Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT

tavern
which he jumped; home and It's cares were many
miles away; but long ride lay before him. anc
he washed and Or eSSed briskly as one In haste
hummlng cheerful air meanwhile. as became
a man VINO 1eit himself In good spirits. and had
ample reasons for being so. For be il known
This year had proved the best for farmers since
Jonn mad been his own master. HarveStS had
Deen large, prices high, and john on his way
pack nom the annual market. carried sense OF
freedom and liberation at his heart from the
hnal extiDguishment OF mortgage on his farm
his conscience as did the burden OF Christian on
his shoulders. The burden was lifted now; and,
further than that, John carried In his lat red
wallet TWO hundred dollars, over ana ABOVE To-
ward the expenses OF the next year. He mad
never been so forehanded' before, and the sen.
sation was joyful one NY meek Is out OF
brushed his thick brown hair. 81 should be a
Il oil indeed IL put Il IN again. No more mort
cages for me-" Then, his toilette completed, he
ran down stairs, two steps al q time.
Farmer like, his first Visit WAS to his horses.
They were munching their corn satisfactorily:
and after look or TWO, and a pat, John re.
turned 10 his inn, where a iangling bell an
nOunced breakfast. It was smoking on the
fabIe-a substantial meal OF the kind universal
In tayerns thirty Years ago; and John Boyd.
whose appetite was OF the kind proyerbaIIy
Sid to accompany good conscience. was doing
10 ample justice, when sudden instinct led
him TO thrust his hand into the inner pocket
let was gone,
In the suddenness of the shock. John felt
himself pale, and then flush painfully, as he
confuSedly tried TO remember if he had taken
out the wallet. and when. Under his pillow
that was Ii. He recolected distinctly. or so II
seemed, putting 1t there for security's sake.
when he went 10 bed the night before With a
muttered excuse, he left the table and hurried
up stairs. The door OF his room stood Omen
and m2td-Seryant was putting fresh sheets on
The bed, the soiled linen lying in a heap on the
floor.
Toward this heap John hurried, and began
turning IT over.
Have you lost something, sir" asked the
maid.
John Strengthened himself up to answer. He
mad not noticed the maid before, though she
mad waited upon table at supper. Now he OBJ
served that she was young and rather pretty
1alr,W trim. slender figure, beautiful glossy
hair. neatly dressed and braided, and n pair OF
sweet, apprehensive blue eyes Her voice was
Soft, too; and she had a shy, modest manner
Which suggested an idea Of refinement. All
these facts Farmer Boyd absorbed In fash,
and instinctively noting, weighing estimating.
by that wonderfully rapid process OF which the
human mind Is capable while yet his thoughts
were full OF his money and his loss.
Yes am looking for my wallet, which
left under my pillow Did you find it,
The girls face blanched to deadly white
ness, and her eyes dilated as with sudden ter
yOr.
No. SIR she said, her voice trembling and
Wallet
John looked at her distrustfully: but there
suspicion.
I'D Ike TO search the bed, y he went on. at
may have slipped under the mattress"
T0gether they turned the mattress, but no
wallet was visible.
THAT of horse OF yours has got his shoe
loose somehow announced Mr.. Nash, the land
lord, at the door. Il thought I'd better tell you
SOS you could stop to the blacksmith's as you
pass, and get him to put In couple OF nails.
Why. what's the natter"
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave He whistled
softly to himself for a minute, with his eyes
fixed on the tumDled bedding; then he went to
the stair head and called his wife. Presently
they came III together, the landlady'S face very
red and troubled.
such thing never happened in ma house
before she protested. But there's only one
person been In your room since you came be-
side yourself. and she's the person you must
reckon with, pointing TO the maid. who, with
white checks and downcaSt eyes leaned against
the wall as il awaiting sentence.
"Oh- indeed indeed didn't take it, | never
saw any wallet" she said; but ner voice was
drowned in Mrs NaSh'S louder tones
land pray who else took IL, do you suppose?
Who else had the chance? Answer me that IL
serves NE just right for taking In a girl with no
recommends girl didn't know nothing about
not SO much as her name, or where She come
nom, or who her folks are. Five weeks to-mor-
row, that's all the time she's been in the house.
Sir; but this Is the end OF it. It's the last time
III ever have help don't know all the long
and short OF, so you needn't feel afraid TO stop
with us again-no nor none or your friends
either; and as for her, out she packs this day.
you're sure it was under the pillow you put it,
suggested the landlord.
'.oh, don't. please; please DON'T pleaded the
girl, weeping violently.
Give the gentleman his wallet back. then
and perhaps he'll let you Off.r
Il can't. / haven't got tt. / never saw 1t.
oh, please believe me. Don't send me TO JAIL"
The Iandlady only answered by a sound ex-
preston OF disgust And throwing her apron
over her head, The poor girl wept in silence, say
Ing no more
John had held his peace during this alterca-
ton, sharply cycling the parties concerned In it
meanwhile. The Washes he knew something
about. They We're OF good reputation as far as
ne was aware. The maid Was stranger to
1hems as 10 him: but Spite or the circumstances,
and Ter manner. which was hardly less suspi
cioIS, be could not bring himself TO believe her
guilty. lie vas not a hasty man. and he was
IISt one, with kind heart 10 back his temper
lion he made up his mind what to do.
u can't swear that put the wallet under the
pillow. or any where elSe,'' he said. I'm pretty
sure that | did, but my thoughts about il are
confused somehow, and It may be that LETT il
at Bolton. where / slept on Tuesday. / don't
want 10 injustice done on my account. so don't
s 5e o wsaf rs himself ss fb to the g
during the day Will you?"-to Mr. Nash-'.and
II you'll end me saddle III ride back TO Bolton
and make inquiry there. II find the money,
Wen and coed; II DON'T it'll be time enough 10
talk further about IL tomorrow"
I'm sure it's yeE good of you TO take so
much lruuole, declared the landlady. But
whether or no. the girl don't stay here. III have
no suspect q thief In my house"
There ii be nothing TO suspect her of if find
the wallet" re1O1ned John, dryiy. Don't give
the poor thing bad name TILL you know that
she deserves IT," Then he left the Toom I'M
mindful OF TIE look OF gratitude which shone
upon him from the blue eyes or the girl who had
dropped her apron, and gaZed after him till he
Mas out or sight.
His reflections were not agreeable as he re.
traced bis footsteps over the dusty highway
Travelled but yesterday with so light a heart
The loss OF LIS money meant a great deal to
John Boyd The pressure OF anxiety seemed TO
settle again upon his shoulders as he thought
over the probabilities or its non-recoyery hut
wont give III without fight for IT. he
thought. grilniy, as he urged On his horse Miles
Seemed douoiy long when measured by a heavy
heart. and what with dust, heat and the con-
tlnual EFFORT 10 clear his mental confusion as 10
bnefe and when he last had seen his wallet the
young farmer was tagged and dispirited enough
before noon was fairly come.
lie stopped 10 dine at little tavern attached
10 a toli-gate, and with some vague hope that
The money might have been picked un on the
road by some One mentioned his loss The toll
keeper shook lis head
'BOltOnS your only chance he said ..Ir
Twas on the r01d you dropped 1t, there's 10 like
uhoO0 lndt You II ever hear or IL again. The
gusts eight Inches deep, / should say. and
there's been three big droges or sheep and one
OF DuliOckS along since yesterday so II your
EaieI Was a-.y1ng there, they must have
trampied IL under pretty thoroughly II is bur