Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-30


fully, as he coniusedly tried 10 remem-
Der II he had taken out the wallet, and
when. Under his pillow--that was t.
He recollected distinctly,or 80 II seemed,
putting it there, for security's sake,
when he went 10 bed the night before.
/ With muttered excuse, he left the ta-
BILE, and hurried up stairs. The door OF
his room stood open, and maid-serv-
ant was putting fresh sheets on the bed,
the soiled linen lying in heap on the
floor.
Toward this heap John hurried, and
began turning IL over.
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
a trim, slender figure, beautiful glossy
hair, neatly dressed and braided, and
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 a 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
Yes. l am looking for my wallet,
which left under my pillow. Did you
find itP''
The girls face blanched to deadly
whiteness, and her eyes dilated as with
sudden terror.
"No, sir" she said, he voice trem-
bling and sinking away as she spoke.
al 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. at 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. "I
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 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 n1y
house BEFORE" she protested. I" But
there's only one person been in your
|
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 sem
tence.
"Oh, indeed, indeed 1 didn't take it.!
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
supposeP 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, or
where she come from, or who her folks
are. Five weeks tomorrow, that's all
the time she's been in the house, sir
but this is the end of it. It's the last
time IN 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 of your friends eth
er; and as for her, out she packs this
day."
"I'd better 90 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"
"I can't. haven't got it. never
saw it. Oh, please believe me. Don't
send me 70 jail" she urged.
The landlady only answered by q
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 a stranger
TO them as to him but spite of the
circumstances and her manner, which
was hardly less suspicious, he could
not bring himself to believe her guilty
He was not hasty man, and he was Z
Just one, with kind heart to back his
temperate judgments; and after few
minutes reflection he made up his mind
what to do.
f" I can't swear that put the walle
under the pillow, or any where else, ;
he said. "I'm pretty sure that did
but my thoughts about it are confused
somehow, and it may be that left it a
Bolton, where slept on Tuesday. ]
r don't want no injustice done on my &C
: count. So don't cry like that "-ad
p dressing himself to the girl. "I'll tel
4 you what I'll do. Get the bay shod dur
{ ing the day, viii youP''-to Mr.. Nash
" and if you'll lend me saddle III ride
) back to Bolton and make inquiry there
q If l find the money, well and good; if
4 don't it'll be time enough to talk fur
/, thur about it Tomorrow"
5 "I'm sure it's very good of you tc
1 take 50 much trouble,r declared the
: landlady. But whether or no, tn,
1 girl don't stay here. IN have no sus
4 pected thief in my house,
s "There'n be nothing to suspect hel
of if find the wallet, y reioined John
: dryly. "Don't give the poor thing {
= bad name till you know that she de
: serves it," Then he left the room, un
q mindful of the look of gratitude which
S shone upon him from the blue eyes O
q the girl. who had dropped her anron