True to Himself; Or, Roger Strong's Struggle for Place
made a raid on the house. I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possibl
, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone. An instant later I dashed a
in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been
" I exclaimed. "Wh
ad you've come. A tramp was here-he
e of the room. Then her breast heaved, the umbrell
rt?" I crie
y-it is gone! What w
dreadful thought, my s
n Stumpy had been there-the widow's mon
sense told him what had happened, and he set
y here with K
romptly. "But where are yo
es
he may be a des
money back or know the reason why," was my d
gh to have had it taken when the Widow Canby was at home, but it had been stolen when left in my charg
ere would be plenty of people mean enough to intimate that I had had something to do with its disappearance. The Strong h
ubly stinging, and when I told Dick that I was not afraid of Mr. John Stumpy, I m
ake the pist
box of extra cartridges.
e it before I return.
nd an instant after I was on my way, the lantern
Kate," I called b
n't stay away too long, if
teway led to the pear orchard. I felt pretty certain that John St
could easily hide, but it was not likely that he would care to remain in the
ker than in the garden, I listened intently, hopin
tered through the trees and a frog gave a dismal c
ard the road, and reachin
erplexing question. Perhaps if I had been in a story book I might have found some clew to direct me. Bu
ch anything worthy of notice. I judged it was near midnight, and hardly had I
wly up the road. As they drew nearer, I recognized Moran and P
ance. What on earth could they b
sons that it would not be advisable to s
id Pultzer, "Dunc was half scar
it was when he asked us to go into it," returne
lf," respon
ght, you'll never find me in another
's father will say
yville people? Of course they
they had done to me. I never dreamed that th
Moran. "Dick is not to be trusted any more. He kick
liked Dick in many respects, and now I was
uch as Dunc thought he would. Han
ong in the old tool house. We must re
emen," I put in, stepping out
ess for me to say more, as
started in alarm, and then, led by Pultzer, they das
of the situation presented itself, I smiled. "A guilty conscience need
d to question them in regard to the thief. Perhaps they had seen him,
in hopes of meeting John Stumpy. If he was anywhere near, the
n of returning to the place. He evidently knew the road.
back to the tool house, and at the
e who was with her on her recovery, and I sincerely hoped that the shock Stumpy had given her would not have
Here I hesitated for an instant, and then, pi
, and I entered, only t
ng remained but to go back to the road, and I was about to leave again
it contained a letter I turned it over to read the addre
ncerning the Forgeries for which Cars