Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-23

Il
They suppose, for it is all guess work, {
course, that horseshoe which had evidentl
come of the hoof of some cart horse, ha
| given the bicycle sudden cant over, an
precipitated the poor old fellow, who coul
not swim a stroke, into the river"
"Dear, DEAR" cried Mrs. Dawson, 81 ha
always thought that finding horseshoe wa
bit of luck; and in one sense you may sa
it has turned out so for you"
Dawson cast a half angry glance at hi
wife ssYou forget that horseshoe didn'
bring Uncle Bob much luck, and that tn
same thing may serve me an i'll turn as j
has done to my dad and uncle"
"Well, what has he left you?" asked Mrs
Dawson, plain, practical woman of bust
ness.
ga nice cottage at Marlshire, with thre
acres of ground, and 5000 in cash, and so VI
can leave London as soon as you like"
Mrs. Dawson made no objection, and in
fortnight's time the village, which was onl!
situated about half mile from Slowcheste
the principal town of Marlshire, received
| its new tenants.
At first both Dawson and his wife were de
| lighted with their new property, and were
never tired of inspecting it, and rejoicing
over the fresh discoveries which each day
were made by them.
/
extent died away, time began to hang heavy
on their hands. Mrs. Dawson found her
poultry anything but a success, and her
| husband complained that stopping over the
garden work made his back ache.
81 tell you what it is, my dear" said the
husband; 81 mus: get some kind of employ
ment, or shall go mad, or take to drink, or
do something awful To-day I have heard
| that they want traveller for Simpson s
brewery, and 1 think, after the experience
1 have had in wheedling people into giving
me advertisements, am just the sort of
man to do their business for them"
''But won't it take you away from home .
good deal, Jim?" asked his wife, anxiously.
''Of course, 1 can't do my business by
stopping at home" answered he, 'but you
| shan't be lonely I want you to send for
your sister Lizzie, to come and stay with
us; the change will do her good, and who can
say if she may not pick up good match
! ! here, for she is pretty girl, and as good as
she is pretty"
Mrs. Dawson ran over to her husband,
and kissed him. sfYou are dear. good
fellow, Jim," cried she "You know how
fond am of Lizzie, and how happy it will
make me to have her with me-"
"And my good fortune will enable us to
keep a servant, so that you need not muddle
Lizzie arrived in due course; pink, rosy
checked girl, who was delighted to get out
of London smoke, and looked upon the
country as perfect paradise.
james got the post and in a smart little
trap which had been placed at his disposal,
he drove over the country, extolling the
merits of Simpsons ales.
He was good-hearted, merry fellow, and
was great favorite with everyone except
the stablemen, who lives he made burden
to them by insisting on the most careful e1-
animation of the horses shoes before start.
ing on one of his trips.
One day he came home in high spirits.
''Old Simpson" said he, sis going round
to see all his customers, and is going to
take me with him in that splash dogcart of
his. shan't have a penny to pay any
where, and shall live like fighting cock
for the next two days; and, listen, my dear,
after that am to have a weeks holiday,
and willtake you and Lizzie to Sandybeach
Won't that be iolly?"
Both Mrs Dawson and Lizzie were de-
lighted with the idea, and James Dawson
started on his trip, promising that he would
be back about IL o'clock on the night of the
second day.
81 expect shall have to foot it from
Slowchester, but it is only a half-mile tramp
and 1 shall not be long in getting over the
ground, so have something nice for supper,
and the next morning we will start tor
Sandybeach."
On the appointed evening Mrs. Dawson
and her sister were all activity, and a sue
culent meal was in course of preparation, in
which three at least of Mr. Dawson's favor
lite dishes had place.
sit is a quarter to eleven now," re-
marked Lizzie, "and Jim ought to be on his
way. 1t is a lovely moonlight night. Sup
pose we go out to the garden gate and try
if we can see him? There is not bend in
the road, and if he is lettering along shall
tell him of it pretty sharp, 1 can assure
you"
Mrs Dawson agreed to the proposal, and
the women passed through the little garden
which lay in front of the cottage, and open
ing the wicket gate, gazed up the lane
that particular night shone forth with sur
passing brilliancy, and every object upon
the broad, white road was distinctly visible.
There were no trees to cast shadow across
1t, and the hedge rows, with an occasional
gate here and there, could be as plainly dis
cerned as if it had been broad daylight.
"How deliciously fresh the evening air
SMELLS" said Lizzie, as she stood in the
gateway and gazed out into the calm still
ness of the night.
"Ah, that is because you have been
mewed up for so long time in town." an
swered her sister. ITO me the evening
seems rather sultry one."
''You contrary dear" exclaimed Lizzie
81 know what will change all your ideas in
very short space OF time.
'And what may that be?" demanded her
sister,
''Why, the figure of Jim as he comes along
the road, hurrying home, not for you, Of
course, but for his supper" returned Lizzie,
playfully.
Both women laughed, and at that moment
the clock from some church tower in the
neighborhood struck the hour of IL.
''Jim is not punctual, F" remarked his wife.
"1t is too bad of him, after all the trouble
we have taken"
81 dare say old Mr. Simpson kept him
later than he expected" reioined Lizzie;
'but, surely, can hear the sound of wheels,
though can see nothing either way. 1t is
very strange"
Both women listened intently, and the
sound of wheels, as if some vehicle was
rapidly approaching, became distinctly
audible.
"Why, where on earth can the carriage
be?" continued Lizzie. 81 can see for half
a mile each way, and there is nothing visi-
BILE, though it sounds as if the wheels were
near at hand"
She turned to her sister as she spoke, and
was terrified at the CHASTITY expression
which had spread over her countenance.
''Listenr' murmured Mrs. Dawson,
hoarsely, ''Do you not hear it?''
CLEAR what?'' asked Lizzie.
'The clink of shoe-a horses loose
Shoe answered Mrs. Dawson, her voice
sinking to a terrified whisper
Lizzie listened, and, sure enough, above
the sound of wheels she could distinctly
make out the clink, clink of loose shoe
striking AGAINST the ha rd road