The owl, unseen In the darkness oi Tho
stairway, rpoalcd her lugubrious boot
''Shc will awake the Old man" th,p,ht
Claude, startled. In fact, In ths CHAMBER