The Globe-republican., 1890-04-02


Mrs. Lamson's pocket-bOok had been
under her pillow when she went to bed.
She had looked at it the last thing, for
she had become very nervous in these
days.
Mr.. Lamson had also seen it, and they
had talked about taking the early train
and going to town to buy certain hats
and dresses which were needful, and
| when they arose, there was no pocket
book to be found.
To this tale all listened. but the many
counselors had little advice to give.
The relatives shook their heads and
held up their hands great deal. The
neighbOrs began to wonder when their
turns would come. and to feel vaguely
suspicious of old black Sally, who lived
in little hut on windy hill top and
told fortunes, though she had not been
able to get further from her door than
the spring and the hen-house for ten
years; and a spiritualistic person who
had been to seances and had faith in
table tippings, suggested kleptomaniac
ghost as the probable purloiner of the
Lamsons valuableS.
when l was to the Scrogg Brothers
exhibition" declared this valuable adj
wiser, 1.-The spirits gave me pippin they
picked off an apple tree fifty miles away,
so they said: and if they could do that,
why couldn't they tote other things the
same way?'
The minister gave him reproving
oil nd a
clared that he made her turn all goose
flesh. But little Billy felt sure that he
should never be able to 60 to sleep
again, even with the Counterpart over
his head: and think general belief in
supernatural agency prevailed, as the
Lamsons babe goodnight to their
friends, locked, barred, bolted and
went to bed.
81 don't believe" said Mr.. Lamson,
as he deposited his big silver watch,
his leather wallet and his cameo scarf
pin in his left boot and dropped his
stockings in on top of them-''I don't
believe the most experienced burglar in
Sing Sing could get into this house to-
ton; but I'll take it,
Thus fortified, he soon fell asleep and
snored sweetly for many hours. Indeed,
daylight fell through the crescent
shaped apertures in the shutters when
he opened his eyes and was aware that
he was alone in his room.
The bedroom door was wide open. 1t
was singular of Mrs. Lamson to leave it
SO he afterwards remembered thinking.
He dressed himself and went out into
the kitchen. All was silent there; no
fire was yet kindled, and the door was
wide open.
Il suppose Hannah has gone out to
look for eggs" he said to himself; but a
queer sort Of a chill ran through him
and he felt actually frightened.
Angry at himself for being so, he hur-
ried out of doors, calling; Hannah
There was no answer. All was silent.
Hannah" he shouted as he looked
about him. and tried the doors of the
barn and stable.
The echo from the distant hills
answered "An-ehr," but there was no
response.
Soon Maggie appeared at the kitchen
door. and grandma and Lucy at their
windows.
The children ran down barefooted, but
no one had seen Mrs. Lamson.
In fact, to their CONSERVATION and
grief, they soon discovered that this
time the robber had purloined yet
more valuable possession of the house
than any he had before laid hands on,
namely, its mistress. Like the family
Bible, Lucy's watch, the silver spoons,
the teapot, and the portrait of Wash
ington, to say nothing of the sofa
cushion, Mr.. Lamson's hat and coat, end
the currant jelly. she was gone.
So great was his grief that it was not
until later in the day, when looking for
some money that was necessary, that
Mr.. Lamson discovered that the silver
watch, the wallet, and the cameo pin
that he had put into his left boot for
safe keeping, were gone also. He had
been running about all day in pair of
old shoes, hastily assumed for that
morning: but when he put his boots on
loT VIC journey, nc IndUe Tue discovery
of this minor loss.
81 see it all now" he said. They've
got in and took the things, and Hannah
has caught them at it, and. they've
killed her. All we find of your poor
ma. children, will be her dead body"
He threw himself into a chair as he
spoke. and put his arms upon the table,
and hiding his face in them sobbed
heavily. 1t was terrible moment.
The news had spread. Relatives ar
rived in different stages of CONSERVATION.
Everyone was shocked: but it was
great opportunity for conversation. and
the village was dull place. All the
neighbors were shocked, too. They stood
at their doors and gates and talked about
it with gusto. One very old bachelor
uncle, who had always suffered, arrived
among the crowd, who took tea, and ate
any thing that was offered in the Lamson
dining-room. He was usually taciturn.
but on this occasion, he, also, desired to
talk. He kept button-holing people. and
beginning: ''Ha-Ha-Hanner alters