The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-21
TOMS MONEY.

MIS-. LauSntOn nau lOunu Wnat sne
had been looking for all her life-the
man under her bed.
Every night of her nearly thirty
years of existence this pretty little per-
son had stopped on her knees, before
saying her prayers. and had investi-
gated the space beneath her bed; had
then peered beneath the dark recess of
the dressing case, and having looked
in the deep drawer of the bureau and
into the closet. she fastened her door.
and felt as secure rs 4 snail in q shell.
AS she never. in this particular busi-
ness seemed to have any confidence in
Mr.. Laughton, in spite of the fact that
she admired him and adored him,
neither his presence nor his absence
ever made any variation in the per-
formance. She had gone through the
motions. however, SO long time that
they had come to be in Il manner per-
functorv, and the start she received on
this night of which ] speak made her
prayers quite impossible.
What was she to do? She. Il coward
par emincnce. known to be the most
timorous of the whole family, and here
she was now. the two maids away in
the little wing. locked out by the main
house. alone with a burglar and not
another being nearer than the works,
half-mile off.
How did this man know that she was
without any help here? How did he
happen to be av are that Toms money
was all in the house? If that money
was taken nobody would believe the
story. Tom would be cashiered, he
never could live through the disgrace,
he would die of a broken heart and she
of another What mischance for her
to be left with the whole thing in her
hands, her little weak, trembling
hands-Tom's honor. his good name,
and his success, their fortune the well
fare of the whole family, the livelihood
of all the men. the safety of the enter
plisei What made Tom risk things SOP
1t was worse than any loss of money
to have such Il wretch rs this SO near
one, so shudderingly, SO awfully. near
to be so close us this to the bottom
less pit itself.
Light and electricity are swift but
thought is swifter. In the fraction of
second Mrs. Laughton was on her
feet, and before Il pendulum could have
more than swung backward she took
the light brass bedstead and sent it
rolling away from her with all her
might and main, leaving the creature
uncovered. He Law easily on one side.
a stout club in his hand. some weapons
cleaning in his belt.
You look pretty don't you?' said
she
Perhaps this was rs much of shock
to the man rs his appearance had been
to her.
Get up" said she. I'D be a man
if | was man. Get up. I'm not 60
inc to hurt YOU"
The idea OF tais little fairy queen of
{; woman, almost small enough TO have
stepped out of Il rain-lily. hurting him!
But it was SO different from what he
had been awaiting that it startled him.
He was on his feet now, towering over
her.
No." said he grul1iy. II don't sup
pose you're going to hurt me. And |
am not going to hurt you if you hand
over that money"
What money! opening her eyes
with wide sort Of astouishment.
Come! None of your lip. | want
that money!
why, l haven't any money! Oh.
yes | have, to be sure. but"
Il thought you'd remember it," said
the man with Il grin.
but want it," she exclaimed.
Il want it, too" said he
''Oh, it wouldn't do you any good, ="
she reasoned. Fifteen dollars. And
it's ali the money I've got in the worldr'
Il don't want no S15.n said the man,
land don't want none of your chin
ming. | want the money your hus-
bands going To pay off with-n
"Oh, Toms money" in quite tone
of relief '-Oh, | haven't anything to do
with Toms money. If you can get
any money out of Tom it's more than l
can do"
Yes. see YOU little hen sparrer," !"
his eyes coming back to her from a
survey of the room, THAT you've got
| Toms money in the house here, and
would like to throw me off the scent!'
If had, said she. YOU'D only get
it across my dead body!'
Come" said he again. I've had
enough of your slack
You're not very polite" she said,
with something like pout.
People in my line ant" he an.
swercd grimly. Il want that money!
I'd rather come by it peaceable." he
growled, but if
We'll. you can take it. of course,
you're the stronger. But / told you
before; it's all have. and I've yer,
particular use for it. You just si
down = she cried indicating chail
with the air of really having beer
alone so long in these desolate region:
rs to be glad of having some one tc
talk to. aud throwing herself into the
big one opposite, because. in truth
she could not stand up another moment
There it is" said she. fright under
your hand all the time You won
have TO rip up the mattress for it. oil
rummage the clothes-press. or hun