Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-10-08

his effects, and found but FIVE dollars.
at once suspected that he had been robbed
though it was possible that he had lost il
but it want likely. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr.. Slocum, the physician and yoursel
were the only persons who entered th
dead mans room from the time of hi
sickness until after his death. NY sllspi
cion fastened ITSELF upon you, and Mi
Smith and | searched your room to-day
I. and discovered, secreted in an old dress il
| your trunk, two hundred and nilety-eigh
! dollars, which | believe you stole Mrs
I, Smith tells me that you get a salary O
: twelve dollars IL week; and therefor e, hav
how could YOU get such Il sum of money
! together honestly? You've either got tc
explain this mystery to my satisfaction, OF
60 to prison. .
He waited for her reply, but she made
none. She seemed petrIied-turned tc
stone by the charge. She sat in her chair
dumb-her face and hands blanched nearly
to the color of marble.
''Her manner convinces me that she is
guilty, said Mr.. Horton, in the tone of Il
man who is satisfied that III, is right. 'sOf-
ticer, do your duty"
The policeman advanced towards her,
touched her on the arm, and said
EMiss. I've IL warrant for your arrest
You must so with me to the station
house,
He, used to such scenes, spoke more
pityingly, more kindly to her than had Mr..
Horton.
The policeman's touch seemed to put, as
if b. magic, some life into her; the color
slowly returned to her cheeks, and she be-
gan to weep.
s'For the love Of God" she cried "don It
take me to prison. The money is mne-I
didn't steal it. ! got it honestly You
may have the money--every cent I've got
but don't take me to prison--oh don t,
don't. DON'T,
My heart went out in pity for the poor
creature who now lay stretched senseless
on the floor, To the mind she neither
looked nor acted like q guilty person. She
was so young--about twenty, certainly not
more--so fair, so lovely She thief i'm
possible. shameful. shameful, to accuse
her of such a thing, l not only thought,
thus, in the heat and pity ofmy indigna-
ton, said as much.
young man. said Mr.. Horton, with Il
touch of sarcasm in his voice, ''don't let
your pity get the better of your good
sense, please. | don't say that this is not her
first crime, perhaps it is; but, neverthe-
less, she should be punished. My motto is:
Fiat .justitia, a'uat c(elAnt.
Miss Gardner, by this time. Mrs. Smith
having poured water on her face, had re-
covered her senses. | was gazing at her
closely while Mr.. Horton spoke, and the
conviction that she was not guilty grew
stronger upon me every passing second.
'sGentlemen,' cried, II repeat that 7
think she is innocent. 1t would be u burn
ing shame to contine that delicate lady in
a filthy station house all night. and il she
is allowed to remain here tonight, will
hold myself responsible for her appearance
in court for examination tomorrow morn
ing. May not safely pledge my word to
that effect, Miss Gardner ~ asked, turn
ing to her.
''Thank you, thank you; God bless you
for this" she murmuree-, grasplng my
hand and looking the gratitude she found
it difficult % put into words. Eyes," she
said, when a moment had passed and she
had partly recovered her calmness, ''you
may. | am innocent, though it will be
difficult, know, for nae to prove my in
nocence; but your kind words, Mr.. Slocum,
have cheered me up-cha;ed my fears that
| should be unable to prove my innocence
away--and have made me brave"
MI. Horton said he had no special OBJ
lection, at which / was really surprised,
for thought 1 should have to take him
aside and talk him into it. He remarked
that | was being taken in by an adyentur-
ess, and that I should laugh at my Quixot-
ic action before a day had passed. The
policeman, after [ had pressed a five dol
lar bill into his hand. also consented to
leave his prisoner in MY care.
The remainder of my story can be told
in few words.
Scarcely an hour aft er the departure Of
the policeman and MI. Horton, a young
lady accompanied by her mother, called at
the house. She said she had been engaged
to marry Jonas Samp son, and it was only
that evening she had seen the notice Of
his death in newsp; tper. 100.
They were to have been married in two
weeks, she said and she and her mother
haYing been busy pr elarLag for her we'd
ding through the day. it was only when
evening came chat S Ne or her mother had
a chance to look at Ehe paper, so that &C
counted for their not ha wing seen the
death notice carrier in the day.
mentioned Miss Gardne RS case to her,
and asked her if she knew anything about
Jonas SIMPSONS money. oh, yes, she did;
he had given it to her.
On the day he received the money, be-
fore returning to his boarding house, he
had called on his intended, and given her
the whole amount to pay for her wedding
outfit and other things that are essential
fol newly married people.
Thus was my conviction of Miss Gard
ner's innocence proved true; and of course
Mr.. Horton withdrew the charge, apologize
ing at the same time for his part in the
affair."
. Miss Gardner was an orphan, and the
money found in her trunk was left to her
by her mother; she having no faith in the
safety OF banks. preferring to take care of
it herself.
Another conviction soon grew on me-
THAI loved Nelly Gardper, and for some
years she has been Mrs. Slocum.
The downward slope of life. Why
should the gloom deenen as WE naar tho