The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-04-23
THEIR FIRST. CHRISTMAS.


he sparkling Christmas morning oil
1880 saw strange and early commo,
ton in a suburban corner OF the city
OF Y. During the night a heavy snow
had fallen rs though to obliterate the
dark traces OF sin from the earth,
freshly preparing for new life, new
light, .nobler day. But man had
already frustrated the purpose OF
nature; the black tracks crossing in
every direction seemed like highway
OF crime. In one instance, at least,
they were so, if the whispers of groups
gathered about the villa OF Joseph
lIollister were to be believed. These
groups were composed OF all species OF
humanity, from the squalid under
sized girl bearing an diversified baby
with big, pasty face, to the tramps
furtively watching the knot OF prom
inent citizens discussing the revela,
tions OF the night. Two policemen
paced to md fro at the front and side
OF the villa. Inside it's open door
third officer could be seen,
submissively listening to an
authoritative soldierly man in
plain clothes Grave gentlemen
conversed in the dining room.
Maids with scared faces fitted up and
down the stairs. When distant doors
tlxr hn
OF u woman could momentarily be
heard, and strange, labored sound,
rs if some fine mechanism were slowly
running down. Both were sounds to
make one shudder.
Two hours earlier, the authority in
plain clothes, hastily summoned, had
gathered these facts. Joseph HOLSTER,
n respected merchant, had been awak-
ened by unusual sounds outside his
door. Springing up to investigate, he
found the gas burning brightly in the
entry, some figures going, catlike,
down the stairs, and masked man
confronting him, covering the retreat
of others with their booty. Towards
this man Hollister sprang, unarmed.
In the tussle which ensued, the burg
lar lost his mask. Freeing an arm hb
shot his antagonist in the side. AS
Hollister fell, a second shot was sent
to ensure his silence, but he still
lived, though the moments of his life
were briefly numbered, to the regret
OF everyone who knew the upright,
honorable gentleman. The only fault
with him in this practical age was
thus expressed by his close friend,
nr NJ tcfa 20
fine for rough use, but what can you
expect OF theosophist who believes
that even brutes-and human brutes
have souls?"
DR.. Grant presently came down
stairs with that exaggerated creaking
which attends the Efforts of we'll
meaning persons to walk with I'M
wonted quiet. To him Captain
Scofeld, OF the detective force ad.
dressed himself.
"How is he Doctor?"
"Sinking fast"
"Conscious?"
ellis mind clear as bell!'
"Goodp' Scofield twirled his hat
with satisfaction,
"Why?"
81 think we've got one OF the
crowd"
1.-THE man who shot him?"
perhaps"
ain Gods name be quick then.
HOLSTER could still identify him."
Hes here. Prepare your man."
With complacent sense OF being
beforehand with the doctor, Scofeld
pointed towards the walk. Two de-
al H.
tween them had alighted from close
carriage and were coming towards the
house, accompanied by the noise of
the eager crowd and the taps of their
fellow officers clubs upon the too OBJ
trusive bodies.
cts Jim Hogan; I suspected his
gang and found Jim at his lodgings,
quiet enough but too sleepy for pro-
fessional thief, abed in wet boots.
The mask about fits him and the job
was worked in his style, but Mr.. Hol-
lister can settle the question"
"Of course" said the doctor,
'you've done sharp work, Scofeld.
I'd better be as quick with mine" He
retraced his steps. II was melan-
choly scene which met his eyes on
opening bedroom door. Accustom-
ed as he was to such, he was sharply
impressed by the opened windows
counting every breath OF the cold
heavens for laboring lungs; the
heavy stagnant odors OF drugs,
liniments and dried blood; the
injured man propped high in pill
lows, CHASTITY, drained OF life, but
meeting his questioning look with eyes
rs steady as his own. The deepgentle-
ness, the calm serenity OF those eyes,
the firmness of lips drawn by pain,
the hand lovingly laid upon the head
OF young and beautiful woman who
knelt by the bedside in all the aband-
onment OF grief were all so many wit
nesses, to HOLSTERS friend OF the
magnitude OF the coming loss. At the
foot of the bed o woman held fresh,
cooling babe in her arms. The little
one gurgled at it, father, reached out
and struggled to 70 to him. A second
child, q splendid BOY Of four. his eyes