The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-12-01
A ROUGH DIAMOND.

i K ii :
pounds gone, missile! and poor mas
ter away! Oh, dear! oh, dear!
Fully an hour ago had the above
words been thrust on pretty little Elsie
Maitland's bewildered hearing. She
still sat in the exact spot where the
bearer of the awful news had left her,
TOO stunned and shocked even yet to
properly realize all that the terrible
tidings might mean.
Twenty thousand pounds gone! And
the bank in a somewhat embarrassed
condition before! Worst Of all, the
banker himself Elsie's uncle-was
away! Elsie Maitland was a brave lit
tie woman, but somehow this last
dreadful thing had well-nigh robbed
her of her bravery.
A step behind her, and a low voice
spoke her name. She knew it at once;
it was her good-for-nothing brothers..
Why had he come here now, bringing
fresh trouble? For the first time in
her life Elsie felt angry with him.
"Why are you here again, Harold?"
she cried, when he was stand
ing there in front Of her.
When gave you that last
money you promised to stay away al
together, and try and get something to
do. Yet here you are once more, and
this time cannot help you. Why,
why do you come? Uncle John would
be furious at finding you here
but he is away, Elsie" the young
man answered breathlessly. "Girlie,
you must help me, just this once. I
promise solemnly never to worry you
again!"
you have promised solemnly be-
fore, Harold" his sister said bitterly.
L cannot help you, I say. We are all
ruined. The bank has been robbed"
The startled look on his white face
caused her to cease speaking.
rs it true, Elsie?" he asked hoarse-
ly. HAS the bank really been
robbed?"
She told him what she knew, he lis
tening impatiently. r. T.
l must have money, girlie!' he
burst out. II must have it! 7 must
get away from here tonight, and l
don't possess single farthing! Quick
dear. Uncle left you some for house.
keeping. That will have to do
i don't possess a single farthing Ell
ther," she persisted. What is the mat
ter, Harold? Why is it so terribly
necessary for you to leave Blackmore
tonight?''
Their eyes met-hers clear, straight
forward, honest; his weak and ner-
vous.
Uncle will be coming back to see
about the bank, Elsie,' he muttered
queerly. He must not find me here.
No, it would only add to the bittel.-
ness Of his return. But what could
she do?
Il have it!' the desperate brother
suddenly exclaimed. ELSIE, this news
about the bank robbery is still exclu-
s1ve. The editor Of the Blackmore
Times would give you any sum for It.
He is enterprising, and always ready
for something startling at first hand.
This is our only chance, DEAR
But Elsie would not see it in that
light for long, long time. 1t was not
until her brother had fully ENLARGED on
the grim necessity of the case, not I'M
til he had forced her to plainly under
stand the consequences if he did not
have money at once, that she fina1.y
consented to go to the editor of the
Blackmore Times.
Harold Maitland had a smart. cum
ming tongue; on this occasion he had
indeed used it we'll. AS he prophesied,
the editor literally grabbed at the
copy" especially after he had fairly
convinced himself that his would be
the hrst paper to publish the startling
news on the morrow. Elsie went wear
lily home with the much-needed money
in her pocket. Harold was awaiting in
hiding for her, and pounced down Gag
erly on the gold.
An hour after his departure their
uncle's manager came to the house and
asked to see Elsie. When he was ad-
mitted into her presence he noticed
with sharp pang how wan and DESC
late her little face had grown.
Poor child! Such things az these
were hard for her to have to bear. How
he wished that he could save her all
care and annoyance in the future! For
with the whole of his stout. loyal
heart he loved her.
He showed her a telegram which he
had received from her uncle.
Returning at once" it said. "Keen
news of robbery out of the papers at
any price till I see you
Elsie read the words, or, rather thew
chased each other before her. d1zzy.
aching eyes. She suddenly tottered
forward and fell in a dead faint.
Next morning huge posters appear
ed from the Offices of the Blackmore
Times, making public the robbery
Newsboys shouted it frantically from
one street to another. Soon a big
crowd had gathered outside the bank,
clamoring for the doors to be opened
They wanted their money back,
their hard-won earnings, and thew
meant to get it. That exclusive news
sold by Elsie Maitland on the previous
evening to the editor of the Blackmore
Times had caused an appalling run on
her uncle's bank.
The doors were opened at last; the