The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-12-02
THE LOST BANK NOTE.

" James" said Mrs. Garret, while
sitting at braakfast one morning,
don't like the new girl. l have my
suspicious about her."
" About Ami" returned Mr.. Garret
in surprise. Why, It's only few
days ago that / heard you boasting ia
Mrs. Brenmer you had the best cook in
New York"
" So she is o good cook. don't ex-
pect to get such another for twice the
wages. 1t is not about her work she
does all that weil-but I've no trust IN
her."
What has she done 2"
What has she done 2" echoed the
lady somewhat sharply. " Nothing, of
course, or I'd soon send her packing
But she's shy, and secret, and won't
tell me any thing about herself; and has
ridiculous airs about sleeping alone, and
won't even allow Amanda inside her
bedroom door. There's something
wrong depend upon it. If there wasn't
screw loose somewhere she wouldn't t
be here for such low wages"
" If that's fault against her You can
raise them," suggested Mr.. Carrot.
There, James, you may as well 60
to your Office, if that's all you have to
say" cried the lady of the house. but
mark my words, before you 60, Ill find
Ann Walker out before long"
Mr.. Garret sighed as he rose to de-
part. He well knew that remOnstrance
would avail nothing, for Mrs. Carrots
preiudices were as the laws of the Me des
and Persians, that changeth not, SO he
took himself off without another word
Amanda ~ cried the lady, when
left alone, bring Horace up"
In response to this summons large,
slatternly girl OF eleven or twelve made
her appearance from the basement, with
little boy III her arms, who made a
snatch at an egg stand and knocked it
on the floor in passing the table.
You awkward, careless gypsy I"
cried Mrs. Garret, with great spirit,
- that's the second thing you have
broken this morning. Who do you
think is going to pay for all You de-
stroy ? Come here, Horace, love, and
have nice piece Of toast. What's
Ann doing, Amanda ?"
She's dressing the turkey, num-"
" Did she saour the front steps this
morning ?"
" Yes, mum shs got up at five
O'Clock to do it,
"Go and tell her expect her to wash
the drawing room windows before din.
ner."
Upon my word," muttered Mrs.
Garret, resentfully, az Amanda retired
to carry her message. "l'll pull her
pride down for her bit. Must wash
the stems at five in the morning forsoOth
lest folks see hor at all. I'll take that
out of her."
In few minutes Ann came up to
clear the dishes Of. She was tall and
well proportioDed, about twenty years
Of age, her face pale, refined in fea-
lures, not handsome, but singulaTlY
intelligent and earnest in its expression.
She looked little anxious and tronb-
led as she noiselessly arranged the
room, and when she was ready to, 20,
she said, in very soft voice
May ask favor, ma am, that the
cleaning of the front windows be put
off till early in the morning ?"
No." answered her mistress, ,curt!y.
want them done now"
" don't wish to be seer by passers-
by" she urged, almost pleadingly. 1T
is Of Importance for me not to be seen
by-by some one who might know me. I"
You will obey my orders, girl, or
leave this house - returned Mrs. Gar
ret, beginning to quiver with temper.
The servant cOurtesied and withdrew.
In few minutes she was at the win
dows, but In a close sunbOnnst, to Mrs.
Carrots unspeakable disgust.
~ think can see through my lady,"
was her inward comment. " She's some
jailbird the detectives are after. I'll lay
a trap for her, and il she's not caught
in it, my penetration isn't much"
Rising from her sewing machine,
which she had been busily plying ip
Master Horace's behalf, while her brain
was busily reyOlved, she unlocked her
desk, took from it u twenty dollar note,
carefully marked the number, and drop
ped it AS by accident, under the edge OF
the table. Then she cut and haSted
some more work, making enough rub
bish about the door to insure the SER
wants having to use her dustpan before
dinner. Ry the time this was accom-
plished she discovered little HOraca and
the machine in such danger of co~ing
TO, grief together that, first dyiv-
ing that innocent TO the other side of
the room, and then picking up her
scattered shuttle and reels she called
Ann up stairs to put the parlor to rights,
and left the room, taking Horace with
her
When Mr.. Gsrret came home to din
ner he saw ty his wfe's pOrtentogs face
that something dSeadful had occur
red.
q" James," said she, ,sOlemnly, ~ have
found the girl out in a theft"
Who 2 Amanda ?"
Pshaw no, Your superior girl
Ann, She has just helped herself to
twenty dollars of mine"
Good gracious - cried ar Garret,
pausing in the act Of carving the tnr-
key.
Yes 1t was a twenty dollar note
which-ahem-happened to fall out of
my desk on the door this forenoon. l
was busy with Horace and so-ahem. =
forgot tn pick it up before left the
room. When came down to dinner l
instantly missed it, and the abandoned