Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-11-06
WILL N.
HARDEN

bank"
what about that?" burst from old
Bishops startled lips.
"Craig claims Winship has abscond-
ed with all the cash. The bank has
failed"
"Failedw The word was moan
from Bishop. and for moment no one
spoke. A negro woman at the wash
place behind the house was using a
batting stick on some clothing, and the
dull blows came to them distinctly.
us that so. Ray?" asked Alan, calm
but pale to the lips.
"I'm sorry to say 1t Isl
"Can anything at all be done?"
"I,ve done everything possible al
ready. We have been telegraphing the
Atlanta police all morning about trac-
ing Winship. but they don't seem much
interested. They think he's had too
big q start on us. You see, he's been
gone two days and nights. Craig says
he thought he was on a visit to rela-
| tives till he discovered the loss last
night"
ut simply spells ruin, old man." said
Alan grimly. Il can see that"
Miller said nothing for a moment,
then:
Its just as bad as 1t could be, my
boy" he said. II see no reason to
false false hopes. There is strong
feeling against Craig and no little sus-
picion owing to the report that he has
been specializing heavily, but he has
thrown himself on the protection of
| his church, and even some of his fell
low members. who lose considerably,
are standing by him."
Here old Bishop, with compressed
lips, turned and walked unsteadily in
to the house. With head hanging low
and eyes flashing strangely, his wife
followed him. At the steps she paused,
her sense of hospitality transcending
her despair. "You must stay to early
supper anyway. Mr.. Miller" she said.
"You could ride back in the cool O. the
evening"
"Thank you, but I must hurry right
back, Mrs. Bishop" Miller said.
"And Dolly-does she know?" asked
Alan, when his mother had disap-
peared and Abner had walked to the
hitching post and stood as If thought.
fully inspecting Miller's mare. Miller
told him Of their conversation that
morning. and Alan's face grew tender
and more resigned.
| "She's brickw said Miller. "She's
a woman now believe in thoroughly
she and one other"
"Then there is another?'' asked Alan
almost cheerfully. as an effect Of the
good news that had accompanied the
bad.
Eyes. see things somewhat differ
emily Of late" admitted Miller in an
evasive, noncommittal tone. Dolly
Barclay opened my eyes, and when
they were open saw-well. the good
qualities of some one else. l may tell
you about Ter some day, but shall
not now. Get your horse and come to
town with me. We must be ready for
any emergency"
1 Abner Daniel came toward them. 81
don't want to harm nobody's charac-
ter" he said, "but whar my own kin is
is concerned Pm up an wide awake.
l don't know what you think, but l
hain't got speck O. faith in Craig
hisse'f. He done me low, sneakin'
trick once that ketched up with. He
swore 1t was mistake, but it wasn't.
He's a bad egg-you mind what say;
he won't do"
sit may be as you say. Mr.. Daniel
returned Miller, with q lawyers re-
serve on point unsubstantiated by
evidence, "but even If he has the mon
.ey hidden away, how are we to get it
from him?''
'I'd find way" retorted Daniel
holly. $50 would"
"We'll do all we can" said Miller.
4. Daniel strobe into the house, and
Alan went after his horse. Miller stood
at the gate. idly tapping his boot with
his whip.
'Poor Mrs. Bishop" he said, his eyes
on the house. "How very much she
resembled Adele just now, and she Is
bearing it just like the little. girl would.
IL reckon they'll write her the bad
news. I wish was there to-soften
the blow. 1t will wiring her heart"
That evening after supper the family
remained till bedtime in the big, bare
looking dining room, the clean, polished
floors of which cleaned in the light Of
a little fire In the big chimney. Bish-
ops chair was tilted back against the
i wall in dark corner, and Mrs. Bishop
sat knitting mechanically. Abner was
reading-o trying to read-a weekly
paper at the end of the dining table
aided by dlmly burning glass lamp
/ Aunt Maria had removed the dishes
and with no little splash and clattel
was washing them in the adjoining
kitchen.
! Suddenly Abner laid down his paper
and began to try to console them fol-
their loss. Mrs. Bishop listened pa
tiently, but Bishop sat in the very co
ma Of despair, unconscious Of what
was going on around him.
whats the use O talkin' about it 2
he said impatiently. What's the us'
&, o. anything?"
He rose and moved toward the doc
leading to his room.
L alfred" Mrs. Bishop called to him
fare you goin' to bed without holdin