The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-20

famed herself with her pocket hand
kerchief
! Dave put up the little girls tea an,
came back. Did you see old iona.
Griggs go out?" he asked.
He hasn't gone out" Sadie an
swered.
Hes disappeared" said Dave H,
isn't here"
THE THIEF.
Sadie went in. Old Jonas corner was
empty They looked out over the bach
yard Sadie. half laughing. looked be-
mind both counters. 1t was stranSS
enough.
I hope nothing has happened &c
him. said Dave. Lets look dowr
cellar"
The cellar was dusky and cool and
redolent of the molasses and kerosene
and Goldfish which stocked it, Save the
barrels and boxes, they saw nothing al
hrst-but they heard the sound OF a
shuffiing foOcsteD; ard at the far end
OF the cellar. family outlined in the
dlmness. they saw old Jonas GrigSs'
bent and wizened figure.
Dave would have gone TO him, but
Sadie caught his arm.
For sudden thought strange, faint
hope-had somehow come TO her. She
>.
Hush" she whispered. Watt
/ Old Jonas was fumDling in a large
box Turning. he came slowly back to
/ the stairs and climbed them, peering
painfully with his dimmed eyes, and
muttering.
They heard his shuffiing step crossing
I the upper floor. Then he reappeared,
Both hands were full. There were
some tin basins in one, two straw hats
in the other. The stairs creaked again
under his cautious tread, and he stole
back to the box. laid the things in it,
and came back as before, with a feeble
smile of satisfaction on his poor, wit
less old face.
They heard the scraping of his chair
on the floor above, and old Jonas had
settled down in his corner.
"Ch. Dave" said Sadie. oh, Daver'
And she said it in such a way that
Dave turned and looked at her with
surprise.
But he never knew that in her qua
vering voice there was anything more
than pity for old Jonas Griggs.
Yes, poor old codger," said Dave.
When Sadie's father got back. an
hour later. Sadie and Dave were sitting
on the store steps. Old Jonas Griggs
had gone home. at last.
A bicycle leaned at the side of the
porch. but Mr.. Sheldon did not observe
il. He had no chance to observe any
thing. Sadie caught him by the hand
Her eyes shone; she fairly danced up
and down.
Gene quick" she said. Il want to
shcx vou-O. hurry
She pulled him through the store and
down the cellar stairs. She led him,
much bewildered. through the cellar to
its farther end. and she lifted the cover
of a box.
Therer' she said Look
Sadie's father looked He lifted out
and box of silver thimbles and two
straw hats and some tin basins and
four babies caps.
Father" said Sadie lit was old /
Jonas Griggs. Dave and 1 missed him, /
and we came down mere. hunting for |
him, and he was crawling up and down 1
stairs and putting things into that /
box. He must have been taking things |
for a good while. He's here almost all |
the time, you know, and Dave said !
neither of you ever thought of watch |
ing him, and he'd had plenty of |
chances
You don't tell mer' said her father
slowly
He gave long whistle; he thrust his
hands deep into his pockets. We'll, /
velli He hasn't done any harm. Wen |
-hPtS TIC Jun anu just let illIl HI II /
up again, If he wants to. Poor old Jo-
las:"
But Sadie knew why his voice was
unsteady, and why he took out his
handkerchief and flourished it across
MS eyes. Not for old Jonas
He was thinking about Dave.
And you know. father" said Sadie.
boldly. I'VE never should have known
anything about it. if it hadn't been for
he bicvcle"
The bicycle?" said her father,
1lankly
Yes. Vinny Parker's. She brought it
Up Tor me TO learn on, and 1 was learn
ng, out in front. and Dave was help
ng me; and old Jonas thought it was a
good chance, and that's how he came
o be doing it then, and that's how we
'aught MIN at 1t, said Sadie. with con-
iusive triumph.
You don't tell me-" said her father.
Igain. That was all he said. He went
Upstairs.
'Dave," he called out He cIapped
Dave on the shoulder. You're a good
10Y, David he said. You're a splendid
elp; you're the best boy I've ever had
n the store I'm going to raise your
wages, Dave"
There was genuine heartfelt gladness
n his voice He smiled warmly on
)ave and on Sadie: he looked softened.
Ie stepped 10 the door.
What was that you said about a
icycle?" he queried. looking around
1t was Sadle's golden opportunity.
0, father" she said. 4 can ride some
lready; I can, if I do go awfully zig
az. And it's such fun; it's elegant,
ant have bicycle of my own,
lther?"
Well, find out how much they cost
aid her father. IN see"
Sadie knew what that meant. Her
lst doubt vanished; she and Dave ex-
hanged raDturOus Winks.