The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-02-10

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barn. John was not
up yet, and when he finally came dewn
to the stable | was busily engaged in
grooming the horses. The experience
of the night had left me a trifie pale
and agitated, for in all my experience
l had never been quite so near deaths
door. But Johns was an unsuspect-
ing nature, and l had nothing to fear
from him.
You're an early bird to get back so
soon in the mornin'," he said, "an'
your work half done, too, before break
fast"
II got a lift most of the way out"
1 answered. Il caught milk wagon
coming this way"
You're always lucky. Now, if that
had been me I'd tramped all the way
an never met a soul unless it was
somebody to hold me up"
Hold YOU up!' | said disdainfully
"a man Of your size and age afraid of
being held up by highwayman?"
Il never have been, but there are sc
many burgiaries goin Oh roun' here
that it makes me feel creepylike wher
I'm out OH the road after dark
Il hadn't heard of many robberies. y
l replied; none except that of the
Stetson mansion the day before Mr.
Goddard engaged me-
''Well, you haven't heard everything
then. That was the fifth or sixth in
four weeks, an they have had -four
more houses entered since them
This was genuine news to me, and ]
was Interested John continued:
''They are slick ones, too, for they
never leave any trace behind them
Them detectives from the city don't
seem to be able to do anything. They
must come from the city over night an
get back again afore mornin'. But
they can't find any of the stolen goods
not in any of the pawnshops. It's
a fine mystery to be a-hangin' over
the place. You can't tell which house
will be robbed next. The servants are
all talkin' about leavin', an nobody
feels safe. | amt sayin' that I'm moi
glad that Pm livin' out here over the
barn instead of in the house They
never bother the stables, an suppose
I'm all right
But you'd go to Mr.. Goddard's as
sistance if an alarm was given at
night?" said.
II amt employed for that" John re-
piled evasively, shifting his eyes from
object to object. 1--WE got wife an
child to look after, an there amt nc
reason why should get killed to save
my master few dollars"
NO? Well, Ia go as soon as found
he was in trouble"
''Well. you haven't anybody depend
ent upon you" he answered.
That's true" Then l added: "You
say most of the houses around here
have been entered in the last month OF
two. Has Mr.. Goddards been rob
bed?"
mo; his an DR.. Squires' are bout
| the only ones that haven't been rob
bed.'
That's curious" reflected aloud.
Not at all. We expect the robbers
any night here, an that's why the scrv
ants all threaten to leave. The rob
bers wouldn't take the trouble to break
into Dr.. Squires', fur there amt nothin
In chat old place to take. He's too poor
| to have anything valuable aroun'."
Breakfast at this juncture inter
rupted Johns talk, and we had ni
chance to renew it that morning. Bu
about noon the subject was recalled t,
me rather forcibly by the appearance,
of Mr.. Goddard. He looked troubled
and dissatisfied He came into til,
barn dressed in his ordinary mornin:
smoking jacket.
John, I've got to make some chang,
here" he said. My butler has be
| come frightened over the recent rob
berries and won't stay. and the rest o
the servants are UP in arms too. The,
all talk of leaving. must have som,
manservant in the house who ism
afraid of every little sound and read,
to jump at his own shadow. Now tn,
question is, Who shall install there {?
He looked significantly from John t,
me.
II have a family to look after" Johl
began to stammer, and as he spoke
look OF annoyance swept across Nj
Goddard's face.
did not let him finish, for knew
that he would only set himself int
deeper water by displaying his coward
ice AS good, faithful coachman an,
kindly husband John was Il success
but as man of courage he was tota
failure.