The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-09

and I think they noticed it also. II
then said
'It can't be lost; it must be in III
room"
| 81 have searched my pockets, an,
III have turned every leaf of thes
books" answered. any impression
is that 1 left it on the corner of tn,
table just at the time of that dreadful
flash. l could almost swear that
did So" .i''
''a1ay be the thunderbolt burnt i
up, Observed Reuben, with slrtff ffo11f i
grin on his face. 'l''i - -
'1f it has it would only be like oul
usual bad luck, Ruby" chimed in hi
wife. ~ g.
As she spoke, saw that David wa.
steadily regarding his relatives with 8
darkening frown On his forhead. A
moment later he rose from his seat.
II must speak," he said excitedly
although the breath is only just out
of poor fathers body. / swear that ]
saw the note on this very corner, which
1 now cover with my hand, the instant
before that fash of lightning. A
minute, later it had disappeared. It
can't be lost" Aog g s1.5. 4
'Don't ye think it's burnt P" said
Reuben, moekingly. r., =. f..
II think it's stolen," answered
David, camly. E 9a1
$50 do l." returned Reuben, cody.
''By whom ~ 1 demanded, for /
felt that I was most seriously implicat-
ed in the matter. 'e4 s.'I q OF s-
t.'By him I''--''by him !" exclaimed
the half brothers, almost at the same
instant! Each brother stood erect,
fierce and defiant, and each was point
ing fngeF.at-theo eother.-sT The myste-
rious disappearance. of the. hq ndred
pound note had aroused all their mis-
trust and dislike. Each man had at
once made up his mind that the other
was-the thief a-GV gT55e9 s,ds - 9
As for myself, as soon as l became
convinced by repeated examination
that the note was neither in my pock-
cts nor hidden in my books, l began
to suspect that robbery had been
committed, and as / could not believe
that the well conducted David would
be guilty of such an action, was fore
ed to suppose that his half brother
was the culprit. Doctor Webb said
but little; yet 1 preceived that he shar-
ed my opinion. vae 2lr-5
"My lads" he said, syou have each
charged the other with a very serious
crime. We had better send the wo-
men out of the cottage, and search you
both. 71 -. Il - SO: -
ttIm ready" cried Davaid ,-r.7
"And so ana l." said Reuben,
ssI won't leave without Mrs. Mat
thews searching me, I can tell ye,"
exclaimed Martha Dymond bitterly;
else folks will go and say that my Ru-
by passed the note onto his wife. To
think that I should live to hear my
husband suspected of thieving!" !" said
the woman, bursting into a passionate
food of tears. st tEt
Men and women were accordingly
separated, and the search took place
with all possible care and diligence.
Each brother We'd with the other in
affording every facility for the inyes-
tigation of his garments, and each
brother watched with painful kneeness
for some evidence Of his kinsman's
guilt. Both were disappointed; no
note was forthcoming, and Reuben
and his wife sauntered toward their
own abode with sullen, discontented
faces.
The storm had by this time passed
completely away, the sky was unstain-
ed by single cloud, and the birds,
cooled and refreshed by the moisture
of the air, were merrily singing their
evening song. DIR. Webb and 1
walked away slowly side by side.
ssThis is most sad affair." 1 obser-
we'd. "What do you think of it 2"
'tI scarcely know what to think"
he replied. 'sAt first 1 felt convinced
that Reuben was the thief I don't
think so now; the undaunted way in
which he. submitted to be searched
looks like innocence" a.lf
o. 'fDo you suppose Martha took it
without Reuben's knowledge?" ?"
s'No, I don't" ..-
you surely don't suspect David?
'T don't suspect any of them. I
don't know what to think; Pm fairly
puzzled" ---- -.s~G.J-f .E n