Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-10-23

There was no answer the door into
the street was wide open. and by the
moonlight that poured through it she
quickly saw, az she peeped under the
counter, that Dicks bed was empty.
The boy was gone.
Gone! Gone! Oh, that was worse to
Granny Briggs than even the loss OF
her money, for she had trusted him,
aud he had deceived her. She had
loved him. and he had abused her love.
The neighbors were right; she was a
fool to trust strange street boy, and
had been served rightly when he
robbed her.
When the dawn had broken the wise
neighbors came into granny's shop to
find her crying and rocking to and fro.
and said they had told her so; she only
shook her head. Life had lost its in
terest for her. Her occupation WAS
gone, but not with her savings. Money
was but money, after all; he had come
to be the only thing she loved, and
Dick had robbed her.
1t was 10 o'clock. Granny sat
mourning by the kitchen hearth.
Good-natured Mrs. Jones. from up
stairs, was seeing to things" and try
ing to cheer her when suddenly there
came rap on the door, and police
man looked in.
Mrs. Briggspn he said.
Here she is, " said Mrs. Jones.
Yes. I'm the wretched crittur."
said Mrs. Briggs.
Some one wants to see you at head
quarters" said the officer. There's
4 boy there and some money"
"DickT cried Mrs. Briggs. "Oh, l
can't bear to look at him!'
But Mrs. Jones had already tied on
her bonnet, and wrapped her in a
shawl, and taken her on her arm.
THE wretch she said. Pm so
glad he's caught; you'll get your
money back"
And she led Mrs. Briggs along
poor Mrs. Briggs, who cried all the
way and cared nothing for the money.
And soon they were at their destina-
ton. Then, not before, the policeman
turned to the two women.
"It's pretty bad" he said. They'll
take him to the hospital 10 an hour. l
suppose you are prepared for that.
He's nearl Y beaten to DEATH
Did you beat him. yoo cruel
wretch?" cried Mrs. Briggs. Il
wouldn't have had it done for half the
money. Let him 90 with it, if it's any
comfort to him.
II beat himl" said the man. well,
women have the stupidest heads. Why,
if hadn't got up when did he'd have
been dead. He held the bag of monsy
tight, and the thief was pummeling
him with loaded stick; and the pluck
he had ior little shaver, / tell you, |
never saw the like.
You sha'nt take granny's money
from her" says he, and he fought like
tiger. If it's your money, old lady.
hos given his life for it for all know"
"Oh, Dick, Dick! I know YOU were
good. | must have been crazy to
doubt YOU" and then she wrung her
hands and cried: "Oh. Dick, for just
paltry bit of money!
And so she knet beside the still.
pale face upon the pillow, and kissed
it and called it tender names
And Dick, never guessing her suspi-
cions of him. whispered:
II was so afraid he'd get off with 1t.
granny, if he killed me. and you in
such high hopes last night"
He did not know what she meant by
begging him to forgive her. 1t would
have killed him if he had, for he was
very near to death.
Dick did not die. He got well at
last. and went back to the little shop
And, though Granny Briggs had her
savings. she never went to the old
ladies' home; for long before she died
Dick was one of the most prosperous
merchants in the city, and his hand
some house was hers, and she was
happy Wauerly,