The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-15
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.

III was six O'Clock of q crisp October
moin'ls, and John Boyd, farmer, rous-
ing rom his sound nights sleep. sprang
ort of bed with the alert readiness of
man who knows the value of the first
hours of the day. 1t was a tavern bed
from which he jumped; home and its
cares were many miles away; buta long
ride lay before him, and he washed and
dressed briskly, as one in haste, hum
ming a ch.rriul air meanwhile, as be-
came man who felt himself in good
spirita, and had ample reason for doing
so. For, be 1T known, this year had
proved the best for farmers since John
mad been his own master. Harvests
had been large, prices high, and John,
on bis way back from the annual mar
ket, carried a sense of freedom and lib
GRAFTON at his heart from the final ex-
tinguishment of Il mortgage on his farm
"a mortgage which had pressed as
heavily on his conscience as did the
burden of Christian on his shoulders
The burden was lifted now; and, fur.
thcr than that, John carried in his fat
red wallet two hundred dollars. over
anu above, toward the expenses of the
next year. He had never been so fore
handed before. and the sensation was
JOYFUL one. My neck is out of the
collar now he muttered to himself as
he brushed his thick brown hair. L
sh, ,uld be II tool indeed il | put it in
ag Tin. No more mortgages for mel
Then, his toilet completed, he ran
downstairs. two steps at time
Farmer-like, his first visit was to his
horses. They were munching their
corn satisfactorily; and after a look or
two, and a PAT, John returned to the
inn, where jangling bell announced
breakfast. 1t was smoking on the table
"a substantial meal of the kind univer-
sal in taverns thirty years ago; and
John BOYD, whose appetite was of the
KIND proverhially said to accompany a
good conscience, was doing it ample
justice, when sudden instinct led him
to thrust his hand into the inner pocket
which held the two hundred dollars.
The wallet was gone!
In the suddennass of the shock, John
felt himself pale, and then 6usn pain
FULLY. as he confusedly tried to remem-
per II ne had taken out the wallet, and
when. Under his pillow-that was it.
lie rccoilected distinctly, or so it seemed,
putting 1t there, for security's sake,
len he went to bed the night before.
Win muttere6 excuse, he left the
table and hurried upstairs. The door
of his room stood open, and maid
servant was putting fresh sheets on the
bed, the soiled linen lying in heap on
the floor.
Toward this heap John hurried and
begun turning it over.
Have you LOST something, STRIP asked
the maid.
John Strengthened himself up to an
swer. He had not noticed the maid be-
fore, though she had waited upon ia BILE
at supper. Now he observed that she
was young and rather pretty-fair, with
"a trim, slender figure, beautiful glossy
hair, neatly dressed and braided. and a
pair OF sweet, apprehensive blue eyes.
He voice was soft, too; and she had a
shy, modest manner which suggested
an idea Of refinement. All these facts
Farmer Boyd absorbed in flash. and
iinstinctivelY 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.
1es; / am looking for my wallet,
which left under my pillow. Did you
find itp'
The girls face blanched 10 a deadly
whlteness, and her eyes dilated as with
sudden terror.
No, SIR she said, her voice trem-
ping and sinking away as she spoke.
Il didn't see any wallet
John looked at her distrustfully; but
there was something in the paie face
which disarmed suspicion.
I'D like to search the bed he went
on. 1t 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. Il
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 matterp
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave. He
whistled softly to himself for minute,
with his eyes fixed ON the tum bled bed
dig; then he went to the stair head
and called his wife. Presently they
came in together, the landlady's face
very red ard troubled.
Such a thing never happened in my
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 ser
tence.
"O.i. indeed, indeed / didn't take it !
i never SAW any wallet, she said; but