Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-15
A GOOD SAMARITAN IN DISGUISE.
The Little Woman Proved the only
Christian In the Lot.

Christian In the Lot.
Mrs. Moore pulled the curtain little
farther back that she might see better
into the gathering darkness. Yes, she /
assured herself That's Abbe Dexter |
going again on one of her mysterious |
Journeys Well, all I've got to say 49, |
It's shameful in a woman of her age TO
sneak out after dark ike that' IL uoeS
not look decent"
What shocks you So mother?' asked
a voice from the room beyond.
you would hardly believe 1t, but Abb |
bic Dexter has gone away again with
travelling bag in her hand, just as l
saw her go two different evenings last
week. | don't know what to make OF
it," Mrs. Moore dropped into chair in
her perpleXity.
IF anyone ought to know Abbie DeX-
ter at all well, you are that person.
asserted her son. Living as you have,
across the road from her for more than
20 years"
that she was one of the Lords own,
but it looks as If l were mistaken, Tor
this is the third time l have seen her
sneaking off just at dusk and she car
ries a bag every time and does not get
back until II o'clock. 49,
ut seems to me, mother, that you Will
have to call the reckless Miss Dexter to
account" gibed the young man, stopping
Now you know, Robert, that Abbie
has not been friendly since we refused to
let Horace have the hill farm when he
married that shiftless city girl: ,.
Il know, but ! have always liked Miss
Abbie, myself 1t has been pretty lone
some here since old Hold went away and
l have always felt sorry you did not let
him have the farm"
Horace knew what to expect II he
went against our wishes, and don see
as it's any of Abbie DeXter's business.
mo, it is none of her business, of
course, but she probably has heart,
and she liked Hold"
Il suppose she did, but good gracious, |
look at that clock! Here | am wasting
my time and there's a Willing workers
meeting at Mrs. Clark's tonight" And
she sprang up and hurried away.
At Mrs. Clarks tongues and needles
flew with equal rapiditY. When she |
could get a word in edgewise Mrs. Clark
asked Mrs. Moore why Abbie Dexter was
not present. Mrs. Moore flushed and
hesitated. She did not like to throw the
first stone. Mrs. Short, who had no
ticed her embarrassment, was all inter-
est at once.
What in the world is the matter?
What has happened to Abbie, Mrs.
Moore?" And poor Mrs. Moore was lost.
Slowly, and with much urging, she con-
fessed what she had seen and also what
she mistrusted Hardly a shred of Miss
Abbie's character remained when the
meeting closed
Sunday, the minister's wife asked MIS-.
Moore if the stories that she had heard
were true, and that lady was obliged to
admit that Miss Abbie had made still
another excursion. The next week there
were two more trips and when the Will
ling workers met again Miss Abble was
absent as before. Her dark doings was
the one topic of conversation. Mrs. Bar
rctt at whose home the Workers met
on that occasion, suggested that before
the next meeting, Miss Abbie's conduct
be looked into.
she usually goes Tuesday and Friday
evenings, you say; then I think it would
be a good plan for Mrs. Short and Mrs.
Moore to follow her and see where she
goes and what she does, and If they
find that things are not as they should
be, we will strike her name from the
list of Willing workers and show our
disapproval by cutting her
This plan was decided upon and
the two women followed the quiet
figure to the railway station on
her next trip. Miss Dexter bought her
ticket and started for the train. Mrs.
Short hurried to the ticket window.
1--WE are going with Miss Dexter, two
tickets, please" Everyone knew every
one else in the little town and the agent
passed out the tickets and the change,
for she had handed him a fairly large
Dill lney seated lHSllSelNeS pehIiiN
their victim and, in the rush of leaving
the train at their destination, she did
not see her pursuers They kept her in
sight, however, and finally saw her enter
a rather dilapdated tenement house
They did not know what to do, or what
move to make next. They walked about
for few minutes trying to think of
some plan to get at the mystery, and
had about decided to go in and ask for
her when they heard the click of some
ones boot heels on the stairs and
woman ran by them and on down the
street.
oh" gasped Mrs. Moore.
That was Abbie Dexter, and she has
left her bag!" cried Mrs. Short
Then we had better go right in and
ask for her, We may find out something.
But how shall we know which tenement
she vsted?"
"Why, didn't you hear her running
down the stairs? 1t is the upper one OF
course" And Mrs. Short started for the
door. They climbed the steep night and
at last reached the landing and raped
on a door at the head of the stairs
frail young woman with baby in her
arms opened it,
rs Miss Dexter here?" asked Mrs.
Short. Mrs. Moore. looking past her
into the room, clutched her shoulder
Good heavens Horace" she cried,
and pushing past both women rushed
toward a figure in a large chair, 1.-THE
young mans face was pale and worn
and one Of his legs was stretched out on
another chair.
Mother" he murmured, and as she
kissed him he asked
How did you happen to Gomez Mrs
Moore colored. Mrs Short came to her
assistance.
1--WE were sent to look into the doings
of Abbie Dexter" she said. Horace
Moore looked surprised
Miss Dexter Is an angel If ever there