The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-02-26

Yes, sir, I have trapped him, and
you may judge Of my surprise upon
finding il to be none other than Wilton
Cunningham"
+" DO you mean me 7" uttered the
young man, stepping down from his
stool, and boldly facing his accuser.
"Of course do, and have proof
Of wha, ] say"
mo man, Mr. Randall, can produce
a proof OF dishonesty in me-"
:" Not quite so fast, sir. Did you no,
pay TO Mr. Wiley the ren, for the house
your mother occupies Z"
Il did. sir
"And did you give him this dollar p
asked Mr. Randall, producing the dollar
he had crossed.
al might have done it, sir, for ! paid
him several silver dollars"
"Ay," returned the old man, with a
sort of triumphant look, and that dol
lar was stolen from my drawer last
Wednesday night, and you paid il away
on the same night. Now, how came
you by it?'
"If paid it to Mr. Wiley
But you did pay it to him. lie can
swear to that
"Thcn, sir, / know where l got it.
/ had several Of them. Some my mother
had taken for butter and cheese, and
some have laid away"
Yes, some you have laid away -
That dollar, sir, you took from my draw
er last Wednesday evening. You
stole it r.
Mr. Randall" said Wilton, in tone
Of calm indignity, l hardly know how
to meet your charge. To deny il would
be only to contradict you but l do de-
ny it, and ! call on God to witness that
l never to my knowledge wronged a
man 10 the amount of cent. shall
see Mr. Wiley, sir"
DO so. l will 60 with you at
once"
Accordingly Mr. Randall and his
clerk set off. They found Mr. Wiley,
and that gentleman, though he felt much
friendship for the young man, could not
but declare that the crossed dollar had
been received from him. Wilton could
not deny it. He had not noticed any
particular marks upon the money he
had paid, and he could only reiterate
the assertion that he had not taken il
from his employers drawer. He felt
grieved TO see that shade of suspicion
rested upon the face of Mr. Wiley, and
then saw how strong was the evidence
against him. lie turned away to hide
the tear that started from his eye, and
his heart swelled with painful emotion
"Is Squire Ballard at home 7" asked
Mr. Randall, after the facts in the case
had been sufficiently discussed.
"No. He's gone down to Portland
and will be at home tonight" returned
Mr. Wiley.
"Good heavens Mr. Randall, you
do not mean TO make legal investiga-
ton Of this case ?" cried Wilton, turn
ing pale and trembling like an aspen.
Most assuredly l do" calmly re-
turned the trader 4" if you are innocent
you have nothing to fear"
And suppose l cannot prove thai
innocence 2"
That's just what I'm afraid Of" hal
ironically returned Randall.
"Oh, God!' calculated the youth
clasping his hands together in tortured
agony, What have done that ] should
come 10 this I"
Mr. Wiley began to show eviden
signs Of repentance that he had beer
instrumental in bringing this about, anC
as Randall noticed ii, he made haste I,
cut the meeting short
You need not 60 back TO the stor,
with me-" said he TO the clerk, :" but
shall see you this evening"
Wilton Cunningham turned his step
homeward, but his steps were slow an,
sad. lie knew the disposition Of Nj
Randall-that he was hard-hearted
grasping, avaricious, and capable Of do
ing anything that might answer bis owl
ends but be knew not then all the end
the trader had in view-ends whicl
will be easily understood by a Sigh
conversation ai the store.
Lyman said Mr. Randall, after b,
had returned from Mr. willey's, "Iv'
60, young Cunningham hard and fast
The evidence is clear, and If Bullar
gets home before dark, Ill have hin
examined and bound over Tor trial ihi
very night"
But you don't really mean to tr,
Wilton for theft, do you z" asked Ly
man.
-of course | do. DO you suppose
man shali rob me with impuniIy Z"
! Ba, you might turn him off, father
and keep back his las, quarters salary.
You don't know all, Lyman. Th
young fellow might have been likel,
had'n, this thing turned up, TO hAv
proved a dangerous rival TO Us
How 20, father Z"
By setting up an opposition store.
BOT he hasn't The capital :"
lie can raise it, though Ilai ol
Jones that was in hcre the morning ha
offrnca 70 h-ni him tuo ih0usand Do
+ Ian and oihrr have offered 10 a1saHo
him money ifhr siT open a new STORE.
That golld be- rather danscroa
bu,inrss iof sOa, remarked Lyman, !
a iho8gAffui mooi.
- Boa hc uont g. II now" the a