Tombstone epitaph., 1916-07-16

a neighbor to whom he owed the money to come for it the next day. It was just at dusk that Huldah. in the kitchen, caught the echo of the cheery Get up there!" of her father in front of the house. She hastened the preparations for the evening meal. Then she failed to hear her father as usual bustling about the stable.
 That is strange." she murmured, as she did not see any lantern light at the rear of the house. Then she went out to the front. The horse and wagon were standing near the hitch ing post. Just then Seth came in from the fields.
 Why. l wonder what can have be come of father" spoke Huldah. oh, Seth! There he is lying in the road,'
 The old man had fallen. or had been knocked from the Tagon-the latter. it seemed. for there was a mark neal the temple suggesting a blow from some blunt instrument. His pockets were turned inside out, his watch and the old purse he always carried were gone They carried him into the house
 It became known all over the dis trict the next day that two thieves had followed Mir Bingham from town. in some way aware that he carried large amount of money around with him, and had robbed him of the mort gage money-s2. 900.
 Tornl la u-hnr ha rar ma hack to consciousness. He recalled being assaulted by two men just as he left the wagon to secure the horse to the hitching post.
 T had the money from the bank in two one-thousand-dollar bills he said. I'd put them in an old snuf box and kept that in my coat pocket. where I could constantly feel it. They must have got 1t. yet-yet-" and he tried to think hard-''it seems to me that their coming at me warned me, and clutched the box, and-and-no: it's no use. I cant remember. It's four years more hard work to make 1t up. but I'm thankful they spared my life"
 They never discovered any trace of Il thieves It broke up the old man considerably to realize the tre- mcndous loss with which he had met
 T hope his mind is going to be all right" spoke Huldah anXiously to heI husband one day
 Why should you think otherwise?" asked Seth.
 Why. every once in a while father stops work and goes out to the spot where he was knocked from the wag- on by those men. He will stand star ing there for a full quarter of an hour at the hitching post. as if it were a sort of an oracle he was consulting"
 Well. it was a great shock. the robbery" said Seth, but it will wear of with father after time
 Seth had bought a new horse, a great powerful animal. and he hitched him up one morning to go to town. The rig was all ready in front of the house while the family were eating breakfast Suddenly. glancing out of the side window. old Jared sprang quickly to his feet and ran out of the house
 That road roller is coming" shouted, and I'll bet it scared the new horse. Too late Too late, Slam etty-bang, The animals gone. hitch. ing post and all"
 The announcement was true. The new horse had pulled the hollow post up and was speeding down the turn. pike with it swinging behind him. Seth started in pursuit Father and daughter stood staring after. Sudden. ly Jared uttered a strange cry. He stopped over and from the scattered dir. where the post had been pulled from place picked up-his old snuff box.
 Why, remember. clear as day, now" he shouted. "Huldah," and he opened the box and the two s1,00O ! bills were safe and sound. It was true. and just then the con meeting link in the mystery flashed into the old mans mind When the robbers had attacked him he had slipped the box over the edge into the hollow tube and time and circum stances had proven it to be a safe | v-Fp