Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 36, Decatur, Adams County, 18 November 1897 — Page 6

I £k i\4> u&-y q / c, Y 'tV^/2El [Copyright, 1896. by J. B. Lippincott Co.] | more determined to remain and find out CHAPTER 11. i what it is,” I said, decisively. Then I

It was something like coming home, after all, albeit to a house almost void of furniture and peopled only with remembrances of loved forms long since gone. At any rate, it was the only home I could really call my own. There were two rooms, the spare bedroom and the parlor adjoining, on the first floor, which still retained the furniture. Everything about these rooms, though faded and somewhat worn, was in good order, and I complimented Mrs. Snyder on the care she had taken. Sarah had thrown up the windows, and the soft evening air came into the rooms. Although the place had not been allowed to go to min, there was about It that indescribable quality which is attached to long-deserted houses. We all felt it more or less. Sarah and Mrs Snyder spoke in whispers; Jake stepped about on tiptoe, as though fearful that the heavy tread of his cowhide boots would bring back the spirits of the departed; while to myself there was a pathos about the old house which had not known an inhabitant for so long. It seemed like some human being deserted by its ow n flesh and blood. While I was passing from bureau to wardrobe, from center-table to man-tel-piece, taking mental notes of all the old-fashioned china and bric-a-brac \ which adorned those places still, and | which in my young days had been forbidden my boyish fingers, Sarah and Mrs. Snyder made up the bed, taking the bedding from a huge cedar chest which ■ stood on one side of the room. Sprigs of spruce and hemlock had been placed in the chest from time to time, and when the cover was lifted the pungent odor filled the room. AH through the preparations I noticed that Sarah and Mrs. Snyder were engaged in earnest conversation. The old widow was especially vehement, and Sarah would frequently shake her head and give forth exclamations indicative either of wonder or of disapprobation. My old nurse also favored me with many glances which seemed to have much. of solicitude in them. When everything had been done to make me comfortable for the night, Sarah turned to me, and spoke low. with a touch of fear in her tones,, “Come, Nel, you go back home with us,” she said. “Don’t stay here all alone in dis grade big house. I ain afrait to has you. Come back with us,” she reiterated, appealingly. “No, indeed, 1 ’ I replied, decidedly. “I would not miss sleeping amid the grateful odor of spruce for anything. I’ll be over to your house for breakfast, Mrs. Snyder,” turning toward the old widow. “You understand lam to take . my meals at your house, do you not?” “Yes. Dat ish all fixed. Mr. Son- ■ tag, your lawyer, told me. Bud you better go back mit Sarah,” the old woman replied. “And why so? What's to hinder my : staying here in my own house?" I asked. “Have you cooked up a scheme, Sarah, with Mrs. Snyder, to force me to go back with you ?” I asked of my old nurse. “Never fear, you'll see enough of me. I'll come over to your house often.” The two women exchanged glances, and seemed to be reluctant to proceed, Finally Sarah spoke in awe-stricken tones, first looking around with a frightened expression. “Dere’s something funny aboud de house, Nel.” “Humph! I don't see anything funny' at all,” I replied. “There is more sadness to me.” “Der's awful strange things has been seen and heard,” Sarah continued, with deep seriousness. Old Jake's face fell at his wife’s words, and he moved nearer to her.

“Who has seen and heard strange things, and what are they?” I asked, hghtly, for I am not superstitious, and not easily frightened by two old women’s imaginations. “Mrs. Snyder has seen lights at night, and efen in de daytime has heard noises, strange noises of talking,” replied my old nurse. “Well, they will have to be very bright lights and very’ loud noises to awaken me to-night, for I intend to sleep like a stone,” I said, laughingly. “The strangest thing of all to me is my coming here for the first time since my grandfather’s body was borne from the parlor to be placed in the grave.” , Old Jake gave a sudden start which attracted my attention to him. I saw him gaze through the open doorway into the parlor in very evident terror, and heard him exclaim, in low, awed tones: “Gott in Himmel!” I could not restrain a smile at the sight of the tall, strong man overcome by childish fears, and was about to upbraid him for his foolishness. But I remembered the vein of superstition which runs through the lives of the Pennsylvania farmers, and so sa:d nothing. “Come back with us,” again pleaded Sarah. “No. If there is anything out of the ordinary about my house, I am all the

'ME) -|*o 11 "Come out to Fairlawn this evening. ” added, more softly, for I did not wish to wound the kind heart of my old nurse —I knew her fear for me grew out of her love and solicitude for my welfare r-“I can take care of myself under any circumstances. I ain not a child now, Sarah.” “Den let Jake stay with you until you find out,” Sarah persisted. "Veil, bud de oats, Sarah; ve god to finish de oats to-morrow,” hastily exclaimed Mr. Hunsicker, in remonstrance. “Now come, how foolish this is! What could be the matter with the house? Nothing hurtful, that is certain. I’ll be all right. Don't worry, and I'll ride over in the morning and tell you how soundly I slept.” “Der’s no candle here. Igo ged von and pring id ofer,” Mrs. Snyder said. “Not necessary for to-night. I am going to bed early, and will not need it. To-morrow we’ll see about lamps, for sometimes I like to read late. See howbright the moon is going to be. It shines right into the bedroom, and will give me plenty of light to go to bed by.” I finally succeeded in getting rid of them. Old Jake was eager and anxious to.be off, but Sarah hung back, reluctant to leave me to the lonely terrors which her superstitious mind had conjured up. It was only after I had given my promise to come immediately to her house in the event of any danger to me springing up, that she consented to leave. Feeling profoundly gratified that my coming here had revealed to me such absolute trust and love as inspired myoid nurse, I placed my arm about her waist while going to the door, and then parted from her with a kiss on her wrinkled old cheek. After the sound of the wagon wheels had died away in the distance, I disrobed and prepared for bed. The moonlight was so enticing, however, that I sat down on a chair by the window and for a few minutes gave myself up to reminiscent thought. But before I go on with my experiences in the old house, I must tell about the bank robbery of which I was suspected. Up to a year before, I had been employed in a large savings institution in Philadelphia. My advancement with this concern had been slow but steady, and after ten years of earnest work I finally attained the position of senior paying teller. Under my immediate charge was the vault, in which the cash and all securities held by the bank were kept. This vault was, of course, guarded by a time lock. The (bank opened for business at ten o'clock, but the bookkeepers began their work a half hour earlier. There was a separate vault for the books of the concern, which was not j furnished with a time lock, and all the bookkeepers knew the combination of this vault. The bank was noted for its conservative business methods, and the great cautiousness with which its funds were guarded. It was the established rule that the timepiece of the money vault should not be set to open until halfpast nine, at which time the bookkeepers and most of the employes were at work. In short, so careful were the officials that under no circumstances was it allowable to leave the combination lock unguarded by the clockwork, unless some responsible employe was present. One afternoon I set the clockwork mechanism to throw the bolt at halfpast eight, an hour before the usual time, as I intended to get to work the next morning at that time. The semiannual examination of the books and securities by the trustees was to take place, and I wished to have the moneys I under my charge in order.

When I left the bank that afternoon I found a telegram awaiting me at my lodging place: “Come out to Fairlawn this evening. We entertain a small party. I want

you.” Thus the dispatch ran, and it was signed by a name very dear to me—Florence Morley. I would willingly have gone to the antipodes to please the lovely young woman, and my disappointment was keen when I thought of the time lock having been set to open at half-past eight the follow ing morning. For Fairlawn was a country seat of Mr. Morley's. about 30 miles distant, and I should not be able to return until nearly ten o’clock in the morning, and the | combination lock would be unprotected a full hour before the arrival of any cf the employes. It was highly improbable that any thief expert enough to open the combination would attempt the lock, even if it were known that the time mechanism had run down. The risk would be very slight, and I was tempted to take it. But, knowing, even though no consequences should be the result, that by doing so I would break a very stringent rule, I resisted the temptation, and in no very good humor started for a telegraph office for the purpose of sending a dispatch to Miss Slorley stating my inability to accept her invitation. On my way I met an associate in the bank, named Horace Jackson. He was one of the bookkeepers, a man about 40 years old, and a quiet, reserved fellow. He never mingled in any dispute or controversy among the clerks, was a competent accountant, and lived a secluded life outside of the bank. He was a bachelor, and did not seem to have any special friends. It was certain he never chummed orcronied with any of his associates in the bank. “Mr. Jackson, will you do me a favor?" I asked, as he paused in his walk. “Most willingly, Mr. Conway. You have but to state it,” he answered, affably. I stated the circumstances concerning the lock. “It is possible that I will be unable to be on hand at half-past eight,” I added. “And you wish me to be at the bank in your place?” he said. "Yes, if it would not inconvenience you.” “Not at all. I will be there, so the rule w ill be complied with. Oh, stay a moment. There is an old aunt of mine over in Camden who is ill, and I might possibly be summoned to her bedside.” “Well, then, let it go. I’ll stay at home, and go to the bank, as I intended, myself,” I said, feeling quite disappointed. “But if I say I will be at the bank you may depend on me, Mr. Conway, sick aunt or not,” Jackson went on. He really seemed so willing to do me the favor that I could only reply: “Thank you very much. I’ll depend on you. It will be doing me a great favor indeed. I'll reciprocate some day.” “Not another word, Mr. Conway', on the subject. Go and enjoy yourself.” Then he regarded me with a smile as he continued: “I suppose it is Miss Morley that you intend to visit. Now, I am just on my way to see her father at his office.”

“Oh, you are acquainted with the Morleys, then?” I remarked, somewhat coldly, for I did not relish his bringing Florence Morley’s name into the conversation. “Only slightly acquainted. I am interested in a few business ventures with Mr. Morley. My acquaintance extends no further,” Jackson said. I returned to my lodgings light-heart-ed and happy at the prospect of again seeing the sweet girl whom I had loved and worshiped for some time in secret. So then Horace Jackson was acquainted with Mr, Morley. I could not but feel a greater respect for Jackson. For Mr. Morley was one of the most influential and highly-thought-of men in Philadelphia, and, besides, was one of the trustees of the bank. Jackson had never boasted of his relations with such an influential man; indeed, I had never even heard him mention the fact before this. I had felt all along that it would be presumptuous for me to aspire to be Florence Morley’s husband. But this evening she was so gracious, so sweet and lovable, that it was impossible for me to resist the impulse to tell her of my love. To my intense happiness I discovered that my humble self was by no means an object of indifference to her. Mr. Morley was of a dignified, commanding presence, and rather overawed me. It would be no easy matter to ask his consent to marry his daughter. Florence was his only child, and all the purposes of the father’s life seemed to center in his motherless daughter. Still I knew I must approach him some day, and there was comfort in the fact that he had always met me in a kindly, if dignified and reserved, manner. He had never given me any cause to think that my attentions to his daughter were obnoxious to him; but then those attentions had been extended out of friendship only. How he would be affected by the knowledge that I was, , from this evening, the accepted lover of I his daughter, I could not surmise. I | I could only hope that Florence’s influ- | ence, which I was well aware was powerful with her father, might prevail. The dear girl’s heart was mine at any rate, for she had told me so, and I beI lieved her words. After the evening’s enjoyment I withdrew to the hotel near the depot, where I passed the rest of the night in happy anticipations of the future. The train which took me back to the city was a few minutes late, and when 1 arrived at the bank it lacked but ten I minutes of opening time. Had I been late, either the president or the treasurer would have had to be called upon to open the vault, and it is doubtful if either of them remembered the combination. The bond teller and the head receiving teller shared with me the knowledge of the combination, but, as those two gentlemen were away on their vacations at this time, I was the only one besides the officials I who could unlock the vault. The heavy outside doors were soon opened, and, summoning the porter to

help me carry out tfie casn for the day’s business, 1 entered the vault. There were eight compartments inside, the doors of which were provided with combination locks. One compartment was used for the reserve currency, another for the reserve gold, and these two compartments remained locked for long periods. The remaining spaces were used for the storage of various securities, United States bonds, mortgages for loans on real estate, state and municipal bonds, and for the gold, silver and currency required in the daily transactions. This cash was carried out in trays and placed in the tills in the banking-room every , morning. While unlocking the compartment, 1 ' noticed with surprise that the lock of the reserve currency compartment, just at one side, was on the last figure of the ; combination, as though it had been ali ready unlocked. I grasped the iron handle, and the j door swung open. I started back when I looked in. What had come over me! I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The place was empty; nothing to be seen but the two shelves and the painted steel back and sides. Os the $400,000, the amount of the reserve, not one dollar remained. (To be continued.) Something: to Know. It may be worth something to know that the very best medicine for restoring the tired and nervous system to a healthy vigor is Electric Bitters. This medicine is purely vegeiable, acts by giving tone to the nerve centres in the stomach, gently stimulates tie liver and kidneys, and aids these organs in throwing off impurities in the blood Electric Bitters improves the appetite, aids digestion, and is pronounced by those who have tried it as he very best blood purifier vnd nerve tonic. Try it, Sold foj 50c. and 1.00 per bottle at Page Blackburn’s drug store. HOW TO FIND OUT. Fill a bottle or common glass with urine and let it stand twenty-four hours; a sediment or settling indicates an unhealthy condition of the kidneys. When urine stains linen it is evidence of kidney trouble. Too frequent desire urinate or pain in the back, is also convincing proof that the kidneys and bladder are out of order. WHAT TO HO. There is comfort in the knowledge so often expressed, that Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-Root, the great kidney remedy fulfils every wish in relieving pain in he back, kidneys, liver, bladder and -very part of the urinary passages. Il corrects inability to hold urine and scalding pain in passing it, or bac -Sects following use of liquor, wine oi ■>eer, and overcomes that unpleasani lecessity of being compelled to get m uany time's during the night to urinate, I'he mild and the extraordinary effeci •f Swamp-Root is soon realized. Il tands the highest for its wonderfu ores of the most distressing cases. 1' ou need a medicine you should bav» he best. Sold by druggists, price fifty ents and one dollar. You may have a ample bottle and pamphlet both sem ree by mail. Mention Decatuk Democrat and send your address to Dr Kilmer & Co., Binghampton, N. Y. The proprietors of this paper guarantee he genuineness of this offer. Thanksgiving Day. Indianapolis, Nov. 16. — Governor Mount has issued his proclamation appointing Nov. 25 as Thanksgiving day MANY THINK! when the Creator said to woman, “In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children,” that a curse was pronounced against the human race, but the joy felt by every Mother when she first presses to her heart her babe, proves the contrary. Danger and suffering lurk in the pathway of the Expectant Mother, and should be avoided, that she may reach the hour when the hope of her heart is to be realized, in full vigor and strength. MOTHER'S FRIEND

so relaxes the system and as- . si sts Nature, I that the necI essary change I takes place a without NauJ sea, Headache, .Nervous or K Gloomy Foreboding of danger, and the

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Over Studied. A YOUNG LADY’S HEALTH RUINED PREPARING FOR GRADUATION. Was Over-ambitious and Went Beyond Her Strength. Constant Pain and Misery—Her Critical Condition. From the Democrat, Shelbyville, Ind,

Tn ona of the main streets of Shelbyville Indiana, resides Mrs. Emily Edwards and her seventeen year old daughter, Cora. The young lady is one of the charming misses of the city, she being known for her beauty, and perfect health. I “Although enjoying good health now. said her mother to a reporter recently, ”s.ie has not always been so fortunate. I suppose Cora, until two years ago last March, was as healthy and strong ns any girl of her age. She was attending school and was studying hard. Perhaps she was too studious, for we noticed that the healthy color in her cheek was rapidly disappearing, and she was becoming pale and sallow. Dark, swollen circles began to appear under her eyes, and she rapidly became worse. We were living in Franklin, Indiana, at the time, and Cora would have | graduated that Spring. She stopped attending school and endeavored to get a rest, but her health kept failing. Her blood was colorless and impure. She would also have sick | headache, could scarcely eat or sleep, and was almost continually in pain. Nothing which we did for her seemed to do any good. “ Different physicians treated and prescribed for her, but she kept getting worse. She hail formerly weighed 109 pounds, but during her illness her weight had dwindled down to 79 pounds. We began to think there was nothing we could do for her benefit, when I happened to notice an article in a paper regarding the merits of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People. I thought that if there was ever a pale person it was certainly Cora, so I decided to buy a box of the pills and let her try them. It was the first of last May when she began, and near the middle of J une when she stopped using

Our W P®r AssoM IS COMPLETE, WITH PRICES TO SUIT THE BUYER. If yonr room needs repapering CALL ON US AND GET PRICES. Yours respectfully, STENGEL & CRAIG, West Main Street, BERNE, INDIANA. Thanksgiving Sale i! THE F'ZXIR. || The Fair will give you special prices on Dinner Sets, Fine Glassware, Dishes, Etc. Dinner Sets, $3 50 up. Fine Blown Tumblers, 3 cents each; worth 10 cents. We will also place on sale about 500 Lamps, wbich we will close out at reduced prices. All 25 cent Lamps, 19 cents. All 3-5 cent Lamps. 25 cents. All 50 cent Lamps. 39 cents. Asl 50 Lamp for 89 cents. All $2 00 and $3 00 Lamps, $1 19. We shall further make reductions on all our Millinery Goods We must have room for our Holiday stock. We will sell jou choite of any Trimmed Hat in our store for SI.OO. The only place for bargains. THE FAIR CHEAP STORE. Stone Building, Decatur, Indiana. —i ' - - — *3 ==- — Don’t lay idle, When you can make from Five hundred to One thousand Dollars within the next s,x , by buying a first-class Hay Press and Ik • We can furnish any first-class machine atlot price. We are also agents for various km - Gorq misters aqd Fodder Sfireders, which n usk \ l > 20 to 40 bushels per hour and does it wei clean, and shreds fodder in first-class sty , feed. Think of it, what a laboi saving, a feed, for such a small sum $l5O. Just the ting two or three farmers adjoining together to • ALSO, Buggies, Carriages, Wagons, Bicycles, other machinery. For further information s SCHUC BROS., Agents, Berne,

tl i. e pi J l9 ', Tl,e first doBP helped her after the first box had been taken, shi S* u different girl. She continued with tl ,“* . medicine and when she had taken eishl boxes a complete eure had been effected 8 | She is now stronger, can eat more q wn . better, ami weighs more than she did L f ,.g she was taken siek. I am sure too n>"-' i-annot be said about Dr. Williams’ Pkt Pills for Pale People in her case as th.v undoubtedly saved her life. We have rd commended them to a number of sufferers " The young lady, said a word of approval and that she felt very grateful for the ben,’ l i , t „ rec / iv ’j! , th ™ u ß h Br. Williams’ Pint Pills for Pale People. “ I actree with mother,” said she, “ that I would not be liv ing to-day had I not used these pills.” To Leave no doubt as to the truthfulne. of her story Mrs. Edwards cheerfully i the following affidavit: Shelbyville, Ind., May 13 w This is to certify that the above story eon! I cerning the illness and subsequent recovery of my daughter, Cora, is an exact and truth, ful representation of the facts in her case. Mrs. Emily Edwards Shelbyville, Ind., May 13,1897. Subscribed and sworn to before me tbi. 13th day of May, 1897. L. C. May, Notary Publir Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People contain all the elements necessary to pre new life and richness to the blood ami re! store shattered nerves. They are sold in boxes (never in loose form, by the dozen or ' hundred) at 50 cents a box, or six boxes for 1 $2.50, and may be had of all drugrists or ■ directly by mail from Dr. Williams’ Medi. ; cine company. Schenectady, N. Y.