The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-08-20

ward the appointed place and there,
enveloped in long cloak was the
one he wished to see. .E.@
"Henry"' she whispered, II fear I
have been followed" ~.@s
Her words were prophetic, for at
that instant out of the gloom leaped
several forms and Josiah found him
self pinioned.
"What means this, Rosine? Is this
a new lover ha, ha, or a new runaway
scheme? l saw you slip away and I
| followed, none too soon it seems.
Take him to old Bruno's and shut
him up; as for you, Miss, you come
with mep'
To Josiah's disgust and anger he
found himself helpless as a baby, and
at last to his horror he found him
self locked up or rather shut up in a
cage with huge bear-a tame per-
forming one as it was in truth, kept
near the dressing room, but Josiah
did not know this; he would have
cried for help only the man that left
him there told him an cutlery would
enrage the bear, and only by perfect
quietness could he hope to escape.
He thought of his revolver, and at
last succeeded in freeing his hands,
and then he discovered that his hip
pocket was empty not only of the
revolver but of his money also.
Josiah was no fool ifhe did fall a
victim to q pretty face, and he be-
gan to put matters together.
First they stole fifty cents, then
twenty dollars. I reckon it was a
game from the beginning, and l don't
suppose Mr.. Bear would eat me at
all, he would find me altogether too
green. Nanny ought to keep me
tied to her apron strings the rest of
my life-if there is any rest.''
The circus folks had all departed
save a few, and the tents were being
torn down when Josiah heard a voice
near him whisper:
''Come, quickly; the door is open!
We have only a few minutes time"
1t was the girl he had tried to be-
friend. He quietly obeyed her, won
dering if she was in it all, and mere
ly wanted to rid herself OF him quiet
ly.
I'D like toIhave my twenty dollars,
they STOLE" =
'.Never mind the money. Do hast
emf imploringly.
Without more ado Josiah and his
companion hurried away in the heavy
darkness.
"Where did you leave your wagon
and horses?"
Josiah told her.
Come then, you must get them at
once and we will soon be off,
In less than an hour Josiuh, still
puzzled and in none of the best of
humor, was on his way homeward
with empty pockets and a strange
girl crouching in the back of the
wagon.
"What will nanny say?" he
thought. "I'd rather face a canon.
Poor thing, she may be innocent. I
can't turn her out. I've cot
to fight it out but the 500
we need so to buy groceries; oh
dear, did get into pretty mess. If
I'd raised arrow I'd got into the pa
pers and that'd a been worse and no
money back either"
At noon they paused to let the
horses have some hay.
"lt's all can Afford" said Josiah
''l've got quarter left that will Get
some cakes and crackers I guess, and
reckon we won't starve until we
reach home"
"Tm not hungry" said his COM
panlon. Il only want to keep hid
den."
At late hour they drove into the
barnyard at the old home; a LIGHT
burned into the window and soon the
Old mother, lantern in hand, hurried
out. " lN7.7': - -
"Sakes alive, Josiah, how late you
are! Why, who's this?'' 49,.
"a lady I found on the way. She
begged to come home with me, that's
ga lady! What did you want to
come to Possom Run for?'' coldly.
Let us go in, please" said the girl,
land ! will explain everything, l am
very tired"
When Josiah entered he found his
mothers face had softened. n
"supper is ready. hope you can
both eat, the child-she's little more
can remain until we see what is
best for her to do
| But the story of the lost money
was not told. Josiah knew it mist
be told by the next day.
| The most astonishing thing han
pened, however; when he went to put
his hand in his pocket he drew forth
| the lost money-at first he thought
1t the lost money, but he found this
was IN two tens, the other had been
in fves.
i He understood but resolved to
keep silent, it was evidently the girls
wish. :
] Rosine, as she was called, washed
OFT the remains Of the paint and pow
der, combed her hair into one long
heavy braid and turned her hands to
whatever she could find to do. a
q Shes the handiest girl ever saw.
| don't see how she learned so MANY