Year: 1875

And to tell the truth, Bell s face wa


rather pale as she asked. But VIII


can it be such night as this ?
III soon see, said Ralph, and takin.


the lamp from the table, he went te
the door and opened it.
How do you do Is this Judg,
[ Cramers house or am | mistaken
said voice from the dark.


The darkness was intense outside
and it was some time before Ralpl
could distinguish objects when HI
could be made out the form of man
standing on the lower step-stout
thick set, and with long scarf wrap
ped around his head. His body was
enveloped in heavy shaggy overcoat
covered with snow.


Yes, said Ralph, slowly he lives
here, but is away tonight


Is he ? Well, III come in and warm
me said the man, brushing past Ralph,
shaking himself free from snow in the
entry and going into the room, Ralph
following and looking wonderingly al
the stranger, who, as he entered the
room, slowly unwound the scarf from
his neck, saying as he glanced around
the room:


Well, this looks natural 81 suppose
you do not recognize me, he continued
drawing chair to the fire aud coolly
looking at the amazed group.


No, I'm sure don't, said Ralph.
Well, slid the man, | suppose |
might as well tell you first as last, |
am Dick Crammer.


Dick Crammer 1t can't be possi-
bic said Polly starting up.


It's no other, he answered, | did
uot expect you'd know me, any of you
for fifteen years roaming over the
world changes man.


Why /! Father has gone to the de-
not, TO meet YOU. uncle exclaimed
Bell.


Has he Z? / expected to meet him
th~--, '-'A 4,oA .L-o-, ~, ~ l-.--:
ness in the city sooner than l expect
ed, and seeing an old acquaintance
coming this way came on with him,
thinking to meet your father on the
way but l did not see any thing of
him.


The evening flew away on wings,
Uncle Dick had an inexhaustible fond
of stories and had kept them all laugh
ing, and when at length Polly looked
up at the clock, she exclaimed in sur
prise


If it amt nine o'clock-bed time.


Why, so it is. Uncle Dick, your
room is down stairs, the south bed
room, said Bell.


Yes, and no fear Of burglars now,
said Ralph, who, during the evening
had told Uncle Dick about his father
having six thousand dollars in the
house.


Father keeps it in his study. The
man he owes it to, is coming after it
tomorrow, he had said.


1t was midnight. Ralph, who had
been strangely sleepless for one who
usually slept 50 sound, lay in his bed,
listening to the twelve twanging
strokes of the clock down stairs. The



wind whistled mornfully around the
corner of the house, and Ralph was
wondering if the storm had ceased
and thinking of his father being at the
depot waiting for his uncle Dick, when
suddenly his curiosity was aroused by
a far off, faint noise. He listened in
tently; Il slight rasping sound came
up, it seemed to him, from his fathers
study which was directly below.


What can that be ? he said to him
self as it continued. I am going to
find out, at length he continued and
slipping out of bed and drawing on
his pants and stockings he opened the
door and stole softly down stairs. The
sitting-room door was ajar, and as the
noise had stopped Ralph was about to
open it and 60 in when he heard a
half stihed curse. He stopped short
and carefully opening the door a crack
farther he peeped in. The study door
was on a line with his vision, and
wide open, a lamp stood on his fathers
desk turned down so that it gave but
a feeble light, bnt by it Ralph saw
the figure ola man bending over the
lock.


He had apparently almost succeed
ed in opening the desk, but had met
with some unexpected difficulty and
it was this that had caused the curse
that had warned Ralph. He stood
startled for a moment and turning
$50. .ko,~,