THE TALE OF A THIEF.

DOLLY, who had run over to the Ashursts io tell Dick her good news, was met at the
door by Mary, whose pretty face was troubled.

“Dolly! Dolly!” she said, “ we are in such trouble.. Sucha dreadful thing has happened.”

“Not Dick?” Dolly faltered. She hated to think Dick was in disgrace.

“No, dear,” said Dick’s sister tearfully. “Far worse. Papa’s lost papers which are ever
so important. He left them on his study table when, he was-called into lunch, and when he
got back they were gone. The window had , ‘been left open, and some one must
have come in and stolen them.”

“T’m .so. sorry,”
they very important?”
can say,” answered
lawyer’s papers, you
says we are ruined
We've been hunting
but can’t find a trace

Dolly sat down
dining-room. to..wait
didn’t . quite under-
papers could be worth .
sawtheAshurstswere ;
Mr. Ashurst was ,
up and down the :
saying a word, and
staring miserably out
silence made Dolly so
she was quite pleased
feet in the hall, and
wards .. the. door opened, and a
. bright-faced. boy of thirteen entered.

“T say,” he broke out; “has any one seen Beppo? I can’t find him anywhere.” -

“Hush!” said Mrs. Ashurst gently. “Don’t trouble us just now, Dick.”

Dick stared with astonishment first at his father, then at his mother, and finally at Dolly,
whose eyes were very grave ; then he jerked his thumb towards the door. Dolly nodded,
and feeling glad to escape she slipped out after him. When they were outside Dick said,

 

 

said Dolly. “ Were
“More than 1
Mary. “They were
know, and papa
now they are gone.
-for them ever since,
of them.”
silently in the
for ‘Dick. She
stand how a lot of
so much, but she
all terribly put out.
walking restlessly
room without
“Mrs. Ashurst was
of the window. The
uncomfortable that
to hear a noise of
immediately after-