The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-10-18
Toms Money.


Nh RS LAUGHToN had fOun
JN1l what she had been looking 70
all her life-the man unde
her bed.
Every night Of her nearly thirr
years Of existence this pretty little per
son bad stopped on her knees, befors
saying her prayers. and had investI
gated the space beneath her bed; had
then peered beneath the dark recess OF
the dressing case. and having looked IN
the deep drawer Of the bureau aud into
the closet. she fastened her door. and
felt as secure as a snail In a she'll As
she never. In this particular business.
seemed 10 have any confidence In Mr..
Laughton. In spite OF the fact that she
admired him and adored him. neither
his presence nor his absence ever made
any variation In the performance. She
had gone through the motions. however.
for SO long a time that they had come
10 be in manner perfunct0ry. and the
start she received on this night OF which
I speak made her prayers quite impos-
sible
What was she to dos She. a COW
ard par emfnence. known to be the most
timorous OF the whole family; and here
she was now. the two maids away in the
little wing. locked out By the main
house. alone with burglar. and not an
other being nearer than the works.
haIf-mile of.
How did this man know that she was |
without any help heres How did he /
happen TO be aware that Toms money
was all in the houses II that money \
was taken. nobody would believe the
story Tom would be cashlered; be
never could live through the disgrace;
he would die OF "A broken heart. and
she Of another What mIschance for
her 10 be left with the whole thing In
her hands. her little. weak. trembling
hands-Tom's honor, his good name and
his success. their fortune, the welfare
OF the whole family. the livelihood OF
all the men. the safety OF the enter
prise, What made Tom risk things so?
II was worse than any loss OF money
to have such a wretch as this so near
one. so shudderingly. so awfully near.
to be so close as this to the bortomless
pit itself.
Light and electricity are swift. but ,
thought Is swifter. In the fraction Of a I
second Mrs. Laughton was on her feet, I
and before pendulum could have J
more than swung backward, she took )
the light brass bedstead and sent II
rolling away from her with all her
might and main. leaving the creature L
He lay easily on one side. a
a stout little club In bis hand. some K
weapons cleaning In his belt Il
You look pretty, don't your said
she Ii
Perhaps this was as much Of shock y
10 the man as his appearance had been k
10 her hi
Get up" said she I'D be a man II
was a man Get up. I'm not going dI
o hurt you" oh
The idea Of this little fairy queen Of
woman. almost small enough to have ne
topped out Of a rain lily. hurting hin. to
tut II was so different from what be M
ad been awaiting. that It startled him.
lie was on bis feet now. towering over
er. VIC
NO" said he. grufHy; II don't SUI wo
ose you're going to hurt me- And I'm
OF going to hurt you, II you hand over
nat money" ella
what money! opening her eyes
18th wide sort Of establishment
Come None Of your lip. 1 want D'a =
lat money!
why, haven't any money! o yes. any
have. to be sure, but mo
II thought you'd remember it, said
e man. with a grin. ora
But 1 want itw she exclaimed.
Il want 1t. tool" said he. nc
20. IT wouldn't do you any good
9 reasoned Fifteen dollars. And nc
5 all the money I've got in the ,n ne'
,rldi" me
Il don't want no fifteen dollars. said a.,
, man; "and l don't want none of .n~.
ur Ginning l want the money your m 7
stands going to pay on with" Ara,
%, Toms money !" In quite a tone Of ha.,
ief &c, 1 haven't anything to do hat
Ii Toms money. II you can get any mai,
ney out Of Tom, It's more than can kne,
to
Yes. Iee, you little hen-sparrer," y
eyes coming back to her from sur ed q
Of the soom. that you've got Toms II