San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-11

quickly into Cne INNING room.
"Angeline taking both small hands in
his and kissing tiny thorn scratch
what shall do? You know 1 told you
three weeks ago that had severed my
connection with The Courier. to re-engage
with The Gazette Now The Gazette ed
itor writes me that they need me at once;
they cannot wait. l had written them
that / would come the first of last week.
But how can go until this horrible mys-
terry is cleared up? and heaven only knows
when that will be, for all is midnight now.
How can | even speak to your father of our
affair until that money is recovered or ac-
counted for? You cannot help seeing that.
despite his generous efforts, TO put aside
base suspicion, ne still doubts me. And it
does look dark. Why, almost doubt my
self, everything points so directly to me as
the thief. This morning Ewaked myself
saying, Richard Forrest. where is that
money you stole?"
"You will break my heart, Richard, IL
you talk that way" she cried. Suspicion
can no more point to you than to me. You
shall not say such things" and she chung
to him so that he must needs repeat
them for the sake Of the precious dis
Chalmers.
"Just to contrast this wretched state Of
Affairs with the happiness of fortnight
ago." he complained, after awhile. II
knew that | could make little nest for
my dove by next winter; your father liked
me, your mother was fond of me, we ex-
pected no opposition. And you had told
me that you loved me-"
But, Richard" she said. with a pitiful
small sob, II love you now and mother
does, too. Father is in so much trouble,
that is all. He does not doubt you. He is
just worried all the time. Mother says he
does not rest at all at night, for when he
falls asleep from exhaustion he snatches
only troubled nap and wakes with a
great start; and twice he has aroused her
by unlocking the door and walking across
the back yard. andwhen she called him
and ran after him she found him asleep"
Richard stared ut her like one dazed, for
some moments, and then a light broke
over his countenance. He almost gasped.
and at last cried in joyous tones:
"Oh, my sweetheart, why didn't you tell
me before that your father was a somnam-
bulist?"
But he isn't, except when he is trou-
oRa sz.-~:~- as:n----. VA
bled this way" answered she. "Why,
dearest, what do you mean"
For he had seized Mrs. Holcombe, as she
CHANGED to peep into the room at that mo-
ment, and was dragging her, to her indig-
nant amazement, to Angeline's side.
But they saw with his minds eyes soon,
and entered with glad excitement into his
plan. Neighbor Blisston was drawn into
it, too, that afternoon, and spent the night
in Richards room, nn1iA2 it necessary to
enter it burglariouS,y ,:T - o'clock.
1t was hours past miduight when light
tap on their door from Mrs. Holcombe
aroused the young fellow nodding over his
book, and springing up, he shook Mr.. Bliss
ton eXcitedly, caught up the bulls eye Ian
tern and crept out. Mrs. Holcombe and
Angelina were shivering, half sobbirg and
clinging together on the back steps. Across
the yard was stalking a portly figure in
night dress.
Richard and Mr.. Blsston hurried, with
cat like softness, after the sleep walker.
He went directly toward the big barn, I'M
locked the door and, with the undertaking
ness remarkable in such cases, he clafhb-
cred up the slender ladder never built for
weights like his. 1t creaked bent, yet
bore up.
The somnambulist was climbing hur-
riedly over the fodder in the loft. Richard
swung himself up the ladder and scarcely
waited to give hand to his somewhat in
firm friend. They had lost sight of the
white figure at the remote end of the long,
black building but Richard fastened, half
stumbling, in that direction. Soon he
stopped in low corner with his head al
most against the huge rafters. He listened;
heavy breathing sounded near him-noth-
ing more. All was blackness. His own
heart beats seemed to shake the whole
building.
Then a violent rustling of the fodder be-
gan, and two or three bundles were thrown
against his feet. This must be the right
moment. He flashed the bulPs-eye full
upon the spot Mr.. Holcombe, with glazed
eyes, parted lips and painting chest, was
kneeling, his left hand tossing aside the
bundle of fodder, while his right hand had
just found its way to the packet.of money.
Richard and pretty Angelina have dear
little home in the city now, and | often
hear him spoken of as a journalist Of ever
increasing popularity and power.
Angles two handsome boys each sum-
mer climb again and again up the ladder
in the great barn, and call to their small
sisters waiting impatiently below that they
are standing in the very corner where
grandpa hid the $4,000 he stole from him
self
There is still no Mrs. Squire Zeno Trappe.
Il. Beck in Pittsburg Bulletin.