Jerrys Reward | Page 7

"but she's acting queer, and she's got something 'portant on her
mind and sent me for you."
Jerry waited to hear no more, but, seizing the child's hand, started to
run. Leaving her in her own street, he hurried on alone.
[Illustration]
His wife was watching for him, trembling and anxious. She was so
relieved when he appeared that she burst into tears.
He took her frail body in his arms: "Why, Peggy, old girl, what has
happened? Has anybody been hurting you?"
At these tender words she controlled herself and told him all that had
occurred.
He was thunderstruck. "The scoundrels!" he muttered. "They surely
wouldn't dare--but rest easy, love. We'll get ahead of them, never fear."
He thought deeply. "The best thing, wife, is not to alarm the ladies, but
to see Mr. Morton himself. I'll go to him as fast as I can." But even in
his haste he stopped to replenish the fire, settle Peggy's pillows more
comfortably, and warm some soup for her.
Then he sought Mr. Morton's office and asked to see him privately.
Mr. Morton sent word that he was busy and did not wish to be
disturbed.
"Tell him it's a serious matter," said Jerry.
Upon receiving this message Mr. Morton invited him in, and, closing
the door of the little private office where he was in the habit of holding
confidential interviews with his clients, he prepared to listen with a
bored air.
"I'm Jerry, sir," the visitor began, "Jerry Myer. You may not know me,
sir, but I know you, and your children--they call me Paddy--'Paddy on

the Turnpike.'"
"Oh, it's Paddy, is it?" said Morton, remembering.
"Yes, sir; no, sir--that is, it's Jerry, sir."
"Well, Jerry, be quick; what can I do for you this afternoon?"
And Jerry began:
"You see, sir, my wife, being poorly, has to sit all the time indoors. Our
little cottage is just across the street from your fine house, sir; next to
the convent wall with only a bit of a passway between; and Peggy, she's
my wife, overheard two men, hiding there, talking and planning as how
they would rob you to-night and drug you, and there's no telling what
else besides."
"How is this?" cried Mr. Morton, "I'm to be robbed and drugged, am
I?" and the great lawyer looked as if he thought the man was losing his
wits.
But Jerry began and told a straight tale; told it so circumstantially and
truthfully that Mr. Morton, forced to believe it, was genuinely alarmed.
He immediately summoned the police, and, after a rapid consultation, a
plan was formed to capture the thieves.
Jerry was to unlock the big iron gates in the convent wall, where the
coal-carts were in the habit of driving in. Two of the police were to
hide there, and keep an eye on the house opposite until they saw a
burglar number one admitted by the traitorous nurse-girl. Then they
were to return at dark and guard the front of the house, so as to cut off
all retreat from that direction. Two more of the force were to hide in the
Mortons' stable, and prevent escape from the rear. Mr. Morton was to
remain inside to avert suspicion and to give the alarm in case any
violence was attempted. He was also to practise a little stratagem to
prevent any of the family from drinking the drugged coffee.

"Don't seem to do anything unusual," counselled the chief. "Go to bed,
and pretend to sleep. Let them rob you, and when they come out we
will take care of them and their booty."
"And what am I to do, sir?" asked Jerry.
"You have done enough, man; you go home and stay with your sick
wife. She will be anxious if we expose you to danger."
You see, the officers wished to put both Mr. Morton and Jerry out of
the affair, so that they could have all the glory of the capture.
CHAPTER VII.
WHERE WAS PEGGY?
When told to go home to his sick wife, Jerry obeyed. But what was his
surprise, on reaching his tiny cottage, to find the shutters all closed,
though it was early afternoon, and the front door held fast on the
outside by two great tenpenny nails.
Where was Peggy? For the nailed door showed that she was not inside.
To be sure, smoke was still coming out of the chimney, but this was
accounted for when he remembered the big fire he had built before he
left. Where, where was Peggy?
Perhaps one of the neighbours had been kind enough to come over and,
finding her frightened and alone, had wheeled her away. But reflection
told him that not one of the neighbours had ever been near her except
the Outcasts,