The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-07-06
CHILDRBN'S CORNER.

BY PRANK Z. STOCKTON.
TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT.

HIS "HAo' SAhsAeS Io1itlou- iAS st'cus
up and down one side % the cave,
yowing inwardly that never again
would he allow himself to be led by
hermit's pupil. That individual
however. was in state of high de-
light lie ran about from box to
bale, looking at the rare treasures
which some of the robbers showed.
The two captiyes were fed and
lodged very well; and the next day
the captain called them and the band
together, and addressed them.
"We are now twenty-seven full
members. and two on probation. To-
night We are about to undertake Ii
very important expedition, in which
We shall all join. We shall fasten
up the door of the cave, and at the
proper time shall tell you to what
place We are going"
+ An hour or two before midnight
the band set out, accompanied by
the stranger and the hermit's pupil;
and when they had gone some miles
the captain halted them to inform
inform them of the object OF
the expedition. 1--WE are golng," he
said, ito rob the queens museum
1t is the most important business VT
have ever taken"
At these words the stranger step
ped forward made protest. 81 left
the city yesterday" he said, "com-
missioned by the Queen to obtain
one more objects of interest for her
museum; and to return now to rob
an institution which have promised
to enrich will be simply impossible ,
"You are right" sand the captain,
after a moments reflection, such an
action would be highly dishonorable
on your part. If You will give me
your word of honor that you will re-
main by this stone until our return,
the expedition will proceed without
YOU
The stranger gave his word, and
having been left sit ing upon the
stone, soon dropped asleep, and So
remained until he was awakened by
the return of the band, little be
fore daylight. They came slo~l!
toiling along, each mar carrying an
enormous bundle upon his back.
Near the end Of the line was the
hermit's pupil, carrying load as
heavy as any of the others. The
stranger offered to relieve hlm for a
time of his burden, but the pupil
would now allow it.
Il don't wish these men to think
| can't do as much as they can," he
said. "You ought to have been
along. We had fine time. We
swept that museum clean, | tell you.
We didn't leave a thing on shelf
or liz case"
"What sort of things were they -
asked the stranger.
81 don't know" replied the pupil,
eve didn't have any light for fear
people would see it, but the moon
shone in bright enough for us to SEE
all,the,shelves. and the cases; and ourol
ders were not to try and examine any
thing, but to take all was there. The
cases had great cloth covers Oh them
and we spread these on the floor and
made bundlis of the the curiosties
"We are going to examine them care
fully as soon as we get to the den"
1t was broad daylight when the
robbers reached their cave. The
bundles were laid in a great circle
on the floor, aud, at given signal
each one of them was opened. Fol
a moment each robber gazed blah k ly
at the contents Of his bundle, anC
then they all began to tumble ant
search among the piles of articles
upon the cloths; but after few min
utes, they all arose, looking blanke1
and more disappointed than before
so far as Can see" said the cap
tail, "shere is nothing in the Who'll,
collection that | care for. l do no
like thing here!r'
'Nor - 'Nor I.' ''Nor | ~ criee
each one of his band.
81 suppose said the captain, af
ter musing for moment, ''that a
these things are of no use to us, W
are bound in honor to take then
back"
ssHold." said the stranger, ste
forward; edo not be in too big a bur
, rp to do that" He then told th
} captain of the state affairs in th
city, and explained in full the na
ture of the expedition he had under
taken for the Queen. 81 think i
would be BETTER" be said, s'if thes
things were not taken back for tn
present. If you have a safe plac
where You can put them, | will i
due time tell the Queen where the
are, and if she chooses she can sen
for them"
"Good ~ said the captain, sit
but right that she should bear pal
: of the labor of transportation. TheI
e is disused cave, a mile or so ava,
and we will tie up thess bundles an
a carry them there; and then We sha
4 leave the matter to you. We tak
p no further interest in it. And
!, you have given your parole to ii
! Queen to return in week. the cal
tain further continued, s'of cours
r you'll have to keep it. Did you gi,
: your parole also!" he asked, turl
r ing to the pupil.
"Oh, no." cried that youth; ''thel
was no time fixed for my retur1
And | am sure that | like a robber
t life much better than that of a be
0 NIT. There is never SO much mo
g spice and dash in il"
e The stranger was then told thi
3 if he would promise not betray Il
; robbers he might depart He ga
: the promise; but added sadly that