Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-04-30

| bho sOhou hhoh iyhS III ho"t Vh ohN
floor.
Toward this heap John hurried, and
began turning II over.
0Ifaye you lost something, sirp''
asked the maid.
John Strengthened himself up TO an
swer. He had not noticed the maid be-
fore, thoughshe had waited upon table
at supper. Now be 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 q flash, and
instinotively 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
end itP"
The girls face blanched TO a deadly
whiteness, and her eyes dilated as with
sudden terror.
"No, sir" she said,- he voice trem-
bling and sinking away as she spoke.
&" 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 yotirn 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 q 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 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 sem
| tence.
"Oh, indeed, indeed 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 chanceP P
Answer me that. 1t serves me just
right for taking in 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 I'll 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 60 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. haven't got it. Inever
saw it. Oh, please believe me. Don't
send me to JAIL" she urged.
The landlady only answered by a
sound expression of disgust. And
throwing her apron over her head,
the poor girl wept in silence, saying no
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
was hardly less suspicious, he could
not bring himself to believe her guilty.
He was not hasty man, and he was a
just one, with kind heart to back his
temperate judgments; and after few
minutes reflection he made up his mind
what to do. -
" can't swear that put the wallet
under the pillow, or any where else, i"
he said. "I'm pretty sure that did,
but my thoughts about it are confused
somehow, and it may be that left it at
Bolton, where 1 slept on Tuesday. l
don't want no injustice done ON my ac-
count. So don't cry like that "-ad-
dressing himself to the girl. "I'll tell
you what I'll do. Get the bay shod dur
ing the day, will youP"-to Mr.. Nash
" and if you'll lend me saddle I'll ride
back to Bolton and make inquiry there
If l find the money, well and good if l
don't it'll be time enough to talk fur
thur about it tomorrow"
sim sure it's very good of you to
take so much trouble," declared the
landlady. "But whether or no, the
girl don't stay here. I'll have no sus-
pected thief in my house."
"There1l be nothing to suspect her
of if / find the wallet,'' rejoined John,
dryly. "Don't give the poor thing a
bad name till you know that she de-
serves it. Then he left the room, un-
mindful of the look of gratitude which
shone upon him from the blue eyes OF
the girl, who had dropped her apron,
and gazed after him till he was out OF
sight.
His reflections were not agreeable as
he retraced his footsteps over the dusty
highway travelled but yesterday with SC
light heart. The loss OF his 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 of its non-recov.
cry. "But won't give in without q
| fight for it" he thought, grimly, as he
urged on his horse Miles seem doubly
long when measured by heavy heart
and what with dust, heat, and the con
tinual effort to clear his mental confu
sion as to where and when he last haG
seen his wallet, the young farmer was
tagged and dispirited enough before
noon was fairly come.
He stopped to dine at little taverr
attached to a toll-gate, and with som,
vague hope that the money might have
been picked up on the road by some
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