The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08

y
collar now," he muttered to himself as
he brushed his thick brown hair. 81
should be fool indeed if I put it in
again. No more mortgages for mel"
Then, his toilette completed, he ran
down stairs, two steps at time.
Farmer-hke, his first visit was to his
horses. They were munching their corn
satisfactorily; and after look or two,
and a pat, John returned to the inn,
where a jangling bell announced break
fast. 1t was smoking on the table-a
substantial meal of the kind universal
IN taverns thirty years ago; and John
Boyd, WI Dse appetite was of the kind
proverbially said to accompany a good
conscience, was doing it ample justice,
when a sudden instinct led him to
thrust his hand into the pocket which
held the two hundred dollars. The
wallet was gone!
| In the suddenness of the shock, John
| felt himself pale, and then flush pain
fully, as he confusedly tried to remem-
| Der if he had taken out the wallet, and
when. Under his pillow-that was it.
He recollected distinctly or so it seemed,
putting it there, for security's sake,
With muttered excuse, he left the Ia
BILE, and hurried up stairs. The door of
his room stood open, and a maid-serv-
ant 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.
g Have you lost something, sirp '
asked the maid.
John Strengthened himself up to an
swer. He had not noticed the maid be-
fore, though she had waited upon table
at supper. Now he observed that she
was young and rather pretty-fair, with
q trim, slender figure, beautiful glossy
hair, neatly dressed and braided, and a
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 observed in flash, and
instinctively noting, weighing, estimat-
ing by that wonderfully rapid process of
which the human mind is capable, while
yet his thoughts were full of his money
and his loss.
eyes. l am looking for my wallet,
which | left under my pillow. Did you
find itP''
The girls face blanched to deadly
wilderness, and her eyes dilated as with
sudden terror.
"No, SIR" she said, he voice trem-
bling and sinking away as she spoke.
&C | didn't see any wallet"
John looked at her distrustfully; but
there was something in the pale face
which disarmed suspicion.
"I'd like to search the bed," he went
on. "It may have slipped under the
Mattress"
Together they turned the mattress,
but no wallet was visible.
"That off horse of yourn has got his
shoe loose somehow" announced Mr..
Nash, the landlord, at the door. 81
thought I'd better tell you, SOS you
could stop to the blacksmith's as you
pass, and get him to put in a couple OF
nails. Why, what's the matter?"
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave. He
whistled softly to himself for minute,
with his eyes fixed on the tumbled bed
ding; then he went to the stair head,
and called his wife. Presently they
came in together, the landlady's face
very red and troubled.
"Such thing never happened in mig
house BEFORE" she protested. "But
there's only one person been in your
room since you came besides yourself,
and she's the person you must reckon
WITH" pointing to the maid, who, with
white cheeks and downcast eyes, leaned
against the wall as if awaiting sen.
tence.
"Oh, indeed, indeed I didn't take it!
l never saw any wallet" she said; but
her voice was drowned in Mrs. Nash's
louder tones.
"And pray who else took it, do you
suppose? Who else had the chance!
Answer me that. 1t serves me just
right for taking in a girl with no rec.
ommend-a girl didn't know nothing
about, not SO much as her name, OF
where she come from, or who her folks
are. Five weeks tomorrow, that's al
the time she's been in the house, sir
but this is the end of it. It's the last
time I'll ever have q help don't know
all the long and short of, so you needn't
feel afraid to stop with us again
no, nor none of your friends eth.
er; and as for her, out she packs this
day"
"I'd better go for the constable
hadn't Ip-if 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,"
81 can't. I haven't got it. never
saw it. Oh, please believe me. Don't
send me 10 JAIL" she urged.
The landlady only answered by 8
sound expression of disgust. And
throwing her apron over her head
the poor girl wept in silence, saying nc
more.
John had held his peace during this
alteration, sharply eying the parties
concerned in it meanwhile. The Nash
es he knew something about. They
: were of good reputation as far as he
was aware. The maid was stranger
to them as to him; but spite of the
circumstances and her manner which