Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-21
FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.

FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.
When young married clerk sud
denly loses his situation in provin-
cial bank where EMPLOYERS are reduc-
ing their hands, it does rot follow that
work can be had for the asking in
London; and so Mr. Tom Craven
found himself still seeking employ
ment many months after his savings
mad dwlndled down to few pounds.
Inc last resources of the young couple
was the sale of every available article
OF furniture they possessed, and when
my story opens Young Mrs. Craven
was on the point of starting to sell the
last remaining article of value. name
~, her husbands boots.
''The children must live" said tbe
young man, looking at two tiny flo.
ures IN the bed, and all my other
clothes are done for, so the boots are
OF no use to me. The only trouble is
that you should have to take them,
Clara.
bootsr'
I've got slippers" replied Tom.
Make haste, dear-no one Will see
You IN the dark
Resolved to keep up, Clara STONED
Tor the boots. Something must turn
up soon perhaps you'll hear from
Brown d Co. to morrow she said.
VERY likely, responded Tom in a
Responding tone. Brown & Co. were
ms late employers, and he had writ
ten to them asking if they could posi-
biy take him back--with faint hopes
of success.
Quickly the boots were put into an
old leather bag, and Mrs. Craven
dressed herself in a shabby waterDroof
and bonnet, and covered her face win
2 thick veil. Then she crept down
the creaking old stairs and out into
the narrow street, with a heavy heart
ana eyes INTO which tears would come.
Gusts of wind made the steet lamps
flicker and cast strange shadows as
Clara Craven sped on toward the shop
where 'left-of' clothing was pur-
chased. She paused a few doors of
70 let some persons go on their way.
Tor she was sorely ashamed of her er-
rand; and as she stood thus her ewes
fell on placard that was fixed uuder
the light Of a lamp on the wall of a
ponce station.
Fifty pounds sterling reward"
Fifty pounds How nice To oet
1t! thought Mrs. Craven; and then
she took another look to see if the
coast was clear for the business she
had in hand. Two more peo.
pie were coming. Back went her
eyes to the placard, and she read that
TINS reward was offered to any person
who would give such information as
would lead to the conviction of a dar.
ing iewelry robbery.
"Wish | could catch the thief' sand
Clara to herself. half LAUGHING. half !
sadly' and when she looked again to- .
ward the wardrobe shop she saw she
might venture in. After hearing her
husband boots deprecated in every
possible manner, she timidly accented
the pitiful price offered, and then Stole
pack INTO the street, where She pur-
chased few absolute necessaries of
'ilte, and ordered some coal which n
green--grocer's boy wheeled IN a bar
rel behind her until they reached the
door OF the clearinghouse
would you mind CARRYING them nm
TO my room in two basketsfui if | give
you two-pence?" asked Clara. gently.
The boy nodded by way of answer,
and the young wife opened the door
with her latch-Sey, and ran up for an
old basket. While she was getting
this out of her room man had swift
ny entered the house and passed up
the stairs. The coal bov never no.
ticed him, for he was eagerly watch
ing the signs of an approaching FIGHT
between two tom-cats on an opposite
stairway.
The staircase was very dark. so
when Clara came down the man had
himself into a corner unob-
served; and when she went on her
way the stranger passed on to the top
OF the house, and entered the room
behind that occupied by the Crayens.
An hour later snug glow of fire
the young couple and their
childreS, and the latter, having been
satisfied with q meal. went sound ;
asleep. Tom watched his wife's buggy
fingers mending shabby clothes for a +
while, and then he, too, went to bed. I
sharing her fervent hope that .'some- t
thing would turn up tomorrow. !
And so it came about that when all .
we're asleep Clara sat on by the fire +
hat still burned ceerily, and after p
'ioven strokes had fallen slowly from !
he big clock. and the restless roar of e
ralc was somewhat less in the ever f
'lsy stree: her hands lay idle in her b