The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-02-25
THE EGG STEALER
Ny Arthur QuIiier-couoh.

| IL wanted less than an nOur 10 nign tide when Miss Marty Lear heard her brothers boat grate on the narrow beach below the garden and set the knives and glasses straight while she listened for the rattle of the garden gate,
 When he entered the kitchen and | hltchcd his hat upon the peg against the wall. he did not appear to want any welcome from her. He was long jawed man of slxty-nve. she a long jawed woman of slxty-one. and they understood each other. having kept this small and desolate farm to- gether for twenty years-since their fathers death.
 Who dye reckon l ran against to- day down in Troy"
 Miss Marty said that she had not an idea.
 "why, that fellow Amos TrudgeOn. be went on.
 "Yes?"
 "'Pears to me you dlsremembers en son of old Jane Trudgeon that used to live cross the water. him that stole our eggs long back. when father was uvln'."
 "I remember"
 q thought you must. Why, you gave | evidence. Co be sure. Be dashed. now | come to mind. if you wasn't the first to wake us up an say you heard a man cryin' out down 'pon the mud"
 "Iss, was"
 An saved his life. though you did get en two months in jail by it. Up 10 armpits he was an not two minutes to live when we hauled en out an found he'd been stealth our eggs. He inquired after you today"
 "Did hei"
 "How's Miss Martyr says he. Age in rapidly says l. The nerve that some folks have! Iris an old tale after all. that feat O his"
 Two an forty year, come lIth O July next Did he say any moreT
 "wanted 10 know if you was mar rled."
 "Ohr'
 Job laid down knife and fork with the edges resting on his plate and looked at hls sister. Before he could speak she broke out again:
 "He was my lover"
 Marty
 q swear to you. Job, here across this | table he was my lover. an l ruined en. He was the only man, 'cept you an father. that ever kissed me. an l betrayed CD. An what's more, he made me" Mar
 Don't hinder me. Job; it's truth I'm tellln'. His people were low lot, an father'd have hlded me If he'd know. But we used to meet in the orchard most every night. Amos 'ud row across In his boat an back agen."
 "Go on. ."-
 "wen. the last night he came over twas low tide. was waltin' for en In the orchard. au' he would have me tell father aa' you. an I wouldn't. l reckon we quarreled over it so long his boat got left high in the mud. Any ways. he. left me In wrath. an l stood there by the gate In the dark longin' for en 10 come back. But the time went on. an l didn't hear his oars pullin' away, though listenin' with all my ears.
 An then I heard a terrible sound. a low sort O breathin'. but fierce. an somethin' worse-a suck-suckln' O the mud below-an' ran down. There he was. above his knees in 1t, half way between firm ground an his boat. For an his flghtln' he heard me an' whls- pcrs ont O the dark:
 Little girl, it's got me. Hush! Don't shoutr
 "'Can't you get outy whispered back.
 "'No. I'm afraid
 "T'n run an call father an Job
 "Hush! Be you mazed? Do you want to let 'em knowr
 "'But itn kill you, dear, won't itT
 "I.lkcly it will said he. Then after a while O Oattlin' with 1t he whispers agen: Little girl. l don't want to die. Death Is a cold end But l reckon we can manage to save me an your name as well. Run up to the henhouse an bring me as many eggs as you can find. an don't ax questions. Be quick. [ can keep up for awhile
 q didn't know what he meant, but ran for my life. could tell pretty well how to find a dozen or more in the dark by gropln' about an in three min utes had gathered 'em in the lap O my dress an run down agen. could just spy hlm-a dark blot out on the mud.
 "How manyY he asked. his voice hoarse as a rocks.
 "'AbOut a dozen
 "'Toss 'em here. Don't come too neay. an shy careful, sos can catch. Quickr
 "l stepped down pretty near to the brlm O the mud an tossed 'em out to on. Three fell short in my hurry. but the rest he got hold O somehow. "'That's right. They'll think egg stealth nateral to a low family like urn. Now back to your room. un- fress an cry out. sayin' there's man rhoutin' for help down 'pon the mud. When you wave your candle twice in the window, I'll shout like Trojan An I did 1t. Job. for the cruelty in fearful woman passes knowledge. An you rescued en. an he went to n