Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-25
WAYLAID.

Don't be on the road after dark with so
much money about you"
The window was high from the ground,
and the disreputable looking tramp who
had entered the garden heard Mr.. Stock
wells remark and came to q stop on the
Agraveled walk.
Neither Mr. Stockwell nor his trusted
clerk. Chip Ferris. saw him as he half
.crouched beneath the open window, from
which place their tones were plainly
audible.
sMr. Stockwell had the largest grocery
in Lebanon, and Chip Ferris, though only
II years old, was his right hand man.
He owned another grocery in Milldale,
a thriving little village eight miles away,
tand Chip had just been directed by him
ito go over and collect the months re-
Aceipts from the man in charge.
"Tell ,Hanley I'll be in Milldale to see
shim just as soon as can get out of the
lhouse, said Mr.. Stockwell, who had been
,overcome by his old remedy, the rheu-
,matism. "rve instructed him in the note
ito turn over the collections to you, and
If any stock is needed he can let you
know" lU
The man at the window did not wait
ITO hear more, but went noiselessly to the
igate, all thought of begging removed
from his mind.
A companion, as ragged and vicious
;looling as himself, stood waiting fol
him some distance down the street.
"What kept you so longY' he growled
''Any luck"
II should say so" was the response.
"You didn't get any money, did you?
"No, but we'll soon have plenty if we
manage things right"
And he proceeded to confide what he
ihad overheard, ,whereat the other worthy's
eyes glistened.
"Well, that is luck, and no mistake,
lhe said eff he's only boy it will be as
easy as rolling off log. There he comes
now"
At that moment Chip Ferris was clos.
ling Mr.. Stockwell's gate.
He walked down the street in the di-
erection of the two men, giving them nc
more than casual glance as he passed
by, for tramps were no rarity in Lebanon
''Those fellows are pretty rough look
ing customers" he thought. "It'sa won
der the constable hasn't got them"
It was 8 o'clock then, and he went tC
ithe stable in the. rear of the shop and
iharnessed the horse to light vehicle.
The drive to Milldale was pleasant
one, and Chip enjoyed the prospect of il
exceedingly.
About mile from town, resting un
der a leafy tree by the roadside, were
the two tramps he had seen some time
before.
.sHellor' he said to himself. "Thert
are those fellows again. wonder what
they're up to now"
He passed by in a cloud of dust, and
hooking back, saw that an animated con
versation had suddenly sprung up be
tween the two.
Somehow Chip got it into his head tina
they were talking about him.
'They can't know about the money
of course" he said, uneasily. "Sucl
men look evil enough to do anything.
When he reached Milldale he was dis
appointed to learn that Mr.. Hanley ha'
gone into the country to look at col
that he thought of purchasing.
The money was locked up in the saf
and he had the key with him, so tina
there was nothing for Chip to do but t
wait for his return, which he did with
good deal Of impatience.
It was nearly 6 o'clock and the SUI
was far down in the west when MI
:Hanley came back, and Chip lost II
time in transacting with him the bus
ness on which he had come.
"Better stay with me to supper, Chip,
said Mr. Hanley. "There'll be moo
at to light you back"
mo, thank you." said Chip. 81 don
want to be out late with this money
I'll Just take some bread and cheese wit
me-"
He bade Mr.. Hanley good-by, anj
giving his horse the reins. was 500
going at smart pace through Milldal
until the last of the struggling houses {
its outskirts was left far behind.
The sun sank behind the distant biz
hills and twilight came on.
1T won't De long now DeIOfe IL dafk
said Chip. 81 hope l won't meet thos
tramps again. They'd stop me in q mir
ute If they thought had SO much none
about me-"
AS the light faded he grew more ner'
ous, and, with an idea in his head, /
refined in the horse to carry it out, fir
looking around to satisfy himself thi
no one was in sight.
In his pocket was a copy of the villae
paper, which he carefully tore into striI
the size of bank notes.
He selected from the roll of notes NJ
Hanley had given him four of the lea
valuable and wrapped them around IL
strips, placing them in his pocketbook.
The money he hid in one of his shoe
perhaps Pm over cautious" he tol
himself, with a smile. ''Those me
have likely enough taken another roa'
but if they should try to rob me this b.
gus roll may fool them"
He was half way home when he can
to large tract of woods, through whic
the road passed for some distance.
The thick foliage of the over archin
trees shut out the light, and the roa
was SO bad that Chip was obliged to L
the horse walk.
There was an absurd story which ha
long been current of a headless hors