The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-28
OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN

When John and / were marrled we
began housekeeping in one of the fats
down near the ferry" People said we
were foolish to try to run an 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,
SO 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
fireman down at the china pottery works.
occupied half of the fiat we had taken,
and though both he and his wife be-
longed 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 were 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 it was out Of sheer
pity for their forlorn condition that ohm
and undertook to master the deaf and
dumb alphabet
John learned readily, but it was long
time before | could make my fingers
speak SO as to carry on a conversation
intelligently. My 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 pleas
ant residence in 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 little at first, but was rea-
sonabIe, and soon became accustomed to
the loneliness.
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 s
o'clock, and it was then but half-past 6.
When he came into the parior few
minutes later | inquired anxiously if he
were i'll. Before answering me he closed
the door leading into the living room,
and then, drawing 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
brave little woman am sure can
trust you.
''An 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
a repetition of the visit tonight. In order
to thwart the gentleman's designs have
brought the money and valuables home,
and have put the box containing the
treasure in the lower drawer of the SEQ
rotary that stands in our room"
''How much money is there m itT l
asked. trying to speak in my natural
voice.
Nearly fifteen thousand" answered
John, in a whisper.
why didn't you put it in the bank
for safe keeping?'' asked uneasily.
That was the arrangement; but
Brown, the assistant cashier, whose busi-
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 of
the finn that knows what disposition
has been made of the money, and to-
morrow it will be placed in the bank
was satisfied with the explanation,
and thought no more about the box up
stairs until after the clock had warned
for nine, and it is not probable that
would have thought Of it then had not
John been ordered of on one OF his mid
night journeys Just before he started
he put the key Of that box in my hand,
saying:
When Mr.. Mowry calls for the money
give him this | Will not be home in
time 70 look after 1t before the bank
closes tomorrow.
| felt a queer huttering n the region
Of my heart when John kissed me good
by. bat | made myself believe that was
very brave, and at my regular time for
retiring went TO my room, cautloning
Abrsm, as usual, to see that the doors
were all securely fastened. After | went
up stairs weakened little, and was on
the point Of calling Betty TO saeep II my
room, but fearing that John would langh
at my cowariice, summoned all my
courage TO my aid, and was soon sleep
ing as peacefully as baby.
/ must have slept soundly. or l would
have heard the creak OF the wardrobe
door, and the stealthy step Of the tai,
tank figure that emerged therefrsn-
As 1t was, the FIST intimatsen that /
bad Of the presence of al unvelcome