The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09

Inn by a COMPOUNDED piece oil rasCntitN, rs |
enough to make him cross amt it2 | had |
the promise OF fifty dollars from man
that got check thc other day when sala-
Tics were paid ! WAS ~ sure OF II rs could
be- but what do YOU s'prsc ! he1rd Ncs-
tcrdayS That Mcrwethcr Rnsllt there
aud some scamp or Othcl - nobody
knows who-Was good enough 10 sign
for him and wall, or ~ th ms chccEi"
els that suy" cried Ned Sunuson.
Why. | wm' there iuvscll, aud hoard
Mi,r others ma ne sung out. Whntn cheek
the fellow must have hail Are you sure
II uin't "a mistake, uigGinson1 Who told
you about it,
"Why, George Mcriwcther himself. He
ought to know, huint heP No such luck
Tor me us n mistake"
"Whot's he gong to do about II ?" some
body a-ked.-l. wasn't Jack Stebbins, by
the way.
Dor said 1hgginson, dcspondently.
" why, what can ms dor hunt for "a needle
in haystacA ~
"les!" shouted Toc Hoxic, hanging his
big fiat IN the desk. ara rumulge the
hiystack till found the sneak, coniound
hun! I'd never let NJ ON haul like that,
If il was me-
ION, you Csn talk" said Hirginson, fret
fully. "Of course George Mpriwcthcr
won't let il go without trying. but there
amt one chance N a hundred oi his spot
ting tho rascal. No such luck for honest
mcn."
"well. II beats me how he did it," said
Simpson. who cert fled the check Tor
him-IIlackloclty
Higgnson nodded.
ITO thiuk of ms sharp ewes being fooled.
Why, could have sworn that he knew by
sight every signature on the ciiA pay rolls.
Come now, that's expecting little too
much. ain Z 1t = struck in. knew had
To say something, hut IL seemed us IN my
tongue stuck go the roof uf my MOUTH; my
voice sounded thick aud strange to my own
ears; and the skin of my head trli creepy.
as II tho hairs were stan ling on cud. nut
my hand mp on the sly 10 smooth them
down, and / couldn't help wondering II
those men around me didn't hear my heart
beat
" Blackjack doesn't oftcn mako n blum
der said Joe lIoXie. Hes 10 sharp A. a
stecltrIp; but he's put ms foot IN II This
time. II he diu certify that check. The
bank VIII hold him responsible, and he'll
have 70 shell out The money
"Will he| asked di1giuson, engerlv.
Then George Mcriwether vail get II, AFTER
ali?"
'Yes. and Won may come in for vour
nfty, old fellow. Hope you will, sad Joe,
good-naturrily; but | woul1n't like to
be IN thar sneak thicfs shoes, with Black
lock after me. Hen mud nam out IN a
week time, see If h don't"
The Lord grant IT. said HiGguson.
with such pious JUNCTION that every Dody
roarcd. Everybody, at least. but Jack
as the rest, but sung sinai inside, 1 can tell
you.
What n day that was to get through
The story cot around, and every mgu
met h. i something to say about II. heard
myself called more hard names tnnn ever
thought could have listened to. and not
put my fist In somebody's face. Bat had
10 grin aud agree TO il all, and make out
that | would be glad to see the rogue
caught. when all the while | was Shaking
put Blackjack on the Tight scent.
Everybody agreed that be would have
TO refund the money, since ii wa. ne that
let the signature pnEs uuuues, toned: and
/. fool that was. had never thought of
that Ii was different thing from bor-
rowing George Meriwether's money FOR
week or two, ana paving II back when my
own came along, which was the way the
matter looked IN my eyes. Mr.. BihCk lock
wouldn't he likely to see il so. not by u
long shot and he vasnt the man t. SIT still
and let himself be robbed for nothing. II
Joe llpNir SAID II once that uny, Ae sud ii
III least dozen Times:
" Bncklock wal catch that fellow. You
III nj what | say. III bel on il three to
one
could have choked Inn with a good
will.
There was no going 10 see Molly that
night, though we 70. OF duiY earlier than
usual. cOuldn't lace her innocent eyes with
such a secret To hide. aud | diuut want 10
20 home, either. There was alwnysa lot OF
Cabling women IN the plrlor OF evenings.
and my little den in the tlird story VIA cold
ms n barn. Did well enough 10 sleep In, but
wasn't likely TO 20 TO sleep that Night. ~
i travelled the streets TIL midnight, win
my coat bu OnCd To my elm, and my hat
Jaiumel over my eyes, ana my hands IN
my empty pockets. | kepf ont OF IN"
lighted thoroughiares, and sneakcd along
The shady side OF the darkest streets
could ind And dare say looked un-
lN flea IN
body hau been calling M NIL day long.
know felt 80, easy enough. Aud I'd have
gladly barganeu all the money coming 10
me, though II was four tunes what had
taken, 1or "a clear conscience AGAIN. the
shame OF the thing, that somehow OF other
hadn't got into my thick head at first,
weighed me down now, crushed my self
RESPECT, mndc me feel Ike dog that was
gong to DO hung, and deserved 1t, too.
What would Molly say II size knew she
was engaged 10 theft ana now long
would lL be before she found IL outy
The cold sweat stood all over me ms
| asked myself that question. But al my
| cOnjllrlug over IT. and pounding my brains
tor some way 10 get out of HE scrape,
only made things more OF lnudlle. Ia
have slammed SICK, AID stayed away from
the oiic" Tor "A day ~: two, II Ind dured.
But had sense enough to SEQ lnnt wouldn't
answer SO l kept to work ms well us
could, and nothing particular happened
for the next tn GO days. There was plenty
OF talk, of course, and iglinson came in
very jolly one morning because Mr. Back
lock lad paid Meiiwe,her Cut oI AS own
| pocket for tho stolen check.
ent against the grain, vou bet sand
Joe ioxle.
ON, ~ course. But he WINS mighty cool
about it, lligeinson answered. "TolI
Merlwether he'd get II back al IN good
time. Had his eyes open, ami knew which
way 10 look"
"Luid. I'm glad 1t amt this way" said
Joe, with hls hearty laugh. ia as soon
nave a bloodhound after meas Biarklock.'
1t was cheerful Tor me TO listen TO. But
kept u straight face, and asked myself
how could he know wuich way to look
lad he got hold Of any of my writing, and
compared ii with the writing on the ch eek
Had any nouy watched rue NJ the bank, and
given INN a clewi Had &c orge McIi-
wether hlmsClf suspected me, and set him
on thc track? A iiNzen possibilities came
| INTO my mind, aud nadn me half crazy.
Bur nothing came OF II all til SATURDAY,
when had 10 20 over 10 the uUnptrOllel's
office with bundle of old vouchers that
had to he hauled over the Goals again. 1t
wasn't my place to attend 10 such thlnca
| but they put II on me because happened
not 10 pc busy just then; ana # course /
Couldn't refuse 10 20, hide ms | hkcl the
| job. There was one Thing hh6ut 81. though
| Il would give mo the chance to got Il i1vL
ut Ny. Blackjack aelln, aud | thought /