The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-12-22

Alice lifted her brown head from
the pillow and leaned on one elbow
and stared into the fire. "Niggers out
in the barn." she reflected Father
took Mr.. Jarvis horse because Mig.
gers foot was lame. Benny" she
began excitedly, and stopped
Benny gave an enormous yawn and
turned his heavy yellow head
"Whu-ut?" he inquired.
Don't go to sleep, Benny-listen!"
the girl begged. 1--WE got an idea
something lovely, really. Why can't
we go to the stable to-night-it's
Christmas Eve-and listen to Niger
talking, like Hans listened to FriedeI
and Nina? And maybe he'll know
lots of money. and give it to father to
go south with. Mother would be glad"
The boys sleepy eyes opened and
gazed at her. Wouldn't it be
naughty"
AS happened once before in a gar
den. the woman tempted him." Ben
ny was swept out on the tide of his
sisters adventurous spirit, and while
the fire steamed and purred an un.
dertone they made their plans. Very
nearly were the plans shipwrecked by
Nature. however, for, as they waited
till the night should be older. the
clock licked. the fire sang lullaby.
and the children fell asleep.
But at half-past eleven log
dropped noisily, the light of it blazed
up and the adventurer-in-chief, the
deed to be done In her veins, awak-
ened. 1t needed all her energy to
persuade the boy, numb with sleep,
that sleep was not the one possibility
in midnight world. But there was
a persistent spirit in her, and in ten
minutes two muffied little figures crept
through the shadowy house and out
over the white lawn, misty with still
falling snow. and up the slope to the
door of the stable.
There were half-visible footsteps in
the white carpet on the ground, but
the big flakes had blurred them, the
children did not notice. An hour be-
fore man had hurried along the
road from town, powerful man,
walking fast. AS he walked he spoke
to himself in a low tone.
The note about Pat O'Hara's bro
ken leg ought to take him three miles
out of his way-it ought to delay him
an hour. Lucky l remembered where
the horse and trap would be kept"
He passed a stream, tinkling sill
verify in the stiffness under its roof
of ice and snow. He halted and
stared down.
II took my first trout in that hole,''
he murmured, and swung on.
But the ghost of boy had caught
his arm and chung to him and went
with him down the road. He could
not shake the ghost-boy loose
"Dr. Harding took you home to
lunch that day." the boy whispered
land the trout was cooked, and they
made an event of it,"
well, what of that?" the man an
swered the memory aloud. Pm not
going to hurt DR.. Harding, am II"
He won't give up what he has sci
himself to guard"
The big fellow spoke again grimly
Hell nave to-" The muscles of hi!
bent arm frightened. The clingint
ghost-boy clutched closer.
you couldn't hurt him! You could
not do 1t in this place, where the goo6
years of your life were passed. You
know every foot of this ground-every
foot of it has happy association
You've played hide-and-seek in tina
barn of Harding's, and gone to sleeI
in the hay-loft. Can you go there ane
take money from him?"
The mans hand flew out. Its no
his money! wouldn't rob him. IT..
money that ought to be mine-it be
longs to Sidney Maxwell, my cousin
and it's Maxwell money-family mon
ey. They make millions year-I'n