American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-22

lie unrolled it from some bits ot paper
and handed il to ME. ] recognized it "a
glance as the one | had held on the
previous night
The mirrors are arranged in my show
, case in a way that enables me, by look
/ ing downward, apparently ut what hold
in my hand, to watch the features and
behavior of my customers.
} While pretending, therefore, to examine
the cross, | quietly and thoroughly scru-
tinized the person before me. | detected
enough of his features to convince me
that he was the brother of Miss Kings
ford.
With my foot touched two springs,
one of which instantly caused IA bolt to
fasten the door, while the other rang a
bell which summoned my brother from a
rear room.
| then put the cross upon the shelf be-
hind me, and asked the young man to
step to the end of the counter where
there were two chairs.
! l told him briefly that | knew him. and
that knew of his defalcation.
The effect of these announcements
upon him was unexpectedly severe and
sudden. His blood flowed back upon his
heart, and for moment he was paIa-
lyzed. He fell forward in his chair, and
/ would have slipped upon the floor had
not caught him. He slowly aroused him
self, but, by the time he regained his
! power of speech, he seemed to have
/ grown ten years older. His eyes were
large and wandering, lines appeared in
| his checks, and his head settled down be
tween his shoulders. l did not think he
was cowardly, but that he was not so
callous and wicked as had supposed
He was totally undone; he trembled
from his head TO his feet, and his knees
shook as if he were shuddering with the
cold.
asked him the name of his confed-
crate. He replied that it was Marshall
please describe him"
After a moment he replied:
g He is pretty tail, and he has white
! hair and beard and broad forehead"
lis he not pleasing in his manners.
Has he not fine address,"
Yves, he talks like an angel"
What were you about to do with the
money that you hoped to get for that
cross"
* was about to leave town. The af-
fair will be known all over the city this
evening But you will return the cross
to meg"
This inquiry was excited and start
lingly earnest.
l shook my head. He burst into a
| checked as soon as possible. / advised
him to return to his office.
Return to my Officer"
Yes. But leave it Just before noon
and go to the Albion, and sit in the par
lor until send for you.
Until you send for me?"
Yes. And be sure you do not at
tempt to run away meantime. You have
stolen $4,000, have you not:"
"I-I-perhaps."
Il suppose you have converted the
companys bonds. Are the bonds to be
had at Il moments notice?"
He gaZed at me for an instant, and
then cried in a loud voice that seemed to
come from the very middle of his heart:
They are to be had at IA moments no.
tice. But who can want them,"
If eyes can eXtort secrets, then less
obdurate person than l would have
told him all she knew, for his gaze
seemed to penetrate my breast, so intense
was it.
But l was dumb. / had nothing more
to ask. He was subdued by my (sup-
posed) knowledge and he called me
strange woman. He begged for the cross
Il second time. For,' he said "it be-
longs to my sister"
Then you stole it from her," l said
He turned away his head and then NUT
tered, half TO himself:
One becomes capable of a great many
things"
He departed moment after, but /
managed to impress him with the idea
that he must not attempt flight. He
promised me humbiy that he would obey |
me and that he would be found at the |
Albion at the hour | mentioned He |
went away Reconstruction and in great
fear of me-
lie had not been gone ten minutes |
when IA lady, heaviIy-veiled, entered and |
approached me. I
She hastily uncovered her face. 1t was |
Miss kingsford. She was pale and weary
looking
Il have not brought the cross" she
stammered
DO not feel troubled about it, re-
piled, in "a manner which banished her
agitation at once. Perhaps we shall |
not need it. l will go with you as a
matter of form to the Albion
That is, you will take me into Gus
tody,' she replied with sort of half
laugh.
No. not that exactly, but will go to
see If something cannot be done to pre-
vent too great a sacrifice on your part.
Where is your brother:"
Poor Allan. | do not know. II
have not seen him to-day. All, if he
knew what storm was hanging over
him,"
| begged her to go into my private of
h'c, III inc rear, ana 10 rest Inerc until |
the time should come tc visit the Presi-
dent"
She did as l wished, and she lay her
tired head upon Il heap of cushions that
arranged beside her upon lounge
AT half-past eleven we entered her
coupe, which we found two blocks away,
and drove to the place of meeting
The Albion was small hotel built of
stone, and it was very old. Most of its
were narrow and its rooms dark
and contracted. 1t was finely fun nshed
however, and it was much liked by fash
onable people.
We were shown to a parlor. Its win
lows looked upon broad park whose
all trees were moaning in the wind, and
over whose ice-covered paths few walk
ers were picking their ways.
There was bright fire in the CRATE
Miss kingsford was exceedingly anX-
GUS. She showed me her wallet. 1t con
aimed bank notes of large denomination;
n all, $4,000.
She sent to inquire if any one were
waiting her arrival.
In moment the "President' was
lshered in. He was the man already de-
scribed to me both by Miss Kingsford
and her brother. His face wore an ex-
preston of profound sympathy This
however, when his ewes rested
upon me He looked annoyed, if not
alarmed
Miss Kingsford following nv instruc-
tions) told him that ! was her maid.
lie bowed, and then asked, with an
eagerness which he could not conceal
from me at leasD, if she had come