The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-07-05

" ClOCh, anu 10 let MIN KNOW as SllD-
perry Jim's back all SAFE" said she;
and. besides. If / didn't go, Kitty
Emmons - lant get no supper. Kit
tvs sick, Kitty is. and them as don't
work can't eat, Mother Jones says, so
I saves her lick and cut out o. NINE
Lemme go now, and just you mind
what says.
Miss Fortescue had opened her mouth
to plead further. but almost ere she
knew 1t, the strange little apparition
had vanished
well, never!" exclaimed Miss For
tescue, using unconsciously the same
words that her cook had selected for the
expression Of her great amazement.
And she went straight upstairs and
told the whole story to Maria Vinton.
Mrs. Vinton scoffed at It, as, indeed.
1t was quite natural she should do.
And you believe 1t all? ,eid she.
II couldn't help it while I looked in
her face"
But, my dear Miss Fortescue, just
see how very improbable 1t all is. Pray,
| use your common sense"
"At all event, mean to have the
police" said Miss Fortescue, nodding
her head.
you'll only get laughed at for your
palms."
'I'll risk that" said the little old
maid.
The gray-stone house was quite dark
when the clocks STRUCK 2, the quarter
past, and the half hour; but Miss For
tescue was wide-awake, sitting in front
of her fire, with a heart throbbing with
quick, uncertain beats. She would
have risked much on Jacqueline's truth.
yet now that the hour Of test APP
preached, strange doubts crept over her
mind.
Silently rising, she stole downstairs
on tiptoe, and stood at the head of the
cellar stairway, with Mrs. Vinton at
her side. both trembling, partly from
cold, and partly from underlined appre-
tensions.
Suddenly there was q dull, scuffling
noise, the sound of hurried movements
and then the sharp crack Of a pistol.
an then a child's cry.
You'll blow on us ag'in" snarled
dee) voice. TITS all up now-but you
shan't go scot free, you Jackey"
More smothered scuffling noise, the
sound Of hurried movements, and then
a sudden upblazing of light; but
through 1t all Miss Fortescue's strained
ears could hear the low moaning Of
someone in mortal pain.
st can't endure this, Maria" she
whispered IT must go down..
"And be killed in the melee!' cried
Mrs. Vinton, holding tight to her arm
mo, indeed; you shall not stir step!'
And at this instant the light flashed
into brilliancy, and from her elevated
position Miss Fortescue could see the
whole startling scene. The ruffians,
bound hand and foot, with sullen faces,
and bloodshot, rolling eyes-the trium-
plant myrmidons of the law exulting
In the capture they had made, and one
little figure darkly covering in corner
little Jacqueline.
Needless of the attempted explana-
ion of the officers, Miss Fortescue
broke from Mrs. Vinton's OBTAINING
nand, and ran to the child
"My dear, you are bleeding-you ar.
hurt?"
"Yes'm,". Jack answered, phlegmati'
cally, I'm hurt. Slippery Jim mis-
trusted as I'd blown on 'em, and he
shot me. I think I'm goin' to die! ]
somehow can't breathe easy!" and, thus
speaking, poor Jack tainted.
"Lawk! ma ann said one of the Of
ficers, as Miss Fortescue tenderly lifted
the helpless mass Of rags dirt and BLOOD
in her arms, "she's just as bad as any
on 'em, Mother Jones Jackey-every-
body knows herr
at know her." said Miss Fortescue
quietly. ITS to her owe my preserva-
ton from robbery-perhaps assault.
and even murder-this night. Hence
forward, she shall be my care"
Mrs. Vinton held up both hands in
amazement and wonder. Was the rich
spinster going mad?
When little Jackey came to herself,
she lay among soft, scented pillows,
with the odorous breath of dollhouse
flowers filling the air, and kind face
bending over hers-Miss Fortescue's
face.
"Oh-h-h!" said Jacley, with a long
breath; II thought I was dead and gone
to heaven, but 1 amt, be I?'
mo, my DEAR" said Miss Fortescue,
her tears dropping softly on the little
fevered face, mot yet. We hope you
will soon be well, and then you will be
my little girl"
Jacqueline stared vaguely at her pro-
tectress, whose kind eyes seemed so
dim and far off to her fever-weakened
vision.
"That would be better than going to
heaven" she said, with long, flutter-
Ing sigh, and then she fell asleep. %
Miss Fortescue wept as she pondered
over the words, which too plainly be-
tolSened the life the poor little waif had
led. And Mrs. Vinton, ever ready to
misjudge her fellow-creatures, thought
spitefully as she measured Jacquelines
drops for the next dose of medicine:
what slkillful little actress that beg
gar child WASH
Miss Fortescue kept her word, and
when Jaclkey recovered from the long
and dangerous illness consequent upon
the pistol shot, the child was her own
henceforward, loved with almost as ten
der fondness as If some tie of actual
consanguinity had existed between
them.
The piece Of silver which the rich
lady unthinkingly bestowed, with a
smile and kind word, upon the forlorn
street beggar had drawn interest.