Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-11-06

inStinctiveiy feared the man, for he
knew that he had not the strength to
contend with him if violence was offer
ed, and he felt sure there would be
trouble when the tramp had refreshed
and he could not leave his mother alone
while he went for help.
While all this was passing through
his mind his glance fell upon the note
he had written, and he started as a
thought entered his mind. Selling the
pen, he opened the note and hurriedly
added:
"a rascally looking tramp has just
come in. Mother is feeding him, but
there is no telling what he will be up
to when he gets through eating. Ask
uncle and Mike to come over as quick
as they can. Father is away"
Fastening the note securely to the
pigeon, he went to the door, and open
ing it let the bird go. AS he did so the
man sprung from the table where he
had been swallowing his food in great
gulps, caught Tom by the shoulder and
flung him across the room, saying,
roughly:
'Set down, sonny, and make yourself
easy. Coin to call the neighbors, was
ye? You jest git me that there money,
and be quick about it."
Mrs. Nelson, pale and trembling,
sprung between them, trying to explain
that they were ignorant as to the loca-
tion of any money.
Come; none of thatv fiercely inter
rupted the man. ''Shut yer jaw or tell
me where it is. It'll be the worse for
ye if ye don't. That school money yer
mans takin' care of. You know what
l mean"
Then he drew revolver, threatening
to shoot them both if they persisted in
their denial.
Mrs. Nelson shook her head she could
not speak; but Tom, white to the lips,
muttered hoarsely:
you'll have to shoot, then, for don't
know where it is, and Pm glad don't,
for might be coward enough to tell if
l did," and then shut his eyes, expect
ing the worst.
The tramp eyed them incredulously
for moment, and, making up his mind
that they were speaking the truth,
after a pause of indecision, opened
door near where he stood. Discovering
that 1t was a dark closet, without Win
dow or means of escape, he drove them
into it at the pistols point, and as there
was key in the door locked them in.
Then he began the search. 1t was
long one, for the money was well hid
den, apparently. Cursing and swearing.
he emptied the secretary and bookcase
into the sitting-room; the bureaus and
wardrobes in the bedrooms, scattering
the contents over the floor; the side
board in the dining-room, and the clock
ON the mantel. He ripped up the mat
tresses and pillows, turning the house
into disorder, but no money could he
find.
Mad with rage and disappointment,
still he persisted, in spite of the danger
of discovery if he fingered. He was in
the act of splitting open tin savings
bank, relic of Toms babyhood, which
was heavy with weight of 1-cent
pieces which Mrs. Nelson found con-
yenient to have on hand, when a calm
voice of authority was heard at the
door, saying:
"Give it up, my man; it's no use. And
come along with me-"
1t was the village constable who
spoke, at the same time holding up a
pair of handouts in significant man
ner.
The tramp made a dash at the oppo-
site door, where he found Mike, Mr..
Morton's hired man-a brawny Irish
man-who said, soothingly:
whist, whist; not so fast, honey"
He glanced wildly at the windows
and saw stationed outside Mr.. Nelson
at one window and Mr.. Morton at the
other. Mr.. Nelson had returned earlier
than he expected, and had fallen in
with the relief party which the con-
stable, on the trail of the tramp on his
own account, had also Joined.
The mas, at bay, felt for his revolver
You made a slight mistake, my
friend" said the constable, in jeering
way, when you left it lying on the din
ing-room table,"
man, with an imprecation, allowed him
self to be handcuffed and followed the
constable in sulky silence.
Harry, who had followed the others,
soon discovered the prisoners by the
very vigorous blows and sounds in the
kitchen closet and released them. One
and all then and there agreed that the
pigeon is one of the most useful and
lovable of birds. Mr.. Nelson, who had
been inclined to consider his sons inter-
est in those gentle creatures foolish
waste of time, was the most enthusi-
astic of all.
For" said he, lifting down a wad of
bills from the top of decreasing
where it had been snugly reposing, "the
rascal might have got away with this
after all if there had been time. How he
found out that the money was in my
possession is what beats me-"
1t was a mystery which was never
Record.