Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1911 — Fifty Dollars Reward [ARTICLE]

Fifty Dollars Reward

By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH

(Copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary Press.)

There w«a a crowd at. the money order window of the postoffice. Della waiting with hex application In her hand, looked abont her idly for something to occupy her attention till her turn should come. She found it not two feet away, in black, staring letters which formed the words, ‘‘Fifty Dollars Reward." Della did not look like a mercenary young woman, but her eyes lingered long on the headline, as a hungry child might look outside a baker’s Window viewing all sorts of gastronomic temptations, with only a pane of glass between. s "Fifty dollars,” Delta said to herself, and figuratively she smacked her lips. At the best of times, fifty dollars seemed like a great deal of money to Delia. Just now her need 'had magnified it fan beyond its usual proportions- She whs on the point of sending a money order for $3.50 to her brother Jack, stranded out in a weetem state, sick, forlorn and unahte to help himself. The thred doltars and a half represented numberless little sacrifices on Delia's part. She walked to and from her work to save carfare. She wore shoes whose aoles were replaced each morning by new ones of pasteboard, deftly fitted into place by Della’s own fingers. She had reduced her midday meal to rolia and a glass of milk, and she grudged the dime she spent for that modest fare. Fifty dollars would bring Jack home. Della turned her eyes to the poster and read on! "Fifty dollars reward will be paid for information leading to the ap prehension of Leonard Bunting, last aeon near the village of Porter Falls, Pa. He is five feet eleven In height, weighs about a hundred and sixty, and has noticeably heavy eyebrows. The tin of the little finger of the right hand is missing. When last seen be wore a closely cropped brown mustache. His manner Is gentlemanly.” Accompanying this description was a likeness of Mr. Leonard Bunting, which Della studied with a fascinated curiosity. He was a rather good looking young man for an evildoer, she decided, as far aa it was possible to Judge from his counterfeit presentment. which was somewhat blnrred and indistinct. But this thought was Immediately lost sight of in the pleasurable pretense that she wa* about to send Jack a money order for SSO, gained by surrendering Leonard Bunting to Justice. Then Jack would be home by the first of the week. It cost her a pang when she came back to reality, and slipped the blue slip which stood for exactly $3.50 Into the envelope. She had waited so long at the window that she would not have had time for much in the way of luncheon. even if her funds bad been, ample. She gave her order. “Rolls and milk." Delia was young and healthy, and paid the penalty In a clamorous appetite. She sniffed hungrily and felt a little faint. “If I get that S6O reward," thought Della, with a whimsical smile. “Fll save enough of It out for a gc*>d sirloin with plenty of gravy. Then she became aware that the young man next her was holding the menu card In her direction ’’Have you seen this?" he asked oour teously.

“I've given my order, tharks." Delia began her reply unconcernedly enough, but jumped before she finished. For the hand extended toward her was slightly mutilated. The end of the Httle finger was missing. The young man did not notice her start. He resumed his study of ttiw card, and a moment later gave his order. Apparently an" uneasy conscience had not decreased his appetite

Meanwhile, oTer her rolls and milk. Delia was stealing glances in his direction. No; there could be no mistake. Dark, with heavy eyebrows, and gentlemanly manners, and more significant than all. the misaing tip of the little, finger. The disappearance the brown mustache changed his appearance slightly, yet he bore sufficient resemblance to the rough cut tn the pcfttofflce to be easily identified. Delia's heart thumped as she made her plans. Bhe must finish her rolls, of course. It would not'do to arouse his suspicions. And them she would slip out quietly, and lgy the case before the big policeman nt the crossing. He was a blue-eyed policeman. She w'tmld tall the policeman, and the policeman would do the rest, and presently the *SO would put in an appearance, and Jack would come home. It was extraordinarily simple. The red-haired waitress Introduced a new factor. Della had felt a strong Interest In the red-hatred waitress ever since the morning -when her swollen eyelids were eloquent of long weeping, and Della had asked her If anything was the matter. The* waltre« had explained that' she had dropped a tray that morning, and the manager had threatened to discharge rfwr. “He *aya m hare to go next tkne," sniffed the red-haired waitreas. "And I’ve got a mother to take care of. It makes me feel like drowning .myself* Delia had tried to encourage her jby suggesting that perhaps there {would not be any neat time, and her Sympathy had [>ron the red haired IgfeTs affections. As she passed now, Vttb t \Vjwl of soup, she smiled In

Delia's direction and paid che penalty for the momentary distraction of her attention. The bowl of soup lurched. Its contents distributed themselves over the person Of the young man next Della. '‘Hello!’’ said the young man. For a criminal with a reward offered for hflis apprehension, he had his nerves under excellent control He turned to see the face of the red-haired girl g 6 a deadly white, while behind her towered the figure of the manager, whose scowl needed no explanation. The young man emptied his pocket of soup and addressed the manager. “All my fault,” he said. “Eh? What’s that?” The man ager's face began to clea.r. „ "All my fault,” the young man repeated, with kindly mendacity,“stuck out my elbow Just as the girl was passing. , She couldn’t help it.” "Oh, all right,” said the manager, looking relieved, but though Delia had finished her rolls and milk, she was In no h*ste lo go in s'eafch of a policeman. It was strange how that falsehood had altered her feelings toward Mr, Leonard Bunting. He mi&ht be a criminal, but he had a kind heart. To deliver him up to Justice seemed out of the question. There was a throbbing at her temples aa she thought of his danger. Even now, some eye might be on him, noting the mtßstng finger (Ip and the gentlemanly manner. She leaned toward him breathlessly. “ob, please," she said, “you oughtn’t to stay here. It isn't safe.” He looked toward her genially. "Too much soup?" he. inquired, but Della was in no mood to smile.

“I know all about it There's a description. of you hanging up ift the postofßce, aftd SSO reward for your apprehension.” “Dear me!” exclaimed the young man. He gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you really think,” he began earnestly, “that anybody would hand over another human creature to spend years In prison for the sake of a paltry SSOT Sometimeßn TeHow does a v'rong thing and then wants to turn over a new leaf. Nobody would want to clap him under lock and key—for $50.” Della shivered. “They might not know about your being sorry,” she said slowly, as If trying to justify something to herself. “And they might need S6O dreadfully. If you had a brother sick out west, and no way to get him home, for Instance.” ”Apple pie,” said the young man to the waitress. “See here,” he said, leaning forward earnestly over the wedge of pie. “If anybody : s going to get the reward for my apprehension I’d rather It would he you. Suppose you let me finish my dessert, and then I'll go along with you and you can deliver me up to justice and riaim the reward.” “O, no! No!” Delia cried so vehemently that a woman at the next table turned and looked at her curiously. She lowered her voice at once. - “!’d rather die than do it,” she declared “But you were going to, weren't you, so as to bring your brother home?” “Yes, but that was before — When I saw how kind you were, trying to keep that poor girl from losing her place, 1 knew I never could do it." “I only suggested that as a possibility,” said the young man with caution.

“O, please don’t say that,” the begged. “Please go somewhere and be perfectly honest and pay back the money you took little by little.” The young man laid down his nftpkin and looked at her fixedly. "Have you quite finished?” he asked with his pleasantly deferential manner. “Then suppose we go outside.” He paid her ( heck ao well as his own. and Della was too distracted to notice. • As they passed out of the restaurant, side by side, the figure of the blue-eyed policeman suddenly rose before them. Delia's head swam. Some one else had been on the watch. Her companion’s voice broke in on her mad thought. . "How are you, FogKart >?“ “How's yoursilf, Mlsther Manway," said the big policeman, grinning. “Folnc day, jsorr.” • “It is that,” said the young matt with Della. Then he took her firmly by the arm, for she had swayed slightly. They walked on together, his hand supporting her. Presently she lifted a pale little face, that was all one question.

“fco, I’m not Hunting.” It was thua he answered her eyes. “I saw tha bill iff" the postofflee myself, and was Impressed by the resemblance. But ray name is Manway. I'm in the men's furnishing goods place.” “Oh, dear! • I’m afraid I'm dreadfully late.” . “What, time do you finish?*’ “Oh, 1 don't know. About half-past —fete” * —' — l —

J.TU be waiting for you.” said, Mr. Manway, deliberately. “There are some things I want to talk over with you. 1 think perhaps we can fix‘lt up —about getting your brother home.”

Mr. Manway was as good as his word. He made arrangements for Jack's return, and Incidentally for several other things, jack came horn* just In time for ths wedding.