Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-04-14

1 IA Howard Bascomb's |
- E n, pleasant home, and |
&ENyG1.1 stepping to it, she
- NWA received this mes
sage from her hus-
] !: !. !. !" ! ! . ! !" ! !. j: !. ! ! !: ! ! !: !
50 "a INN band:
NgsbM "Helloi Is that
~kzF bHRM YOU, Lottie9 I've
AKMI %NM concluded to leave
] fHVlNWl Y. TMW for New York this
! lNR MAW w I@$ noon. The boy is
WNNMAh IE$ on the way to the
Wl"\4AN$@ house for my grip.
w T3SsafWNT You know what I'll
need for a week or ten days absence.
Get your sister 10 stay with you Tor
company. Goodbye, dear, s'long' Take
care of fyourself."
Then he rung off, and Mrs. Bascomo
went in search of the satchel, which she
hacked with a deft hand. She was
Young woman, sensible, well-balanced,
and nothing ever disturbed or annoyed
her to the extent of making her fdgety
or nervous. Being in robust health,
she hardly knew what nerves meant;
She was self reliant, but domestic, and
absorbed IN her home life, which COM
prised her world. And she never crossed
any bridges until she came to them. she
knew that her husband had intended
going to New York on the following
day. and did not wonder or ponder over
his change of plans.
When the messenger came for the
satcheI she sent it carefully packed, just
as she knew her husband wanted it.
She added nothing to its usual contents,
and subtracted nothing. Yes, stay.
She did take out his seven-shooter,
everv chamber of which was loaded, and
laid il on the table under the mirror, In
the back parlor.
"Howdy has one revolver with him.
That will have to do him this trip. l
like to have one handy in case / should
need it."
She smiled and smiled again without
being a villain. The idea of needing
firearms seemed so incongruous and
absurd.
In the afternoon she went up to her
home to "borrow her sister," as she ex'
pressed it. But Miss Madgle had gone
away with some young friends, and was
engaged to spend the night at the house
of a schoolmate. So Mrs. Bascomb re
turned home alone.
Two men stood in the doorway OF al
unused fight of Office stairs and read al
evening paper.
They were much occupied in discuss
ing one item among the personal news
1t was this
"The Rubber Horseshoe Company
an assured fact. Mr.. Howard BBscOm
drew $4,000 from the M. & NJ. Ban
to-day, the investment of the branc
company formed here, and will leave TO
New York tomorrow. A capital
$80,000 is assured"
"Do y seel" calculated the youngt
and smaller of the two men. "Dre
$50 in spondulicks. Goes hon
with it in his vest pocket, blow me ef
don't"
"Maybe not, pard. S'posin' it's
certified cheek9"
"Then therell be reward offered
get it back-seel"
"Jim, g'roun' to tn bank an find OF
which and whether it were, suggeste
the older man.
"Bank clussed, remarked Jim senteI
tiously.
'S'pose it air. Did yer expect to ser
in yer card to the cashier or the pres
dent9 Get arOun' an interview tn jan
tor. Represent yerself as Mister Ba
combs confidential bizness man carr
yer9"
Jim started off at once without wal
ing to give his ''pard" any outline of h
plan. He was gone an hour, but whe
he returned he was frei lighted with il
telligence.
"Bills," he chuckled, "ive hundr'
and one thousand dollar bills-wheV
An he'll sleep with them about L
honorable pusson to-night-mebbe."
''Does yer know the housea" ask
the other man, after spell Of silence.
~ don't, pard. But I've looked it
in the directory, and it's as handy a
mitten on yer nose. Let's go and {
somethin' wet to improve our mine
It's tween us this time-yOu outside,
in-savey9"
The rascals, who, in appearance
least, might have passed for honest me
walked out OF the doorway and part
company, to avoid the eagle eye of
police, which would have recognized
their duality conspiracy against /
and order.
When Mrs. Bascomb returned fri
her visit it was dark. She had stay
to supper, and as the girl opened
door she saw that she was somewhat e
cited.
"What is it, Kitty" she asked ratl
gravely, because the girl was inclined
get frustrated easily.
"Oh, mem, what was the name of
pirl as lived here before | cameW s
responded with a counter question.
"Here namel Sarah something,
cannot remember Just now-whyT
"Oh, there was a young man h
looking for his sister, but her name '
Annie Donovan. He said ne had
seen her in ten years, and she was gro
up new, and he talked butchfully ao'