Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-08


there, sure enough, hanging to bit of
tarry string, which i cut with his own
gully, we found the key. At this tri-
umph we We're filled with hope, and
hurried upstairs, without delay, to the
little room where he had slept so long,
and where his box had stood since the
day of his arrival.
1t was like any other seamans chest
on the outside. the initial 3D. burned
on the top of it with hot iron, and
the corners somewhat smashed and
broken as by long, rough usage.
GIVE me the key" said my mother;
and though the lock was very stiff she
had turned it and thrown back the lid
in twinllling.
A strong smell of tobacco and tar
rose from the interior, but nothing
was to be seen on the top except suit
of very good clothes, carefully brushed
and folded. They had never been worn,
my mother said. Under that, the mis-
cellany began--a quadrant, tin cant
kin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace
of very handsome pistols, a piece of
bar silver, an old Spanish watch and
some other trinkets of little value and
mostly of foreign make, pair of COM
passes mounted with brass, and five or
sig curious West Indian shells. 1t has
often set me thinking since that he
should have carried about these Shells
with him in his wandering, guilty,
hunted life.
In the meantime, we had found moth
ing of any value but the silver and the
trinkets, and neither of these were in
our way. Underneath there was an old
boat-cloak whitened with sea-salt on
many harbor-bar. My mother pulled
it up with impotence, and there lay
before us, the last things in the chest.
bundle tied up in oil-cloth, and look
ing like papers, and a canvas bag, that
gave forth, at touch, the jingle of
gold.
''I'll show those rogues that I'm an
honest woman" said my mother IN
have my dues, and not farthing over.
Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag" And she be-
gan to count over the amount of the
captains score from the sailors bag
into the one that was holding
1t was a long, difficult business, for
the coins were of all countries and
sizes-doubloons, and louis-d'ors, and
guineas, and pieces of eight, and know
not what besides, all shaken together at
random. The guineas, too, were about
the scarcest, and lit was with these only
that my mother knew how to make her
count.
When we were about halfway
through, suddenly put my hand upon
her arm, for had heard in the silent,
frosty air Il sound that brought my
heart into my mouth-the tap-tapping
of the blind mans stick upon the frozen
road. 1t drew nearer and nearer,
while we sat holding our breath. Then
it struck sharp on the inn door, and
then we could hear the handle being
turned and the bolt rafting as the
wretched being tried to enter; and then
there was a long time of silence both
within and without. AT last the tap
ping recommended, and to our indie
scribable joy and gratitude died slow
ly away again until it ceased to be
heard.
Mother" said l, take the whole
and let's be going;" for was sure the
bolted door must have seemed sus-
picious, and would bring the whole hor-
nets nest about our ears, though how
thankful was that had bolted it none
could tell who had never met this ter
rible blind man.
But my mother, frightened as she
was, would not consent to take frac-
ton more than was due to her, and
was obstinately unwilling to be content
with less. 1t was not yet seven, she
said, by a long way; she knew her
rights and she would have them; and
she was still arguing with me, when a
little low whistle sounded good way
off among the hills. That was enough,
and more than enough, for both of us.
I'm take what l have" she said,
jumping to her feet
'sAnd I'll take this to square che
count" said l, picking up the oilslin
packet.
Next moment we were both CROP
ing downstairs, leaving the candle by
the empty chest; and the next we had
opened the door and were in full re.
treat. We had not started moment
too soon. The fog was rapidly dis
persing; already the moon shone quite
clear on the high ground on either side;
and it was only in the exact bottom of
the dell and round the cabin door that
thin veil still hung unbroken to con-
oeal the dxst atsns Of our sscape. Far