The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-06
TOMS MONEY.

Mrs. Lauchton had found what she had
been looking for all her life-the man under
her bed
Every night of her nearly thirty years OF
existence this pretty little person had
stopped on her knees, before saying her
prayers, and had Investigated the space I've
meath her bed had then peered beneath the
dark recess OF the dressing case, and hav-
ing looked in the deep drawer Of the bureau
and into the closet, she fastened her door,
and felt as secure as snail in shell. AS
she never, in this particular business,
seemed TO have any confidence il Mr..
Laughton, in spite of the fact that she adj
mired him and adored him, neither his
presence nor his absence ever made any
variation in the performance. She had
gone through the motions, however, SO
long time that they had come to be in a
received on this night of which | speak
made her prayers quite impossible.
What was she TO do! She, coward par
eminence, 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 here2 How did he hap
pen to be aware 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
a 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
welfare of the whole family, the livelihood
of all the men, the safety of the enterprise!
What made Tom risk things SO?
1t was worse than any loss Of money to
have such wretch as this so near one, so
ehudderingly, so awfuliy near, to be so
close as this to the bottomless pit itself!
Light and electricity are swift, but
thought is swifter. In the fraction of a
second Mrs. Laughton was on her feet, and
before 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 lay easily on one
side, a stout little club in his hand, some
weapons cleaning in his belt
''You look pretty, don't you," said she.
Perhaps this was as much of shock to
the man as his appearance had been to her.
Get up said she. "Iid be a man if
WAS a man. Get up. I'm not going to hurt
you"
The idea of this little fairy queen of
woman, almost small enough to have
stepped out of a 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 grufly; Il don't suppose
you're going to hurt me- And | am not
going TO hurt you if you hand over that
money"
F. What money!" opening her eyes with
a wide sort of astonishment.
''Come! None of your lip. want that
money"
why, haven't any money! Oh, yes,
have, to be sure, but
Il thought you'd remember it" said the
man, with a grin.
But want it'' she exclaimed.
al want it, too!'' said he
"Oh, it wouldn't do you any good" she
reasoned. Fifteen dollars. And it's all
TIE iuODtl We SOs III luS WOTIu!
Il don't want no fifteen dollars, said the
man, land don't want none of your chin
ming. want the money your husbands
going to pay off with
"Oh, Toms money! in quite tone of
relief "Oh, haven't anything to do with
Toms money. IL you can get any money
out of Tom it's more than / 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 amt" he answered
grimly. 81 want that money! I'd rather
come by it peaceable," ne growled, but
if
well, you can take it, of course, you're
the stronger. But | told You before, it's
all have, and I've very particular use for
it. You just sit down." she cried, indi
eating a chair with the air Of really hav-
ing been alone so long in these desolatt
regions as TO be glad of having some one
to talk TO, and throwing herself into the
big one opposite, because. in truth, she
could not stand up another moment.
There il isl said she, right under
your hand all the time. You won't have
to rip up the mattress for it, or rummage
the clothes press, or hunt through the
broken orockery on the top shelves of the
kitchen cupboard" she ran on, as if she
were delighted to hear the sound of her
own voice and couldn't talk fast enough.
Il always leave my purse on the dressing
case, though Tom has told me time and
again il wasn't safe But out here
"Stopr' thundered the man. IF YOU
know enough TO stop. Stop. or III cut
your cursed tongue out. That's not what
] want, though III take it. I've told you
time and again that L want the paymas,
ter's money. I'll put daylight through
that little false heart of yours If you don't
Civ it to me without FIVE more Words
And I've told You just IS often that I've
nothing to DO with the paymaster's
money" and with the great limpid tears
OVERLOOKING her blue eyes Rose Lsughton
knew that the face she turned up at him
was enough 10 melt the strongest heart go
ug.
DO you mean to tell me-" said he,
evidently wsvering, and possibly inclined
10 doubt if after all she were not telling
the truth.
Il don't mean 70 tell yop anything" she
cried. You won't believe n word | say,
and never had any one doubt my word
before. ! hate 10 have YOU take that IF
teen dollars, though. You never would in
the world if you knew how much self-de
lial it stands for.
Every time think would like an ice
cream out here in this wilderness I've
r,a6a Tor, Give ma tha nrioa of ona Tnu