The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-17
VOL. XLYII. NO. 49, SOl

back, then nipped at Dutch as though
angry. But when Mabel ran up to her
she put down her dainty head to be
stroked.
"She is mad with you because you
made her come too fast. See how her
TANKS heave p Peggy said. Dutch
smiled oddly as he answered: al had
to come fast. L am bound to 90 back
tonight, aud the days are short now.
Say, miss, didn't your father leave the
money for me? 1 can't well 20 with
out 1.-THE FLY, you see, is justly part
ly mine, and 'tother fellows cross
grained chap that don't trust any
body"
He didn't leave any money at all,
but my hundred dollars" Peggy said,
trying to speak carelessly. Dutch
laughed again. Funny ~ he said,
"but that's just the price of this beau
ty. She's worth double, but I-well, I
don't like to be partner with skin
fiint. Suppose you buy the beast,
seein' the squire amt here-and then
tell him if he wants her, why, he must
give you 800"
90, Peggy. Don'tr' Mabel said,
eagerly, but Peggy frowDed at her.
Don't You mind her, Mr. Dutch, +"
she said. "Of course I'lI give you the
money. Father must have forgotten
you were coming, but l won't make
him pay me quite 500. THAT wouldn't
be fair-woald it?"
"Anything's fair in a horse trad, 7
Dutch said. "But let's finish our bar
gain. Imust be movin' fast. Get the
money, please, while write a reeeiptp
"In just q minute" Peggy said, lead
ing the way to her fathers desk. As
Dutch sat down he looked appreheE
sively over his shoulder through the
open door, and said almost in a whisp-
er: "Make haste ~
Hand in hand Peggy and Mabel ran
to find Seraphlne. Seraphine had van
ished. Yet the room was undisturbed,
the windows fast, the door securely
latehed, Tipsy, the white kitten, sleep
ing peacefully beside the fire. The
children looked at each other awe
struck, and began to cry. DItch dart
ed in to them. "If you've been fool
ing me you'n be sorry for it, he said,
savagely. "You had that hundred
dollars-I know it-I know about your
aunts will. Give it to NE. Quick I.
Quick Do you hear? I'm bound to
get away"
"Hardly-when you leave a stolen
filly plain to view - man said, step
ping behind Dutch and seizing both
wrists. Dutch struggled hard, but was
promptly knocked down by the sheriff
and his deputies, who had been hot on
his trail 81 really thought better Of
you, Hankins," the sheriff said, as he
snapped the handouts on his prisoner.
at isn't like you to botch things this
wsy. l suppose, though, you have
grown eareless-as you have stolen sew
eral horses, and got away with them,
you thought you'd make the rifle with
the eighth, no matter what you did,"
"How did he get my hundred dollar
bill? Make him tell /! Make him give
it tack He stole it while we were in
the orchard pi Peggy cried, shrilly.
The sheriff looked significantly at
Hankins. Hankins shook his head.
''I came after it," he said, defiantly,
'but sure as Pm in these bracelets, IL
it's gone, somebody else got it. If l
had got it, you'd never caught me.
The stocks dead beat-Td a-left 1t and
struck for the railroad. l knew you
were not two miles behind"
Search proved that he told the truth.
When the sheriff had taken him away,
Peggy and Mabel ransacked the prem
ises. They looked under the beds, in
every drawer and cuddy, the kitchen
closet, the wood shed, even the pigeon
house, the chicken coop and the pump
shed. ''I don't believe it could have
got to the barn." Peggy said, despair
ingly. "And the cellar door is locked
fast and tight Mabel added, through
sympathetic tears. Still they searched
spasmodically, with no appetite for
anything but sweeteake, until Squire
Crayshaw and his wife came home
from the wedding. They brought a
great bundle of goodies, the sight of
which consoled Mabel to such an ex-
tent that Peggy said between sobs: 81
wouldn't sit there and gorge iced pound
cake, Mabel Bert, if you had-had lost
your whole fortune"
Just as she said il there came a queer
numbering pit-pat on the kitchen stairs,
which ran up ia one corner, and led to
a low, dark closet. Peggy and Mabel
had looked it through as best they
might by light of the stable lantern,
turning inside out everything but
Bose's box bed beside the warm CHM
ney, in which Bose himself, most wag-
gish Of shepherd puppies, lay curled
into a fuzzy ball. Bose was coming
down the stairs now, moving sidewise,
with something scarlet and heayyish
in his mouth. At sight OF his master
he tumhled down the last three steps,
dashed across the floor, and laid the
something at his feet, wagging his tail
aud looking up. as if for word of
praise.
why, its Seraphinel He carried
her off TO his bed ~ Mabel screamed.
Peggy had her arms around the pup
py's neck. "oh, you darling You
saved my hundred dollar bill ~ she
said.
MARTHA MCCULLOCH WILLIAMS.
Discovered by a Woman.