Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-09-05
CONCLUDED nom flrs, pare. ]

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. and he had deceived
her. She had loved him and he
had abused her love. The neigh
bors were right; che was a fool to
trust strange street boy, and had
been served rightly when he roobed
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 interest 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
trying to cheer her, when suddenly
there came a rap on the door, and a
policeman looked IN.
"Mrs Briggs?" he said.
"Here she is," said Mrs. Jones.
"Yes, I'm the wretched crittur,"
said Mrs. Briggs.
"Some one wants to see you al
headquarters" said the officer.
There's a boy there, and some
money"
"Dickr' cried Mrs. Briggs. "Oh,
] can't bear to look at him."
But Mrs. Jones had already tied
on her bounet, and wrapped her in
q shawl, and taken her on her arm.
"The wretchr she said. "I'm 50
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
destination. Then. not before, the
policeman turned to the two women.
"It's pretty bad" he said.
''They'll take him to the hospital iu
an hour. I suppose you are prepsred
for that. He's nearly beaten to
deathw
"Did you beat him, you cruel
wretch ?" cried Mrs. Briggs. II
wouldn't have had it done for half
the money. Let him go with it, if
it's any comfort to him."
II beat him !" said the man.
"Well, women have the stupidest
heads. Why, If l hadn't got up
when / did he'd have been dead. |
He held the bag of money tight,
and the thief was pummeling him
with a loaded stick; and the pluck .
he had for little shaver, ! tell you,
l never saw the like"
"fYou shan't take granny's
Money from her., says he, and .
he fought like a tiger. II it's
your money, old lady, he's given his
life for it for all know"
"Oh, Dick, Dick! / know you
were good. 1 must have been crazy
to doubt you" and then she ruDg
her hands and cried: "Oh, Dick,
'or such paltry sum Of money"
And so she knelt beside the still,
pale face upon the pillow, and kissed
I and called 1t tender names.
And Dick, never guessing her sus-
,icions Of him, whispered:
~ was SO afraid he'd get off with
i, granny, II he killed me, and you
n such high hopes last night"
He did not know what she meant
~ begging him to forgive her. 1t
would have killed him if he had, for
le was very near to death.
Dick did not die. He got we'll at
asst, and went back to the little shop.
And, though Granny Briggs had
Ter savings, she never went to the
Id ladies' home; for long before she
lied Dick was one of the most pros
'erous merchants in the city, and
lis handsome house was hers, and
he was happy.-Waverly.