Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-10-02
fully locking up the house Of death
and placing the kew in his pocket.

seeks her opposite. The rule certainly
proved true in the Banckers' case. Mrs.
Molly Bancker was a plump little rob-
in, with a merry, round face, lighted
by pair of kindly, round eyes. She
kept her little house, way over on the
East Side, in Thirteenth street, as neat
and attractive as she kept her person;
she worshiped her husband, consider
ing him a man of simply superhuman
and was altogether
CHEEKY, charitable little soul. Her tall,
slender, non-committal husband knew
very well how she would receive his
charge. so that as he entered the CHEEKY
little parlor with shrinking Oracle
clinging to his arm, all he said was.
Molly, young lady to pass the
night.
Mrs. Molly Bancker was upon her
feet in an instant.
How do you do, Miss?' she in
quired, then, when Oracle did not re-
ply, she added, "Lor', how tired she
does look y
This unexpected kindness, the really
womanly tone in which the words we're
uttered, and the sympathetic glance
proved too much for poor Gracie's over
wrought feelings. She burst into a
torrent of tears. and. throwing her arms
about the little woman's neck, she Law
there weeping out her soul upon the
friendly breast.
Dear poor, little thing y murmured
Molly; whatever can have happened
TO her? Well, whatever it is, it's
shame Come with me; come into thd
kitchen and get cup of good hot tea,
thatu revive you and warm you up.
Why, you're trembling like o leaf
Come, poor dear.
And soothing and coaxing her, shs
led Oracle away, while Mr.. Bancke,
watched them with an arch expression
upon his expressionless face.
Molly will get her secret out of he,
before this time tomorrow night" he
murmured, confidently, and that with.
out asking. | always told her that, il
she were thrown on her beam-ends for
living, she could turn confidence
woman, and steer it better than even
Hungry Joe ever did"
The simile was not complimentary to
good Mrs. Molly Bancker, but it was
the expression of her husbands highest
admiration
Meanwhile poor little Oracle drank
her tea, dried her tears, and was com.
forted At last she was put into COM
Portable bed, and fell asleep from shee,
fssHRsstion.
ing, and It Ilsste on the following morn
| - - RopoLor oIoro ~ =
prepared breakfast After he nicely
tory conversation, Oracle made b o1fsHl !.
ask the name of her benefactors.
"Bancker, my dear, was the smiling
reply, "Dick and Molly Bancker."
And what is your husbands bust
ness
Hes detective
"a detective! Oh, heavens!"
She started in genuine alright. an6
turned as white as the snowy table
| cloth.
Why, what ails the poor child ?. ex
! claimed Mrs. Bancker, all unmindfu1
| in her interest in the girl, that she had
been brought to her under suspicious
circumstances.
Nothing, nothing" replied Oracle,
quickly, striving to regain her compo,
sure. I'm nervous, I suppose: and
and | never knew detective before
All, but my Dick is awfully kind. .
He seems SO, indeed. owe him nv
life"
You don't say sop
Yes, should have died in that ter.
rible place last night if it had not been
for him"
| What terrible place, child"
1t is doubtful whether Oracle would
have been induced to answer SO lead
ing question. The fact is, that she
was not obliged to, since at the mo-
ment Molly Bancker started to he,
feet with an exclamation, as the clos.
ing OF the street door smote her ear.
She peeped into the little hall.
Mercy on me!' she exclaimed. in
surprise; what can have happened !?
It's Dick and a-a"
Her words were cut short by the
sudden entrance of her husband with
silencing look upon his face.
Thoroughly well-trained, Molly
whlsked out of the room as M
Bancker approached and laid his hand
upon the back of Gracie's chair. look
ing down kindly upon her appraised
face.
Oracle" he began, when she inter
rupted him.
How did you learn my name p" she
asked, In troubled way
"Oh, naturally enough; no matter
how Just at present. Will you 90 intd
the parlor and see gentleman p
She started up, placing one hand
upon the edge of the table for support
but keeping her eyes fixed upon the de,
tective's face.
"A gentleman?1 she faltered; awho
Is it ?" NV
A stranger to me, but a friend 70
you, SO he says"
She hesitated moment; then lavinp
DER hand trustingly upon his arm she
said:
Mr.. Bancker, you have been NV
friend. Will you still stand by ma
'hould trouble come of this intery,ew ~
You may count on me every timelp
She bowed her thanks; he opened tha
aoor and she passed through the little
hall and paused upon the threshold Of
The parlor door.