The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-13
OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN

When John and 1 were married we
began housekeeping in one of the fats
down near the ferry" People said we
were foolish to try to run establish
ment of our own on a thousand dollars
salary but John neither smoked nor
drank. and my mother had taught me
all the little economies of housekeeping,
20 we managed to get along nicely, and
every month something was added to
our nest egg in the savings bank.
Job Shultz, who for years had been
Ereman down at the china pottery works
occupied half of the fat we had taken,
and though both he and his wife be-
1onged to the uneducated. hardworking
class of German emigrants, they were
sober and honest, and proved to be very
good neighbors indeed BY some strange
freak of nature their twin children.
Franz and Gretchen, were born mutes
When we formed their acquaintance
they We're about eight years old. and
seemed to enter into all the sports of
childhood with as much zest as their
more noisy companions. Still it was
pathetic to watch the little things going
round so silently, and il was out of sheer
pity for their forlorl condition that John
dumb alphabet.
John learned readily. but it was long
time before | could make my fingers
speak SO as to carry on a conversation
intelligently Ny final triumph gave as
much pleasure to the little ''Dutchies
as to myself and. as / shall show you,
was afterward amply repaid for all the
pains took to give them enjoyment
We had been married five years. and
In spite of the gloomy prophecies of
some of our would-be advisers John was
Junior member of the firm that once en-
ployed him. and the suite of rooms in
the fiat had been exchanged for a pleas
ant residence in a very respectable part
of the city.
John looked after the business inter
ests of the concern. and AS he was obliged
to take many unexpected trips, was Of
ten left for several days at time with
NO other company than the servants |
protested a little at first, but | was rea-
sonabie. and soon became accustomed to
the loneliness. t.>s-- e.f,tf
One cold. stormy night in February,
just after the shutters had been closed
and the curtains drawn. John came in
hurriedly. and without speaking went
quietly upstairs. was surprised, for he
did not usually leave the store until 8
o'clock, and it was then but half-past 6.
When he came into the parlor few
minutes later inquired anxiously if he
were i'll Before answering Inc he closed
the door leading into the living room.
and then, drawing a chair close to mine.
he said in low voice:
Il did not mean to say anything to
you about it, Marion: but you are such
q brave little woman | am sure can
trust You.
IAN attempt to blow the safe was
made last night, and the adrolt way in
which the would be burglar managed to
cover UP his work leads US to anticipate
repetition of the visit tonight In ort,,.r
TO thwart the gentleman's designs have
brought the money and valuables home
and have put the box containing the
treasure in lower drawer of the sec.
retary tina; .n,is in our room"
How much money is there in it?'
asked. trying to speak in my natural
voice.
Nearly fifteen thousand" answered
John, in a whisper.
why. didn't you put it in the banl
for safe keeping" asked nneasily
THAT was the arrangements; bu
Brown, the assistant cashier, whose bust
ness it was to attend to it. forgot his er
rand until the bank was closed, replied
John Don't worry anything about it
dear. You are the only one outside O
the firm that knows what disposition
has been made of the money, and to
morrow it will be placed in the bank
l was satisfied with the explanation
and thought no more about the box ri
stairs until after the clock had warnet
for nine. and it is not probable that
would have thought of it then had no
John been ordered off on one of his mid
night journeys. Just before lie starte,
he put the key of that box in my hand
saying
when Mr.. Mowry calls for the none
give him this. viii not be home il
time to look after it before the ban
closes tomorrow ~a S
felt a. queer fiuttering in the regio
of my heart when John kissed me good
by. but made myself believe that wa
very brave. and at my regular time TO
Abram, as usual, to see that the door
were all securely fastened After wen
up stairs weakened little. and was o.
the point of calling Betty to sleep in M
room, but fearing that John would laugl
at my cowardice. summoned all m,
courage to my aid and was soon sleep
ing as peacefully as baby.
/ must have slept soundly. or woul'
have heard the creak of the wardrob
door, and the stealthy step Of the tall