The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-04-29
rs she looked OF in the direction he

iS sue lOOheu OIL III tue QlrectlOn lie
had driven.
Don't know; can't tell much about
him. He Is a queer chap. As long as
ne doesn't cross my path, I won't
trouble him." this with q significant
glance toward Clara. The good-nishts
were uttered and the girls retired.
Eustis Fitzallen had a reason for driy-
ing i'll that direction. He drove on un-
til he came to q wooded pass. There
he refined in and waited, and this Is
what he was thinking:
$50 the old man has got that money
at last! And tomorrow he will dis
pose of it. I guess I will save him
the trouble. To think that the little
idiot should actually tell me where he
had hidden it! Much obliged, I'm
sure. 1t will save me a long and
dangerous search. I think I had bet
ter wait here awhile and then drive
back and see IL the coast is clear. I'll
leave my team q little beyond their
place on the other SIDE and come back
to the village, leave the team and he
oil in good shape in the morning, and
no suspicion will attach to me-" =
The dance had held so late there was
no time to lose. Leaving his team by
a thick clump of trees, he went quiet
~ along, carrying his lantern and
shading its light with his hat.
He had used his eyes to some pur-
pose while calling ut the house and
could judge quite we'll where Il. try
to effect IN entrance. He made his
way easily inside. went to a bureau
drawer and took up q well-worn back
CANNON board. He nervously clu1ched
the dice-boxes. Yes, snugly stuffed
inside was the coveted treasure. He
seized it quickly, replaced everything
except the money and made his way
to the Gutter entrance. Just there his
foot 81. ped on an npple-paring which
somcb> ly had carelessly dropped
there. His lantern struck heavily
against the casemen and vas broken
in half a dozen pieces, and the light
he had shaded SO carefully vas ex-
tinguished. With q half-suppressed
oath he hurried away, leaving the
fragments lying upon the floor.
]lc hurried to his team, drove back
to the village and retired to his room.
Flo made ready to leave in the morn
ing. directly after breakfast.
i" Mrs. Ormsby was awakened by the
crash and Mr.. Ormsby got up to in
vestigarc. He found the broken lantern
and the door unfastcned.
"You don't s'pose somebody came to
rob us. do you?" %anxiously inquired
Mrs. Ormsby, Undertaking. in her robe.
Her teeth were cliattering with fright.
II should hardly think 50. Nobody
but the family knew about that
money!" said Mr.. Ormsby; "howsom-
ever, it won't do any harm to see If
it is all right" and he proceeded to
look into the backgammon board.
"1t's gone! It's gone! We are
robbed, as sure as you nve!" he gasped.
Murder! Thieves!" shrieked Mrs.
Ormsby. "Girls-girls! Come down
quick! We are robbed Of all that
money!"
The girls ran down white with
fright. Clara's white, bare foot trod
upon something sharp. 1t was a piece
of glass.
"Whys pal" she exclaimed as she
tremblip ely surveyed the broken glass;
"that is just like Fitzallen's lantern
the gerry n he used tonight! 1t
truly Isl"
stifed feeling at her heart. Yes, she
would have recognized that lantern
anywhere.
"To-night, did you say?" asked Mr.
Ormsby as he hastily dressed himself
to 60 out.
"Ill bet We he's the thief! I'll have
him inside of two hours"
Poor Melinda fell fainting to thu
floor. Mrs. Ormsby fell into the ot
rocking chair and then into Mysteries
Clara had her hands full with then
both.
Meanwhile Mr.. Ormsby drove furi
0usly to the tavern" where MI. Fftz
Allen was stopping. He woke the
sleepy proprietor and told him his
fears.
But you can't arrest him without q
due process of law" he drawled, ex.
asperatingly.
"Blast the law! You jest let me get
a look at him an I'll make him give
up every cent before he gets away!"
replied Mr.. Ormsby.
In nm excited body of four they as.
cended the stairs and descended upon
the surprised Mr.. Fitzallen who, al.
though up and dressed, was not pre-
pared to receive callers.
He knew instantly the theft had
been discovered, as well as the thief.
A protestation of innocence was USE
less with that lantern to convict him.
He s,llenly gave up the $1,1OO into
Mr.. Ormsby's hands.
"How on earth did you find it SO
quick?" asked Mr.. Ormsby. MIR Fttz-
allen said never a word In reply. =
swell, We can 60 now. I don't know
as I are anything about your carcass!
I've got my money back, but don't ye
never let me ketch We round In these
parts prospectin' again."
Eustis Fitzallen pulled his hat over
his eyes and skulked out of the house
and out of the village.
There was great establishment and
rejoicing when Mr.. Ormsby returned
to his family and related the circum'
stances. ut beats me to know how he
happened to find it." he said.
ooh, pa! I was to blame! I was
foolish enough to tell him about 1t.
never dreamed he would do such q
thing!" and Melinda sobbed convul
sively.
"There-there, child! That'l do!
said her father, soothingly. II guess
you'll look out who is who an what Il
what arter this! Wen be thankful It'll
no worse."-Emma Miner.
D~nuI - uxsll m Cnro