Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-12-10

to the country, and trade was dull. Ant
Sam told me that he and Lilly wer,
going to get married soon-God willing
I had Just left Sam when Margare
AIMS colored girl stepped across tn,
street and told me her mistress wantet
to see me.
OF course went over, and when I go
into the back parlor 1 found Margare
Ann wrapped up in a shawl, her eye
red with crying.
Anything happened ?" says I.
"Yes, says she, "I'm afraid SO. In
so sorry%
"Dear me Do mention the fact,
says I.
"Well," says she, 81 can hardly beal
to do 80, but who has q chance at tn.
safe besides you and me?"
Nobody but Lilly Rsthbone," say
"You are sure" says she.
"Why, of course, says 1.
"Ah, we'll !" says she, perhaps there
is another way out of it. Maybe you'v.
had occasion to use that money Of mine
I mean the Thousand dollor bank mott
that put in there in red pocket-bool
last week"
"No," said 1. "Of course I'd spsker
of it. 1t was your private money"
"It's gone, Richard, says she. "Yor
saw me look into the safe to-day
"Yes," said I.
"Well," says she, ''it was gone then.
I couldn't bring myself to speak of it
You see girl like that has SO many
temptations going to marry and all
Richard, promise me you won't have
her arrested, or anything, if it is her.
1T is not I" I cried. Besides, il
was your money. You would be the
prosecutor to any thief.
"Dear me, yes." says she, "and III
let her go; but 1 must get it back, and
she must leave the store. t
"How can you think so i'll of the
girl?" said I. "Why don't You sus.
pect meT am ever so much more OF
a doubtful character than she is"
"You are my brother-in-law," said
Margaret Ann. Snow, listen to reason.
Come to the store with me and well
search. FIVE don't find it shall charge
Lilly with the theft tomorrow, and il
she don't confess, get a search warrant
for her rooms-In be very kind, but ]
can't lose q sum like that"
She cried again. I did really feel that
she was in great trouble. She went to
the store again and searched the safe,
but the money was all gone. Margaret
Ann had the number in her pocket
book. 1t was easy to identify, and be.
sides the poor girl was in q suspicious
position, and I said il she should prove
guilty, my faith in human nature was
gone.
mime too" said Margaret Ann. 81
had come to like her SO. And then
poor Sam"
I 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
merciful, 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 q clumsy old bachelor, not
used to women's fxings, my coat caught
in q little wicker-work sewing basket,
on long spider legs, and overset it.
Out tumbled cotton, buttons, and tape,
and / stopped down to pick them up,
when among them saw key, brass
door-key, with nick in it, and long
piece of pink ribbon tied to the handle.
1t was q very little thing, and it made
my blood run cold.
If that was the key Lilly had lost,
what was it doing there? didn't dare
to look at my sister-in-law. And
walked the floor all night but by
morning my mind was made up.
At nine o'clock met that boy and
girl at the store, and told them should
be gone all the day. In ten minutes
more 1 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 q thief. It was very
poor, and very bare. but very neat and
clean and there was a closet in it, with
few dresses hanging on pegs, and q
bonnet box on a shelf. Into this closet
I went, and there ! sat down on an old
trunk, and waited. heard queer old
clock ticking in the room. l heard it
count the hours, ten, eleven, twelve.
And kept saying to myself:
"If you are 9 wicked, suspicious old
fool, Richard Wood, the Lord forgive
you"
But 1 waited still, and Just as the
long black hand pointed at half-psst
one, heard such knock as my sister
in-law always gave at the Office door.
I drew my closet door tight, and put
my eyes at q crevice in it.
There was another knock-a pause
and then 1 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, and relocked it, and
stole across the room. Then-God for
give the womanl I suppose she was
mad with jealousy-she lifted up the
mattress of the neat little bed in the
corner, and, taking . red pocket-book,
thrust it under, pulling the quilt well
down about the bed afterward.
II hardly think you'll marry Sam
Spencer, after all, Miss Lilly" she said
aloud, with Q wicked toss of her head.
"I've untwisted you"
''Not quite, said I. Margaret Ann,
there are two words to that matter"
walked out Of the closet, and atood
with my back to the outer door. She
knew herself trapped, and her wicked
tongue had its way still.
$50 you're in the habit of coming
here ?" she said. ''Nice young lady,
certainly"
ST never came here BEFORE" said I,
"and you know it; but I've been here
all day waiting for you. I saw Lilly's
key in your basket last night, and
began to guess the truth. Bring me
that pocket-book."
Margaret Ann did it, She was as
pale as death, and almost as cold.
looked at her, and felt sorry for hel
after all.
you're my brothers widow" I said,
"and q poor, foolish, jealous creature.
haven't told any one of my suspicious
yet, and 1 never will, upon two conci.
tons"
"Name them," said she. 81 cannot
help myself"
you'll retire from the business,
said 1.
"Glad to do it." said she.