Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-04-09
SELECT STORY.
THE HUNDRED POUND NOTE.
Concluded
CHAPTER III,
Lost.

BY degrees we began to recover from
the two fold shock which had momentarily
confused our senses, and my first though
was that l had left the hundred popnC
note lying on the table l say myfrs
thought, for afterwards my ideas OIL
the subject became confused by incessant
attempts at recollection. and | began tc
doubt whittier l had not pot it into my
pOckeI.book. or replaced it between the
leaves of the Prayer Book. The inmates
of the chamber of death soon perceived
that something was amiss. The thunder
storm was rapidly passing away, and TIE
air grew brighter they noticed the in
tensely anxious expression of my face,
and the nervous manner in which luFned
outlghe contents Of my pockets. and hnn-
ted bet8Ben The leaves Of ths kKagGk
Book.
sWhas 4 the matter, Mr.. WoodRarde'
demanded Doctor Webb, graveiy.
The noter replied, with stammering
accents, for ] was in agony of nervous
excitement. The note l can find it
Howhere!'
The doctor cast a sharp glance-a
glance of susPieion in the direction of
Reuben and his wife. l noticed it, and
| think they noticed it also. He then
said
1t can't be lost, it must be in this
room.'
Have searched my pockets, and have
turned over evry leaf of these books
answered. My impression is that left
in on the corner of the table just at the
dreadful fash. / could almost syear
that | did, so.'
May be the tnunderbolt burnt it up
observed Reuben, with a sardonic grin
on his face.
IF it has. it only would be like our
usual bad luck, Ruby Chimed in his
wife.
As she spoke. saw that David was
steadily regarding his relatives, with a
darkening frown on his forehead. A
moment later he rose from his seat.
j must speak he said, excitedly, al.
though the breath is only Just out of
poor fathers body. l swear that 50 W
the note, on this very corner which
now cover with my hand the instant be.
fore that fash of lightning. A minute
later it had disappeared. 1t can't be
lost
Don't you think it is burnt?' said Reu.
ben mOckingly.
1 think iI's stoleu,' answered David
calmly.
SO do l. returned Reuben, cody.
BY whom7' l demanded, for 1 felt
that ! was most seriously implicated in
the matter.
BY himr-'By him. exclaimed the
half brothers, almost al the same instant.
Each brother stood erect. fierce and de.
fianI and each were pointing a finger al
the other, The mysterious disappearance
of the hundren pound note had aroused
all their mutual mistrust and dislike.
Each man had at once made up his mind
that the other vas a thief.
As for myself, as soon as ! became
convinced, by repeated examination that
the note was neither IN my pockets mol
hiden among the books, began to suspect
THAI robbery had been committed,
and as l could dot believe that the steady
well.conducted David would be guilty Of
so base en- action, / was forced to sup.
pose that his half. brother was the culprii.
DR.. Webb said very little; bot / perceiv.
ed that he shared my opinion.
My lads,' be said, you have each
charged the other with a very serious
crime. We had better send the woman
out of the cottage, and search you both
I'm ready cried David.
And so am /, cried Reuben.
i won't leave without Mrs. Mathews
searching of me, can tell ye,' exclaimed
Martha Dymond bitterly; else folks will
go and say that my Ruby passed the note
on TO bis wife. To think that I should
live to hear my husband suspected of
thieVing" said the woman, bursting in
tears.
Men and woman were accordingly
,ssss5--.s .zcL f.