The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-12-06


threaten to claim her. After that, Bax-
ter could do nothing to please him; he
lay in wait and watched the lovers as a
cat watches mouse, and worried them
as cruelty.
One evening Miss Hannah entered
the room where Polly was sitting in the
twilight.
plotting mischief, 1 reckon" she
said. "Are you fond Of darkness,
Polly, cause your deeds are evil?
Strike light, girl. I'd roll of crisp
bank bills in my hand an hour ago
Square Emery paid his butter bill this
afternoon; put 'em in my gown pocket
when Hiram called me to turn the
grin 'stone-and they're gone Now you
needn't tell me they're gone without
hands" t1
There's been no pickpocket here,
Miss Hannah"
Saint there? When you take folks
in out of the highway, without no rec
ommendation, how do you know what
their habits is? To be sure, didn't
suspect no one of having stole 'em out
of my pocket; there's hole in it; I'd
forgot about it; and naturally them bills
must have dropped out between here
and the barn; but Hiram and me has
hunted the place over and again, and it
stands to reason they.couldn't have trav-
eled further without hands,
Mercy cried Polly. "How much
was there?"
"A whole hundred dollars, miss; and
if it amt forthcoming somebody III smart
for it."
"You don't think that I took your
money, Miss Hannah?"
well, maybe not; but it's gone-and
there's Baxter"
Baxter
"Yes, indeed. What do you or know
about the fellow"
81 know he wouldn't do it"
Hell have to prove it. I'll have him
up before the court, sure as you live"
Polly could hardly keep her anger
from flaming into audacious words; the
bare suspicion was a blow to her. She
believed in Baxter thoroughly; though
an angel had accused him, yet would
she have upheld him. But how often
have the innocent suffered! how often
has injustice triumphed over justice!
To be suspected melrey was an irrepar-
able injury, she thought. Baxter might
lose his good name, his work; might be
sent to prison-everything might go
against him, and he had nobody but her
for defense. AS it happened, he had
gone down to the village to get the mail
and do some chores, and, while Hannah
inveighed and Polly defended, small
boy knocked at the door to bring the
pleasing news that Mr. Baxter, the fell
low as works for old Thornley,, give me
a quarter to run up and let you know
he wouldn't be to home tonight, and
maybe not tomorrow neither, as he'd
been called away sudding like along of
n letter.
"There!" calculated Hannah, Il hope
you're convinced. He's absconded. I'll
have the law after him sure as his
names Baxter, which I dare say it amt"
Were your bills new greenbacks, and
did you take the numbers? ?" asked Polly.
Crisp and fresh as new cabbage
leaves, and, as for the numbers, they
were fives and tens Just as it happened"
1--WE must have another good search
before you accuse any one
"Only them that hides can find"
And Polly spared no pains; every
minute that she could secure from her
duties was spent in the search; but
when the second night and day passed
without bringing Baxter, or any tidings
from him, her heart sank beneath the
weight of Miss Hannah's words; not
that she doubted him for an instant,
but the suspicion might keep him away,
and she might never see his face again.
There was now but one thing to do, and
she did it. She begged leave of Miss
Hannah to go to the town and mail a
letter.
"Lor', Hiram II mail it for you," said
Hannah, intent upon mastering its con-
tents first. But Polly was firm in the
matter; the letter was too precious to
trust to another. 1t ran:
Mr.. BAXTER If you are staying away from
your work and losing wages because you are
suspected Of finding Miss Hannahs money,
which she lost the day you left please return
at once, as money has been found, and your
good name is restored, though never suspected
by your friend, PAULINE POWERS.
But her object in town was not
merely to mail this document; she went
ulrect from tne pOStOl1ce 10 tne Dirk
where her little hoard was growing, and
drew out 500 in crisp greenbacks, Sos
and Sos, trusting that they made no
larger parcel than Miss Hannah's; then
she retraced her steps homeward, and
quietly dropped the precious roll on the
floor of Miss Hannah's closet, where
it might easily have been overlooked
after falling from the rent in her pocket
she wisely conjectured that, the next
day being Friday, Miss Hannah would
bring it to light with her broom.
Whats all this about Miss Hannah's
money and my good name?" asked
Baxter, when he returned on Saturday
and found means to speak to Polly pri-
vately. Polly related the facts, leaving
out her own share in the results.
and where was the money found?"
Miss Hannah found it on sweeping
day on the floor of her closet" de-
murely.
and who put it there, Polly?"
"Who? Why she says it must have
dropped there when she hung up her
gown"
"Poor. deluded Miss Hannah! How
long since you learned to prevaricate so