The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-09-25

l
Lilly kept worrying about getting lock
in, and said that Rosa was always tired.
Rosa was her sister. The two wer,
orphans, and kept house together in on,
little room Of a respectable Tenement
house.
1--WE always had tea ready before Ross
got in" said Lilly; "but to night she will
have to wait"
It's odd how We remember little things
sometimes. Perhaps the girls pretty
puzzled face and graceful motions as she
ran about looking for the key, impressed
this one on my mind. At all events We
did not find the notched key tied with a
pink ribbon, and Lilly went home without
it. told Margaret Ann about it when l
saw her next, and she inquired very po
litely of Lily as to the end of the affair
when she next saw her. The key was
never found, but Lilly said she had had
two made, SO that such thing could
never happe" again. She could keep one
and Rosa the other.
And, as l presume 1t was lost here,
you must have the value of it from us, "
said Margaret Ann. ''lts not much, but
it's just" And that thought very Kind
of the widow Wood, considering.
| Well, time passed on, and one day was
about like the other. Winter went and
summer came. People began to go to the
country, and trade was dull. And Sam
told me that he and Lilly were going to
be married soon--God willing.
1had just left Sam when Margaret AIMS
colored girl stepped across the street and
told me her mistress wanted to see me.
OF course l went over; and when l got
into the back parlor I found Margaret
Ann wrapped up in a shawl, her eyes red
with crying.
Anything happeneds" says 1.
YES" says she, I'm afraid so. Oh,
"Dear me! Do mention the fact, "
says l.
WELL" says she, II can hardly bear to
do "a; Gg d1 snS had chance a" the sale
Nobody but Lilly Rathhone," says 1.
You are surrey" says she.
"Why, OF course" says I.
"Ah, well!' says she, perhaps there is
occasion to use that money of mine.
mean the thousand dollar bank note that
| put in there in a red pocket-book last
week."
NO" said I. "Of course I'd spoken of
| it. 1t WAS your private money"
'It's gone, Richard" says she. "You
saw me look into the safe to.day:"
Yes said l.
WELL says she, "it was gone then. l
couldn't bring myself to speak of it. You
see girl like that has SO many tempta-
| tons; going to marry and all. Richard
promise me you won't have her arrested,
or anything, if it is her."
| ut is not!' I cried. Besides it was
your money. You would be the prosecu-
tor to any thief"
Dear me, yes" says she, land I'll let
her go; but must get it back, and she
| must leave the store''
"HOw can you think so ill of the girl ?"
said l. "Why don't you suspect me. I
! am ever SO much more of doubtful char
acter than she is"
You are my brother-in law" said Mar.
garet Ann. "Now listen to reason. Come
to the store with me and Wen search. If
we don't find it l shall charge Lilly with
the theft tomorrow, and if she don't con-
TESS, get a search warrant for her rooms
IN be very kind, but can't lose sum
like that"
She cried again. did really feel that
she was in great trouble. We went to the
store again and searched the safe, but the
the number in her pochet-book. 1t was
easy to identify, aud besides, the poor
girl was in suspicious position, and l
said if she should prove guilty, my faith
in human nature was gone.
Mine, too" said Margaret Ann. Ihad
come to like her SO. And then poor
Sam"
went home to tea with my sister-in-
law, but we had not much appetite She
promised not to come to the store until
the closing hour, and to be very mercilul,
and to give the girl every chance.
And so we parted. l arose to say good
night, and came around the table TO shake
hands with Margaret Ann. when, being a
clumsy old bachelor, not used to women's
iix'ngs, my coat caught in little wicker
work sewing-basket, on long spider legs,
and overset it. Out tumbled cotton, but
tons and tape, and stopped down to pick
them up, when among them / saw key,
brass door-key, with nick in it and a
long piece of pink ribbon tied to the han
die. 1t was a very little thing, and it
made my blood FUN cold.
If that was the key Lilly had lost, what
was it doing there? l didn't dare to look
at my sister-inlaw. And I walked the
floor all night; but by morning my mind
was UlduC up.
A, nine o'clock met that boy and girl
at the store, and told them I should be
gone all the day. In ten minutes more l
stole Lilly's key from under the counter
and went to the house-tO her little room
on the third floor, and entered it like
thief. 1t was very poor, and very bare,
closet in it, with a few dresses hanging
upon pegs, and bonnet box on a shelf.
Into this closet went, and there l sat
down ON ali old trunk and waited. l
heard queer old clock ticking in the
room. heard it count the hours, ten,
eleven, twelve. And kept saying to my
self:
IF You are wicked, suspicious old
fool, Richard Wood, Lord forgive YOU"
But waited still, and just as long
black hands pointed at haltpast one,
heard such a knock as my sistcr.in-law
always gave at the office door
drew my closet door tight, and put
my eyes at a crevice in it.
There was another knock-a pause;
and then l heard the key turn in the lock,
and saw the door open and my sister-in-
law come in. She looked about her, shut
the door, relockcd it and stole across the
room. Then-God forgive the woman; l
suppose she was mad with iealousy-she
lifted up the mattress of the neat little
bed in the corner, and taking a red
pocket-book, thrust it under, pulling the
quilt we'll down about the bed afterward
II hardly think you'll marry Sam Spen-
Ger after all, Miss Lilly" she said aloud,
out&n,eu;SStteed! toss Of the head. "I've
there are a twc wor sajq to tna: Ann
l walked out of the closet and stood
with my back to the outer door. She
knew herself trapped, but her wicked
tongue had its way still.
80 you're in the habit of coming here!"
she said. mice young lady certainly"
II never came here BEFORE" said I, land
you know it; but I've been here all day
waiting for you. saw Lilly's key in
your basket last night and l began to
guess the truth. Bring me that pocket
book"