The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-28

and called his wife. Presently they
came in together, the l,ndlady'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 ser
tence.
"Ob, indeed, indeed 1 didn't take It'll
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
Answer me that. 1t serves me just
right for takingin girl with no recon-
mend-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 il. 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, either; and as for
her, out she packs this day
Id better go for the constable, hadn't
Ip-if you're sure it was under the
pillow you put it, suggested the land
lord
oh, don't, please; please don't,
pleaded the girl, weeping violently.
Give the gentleman his wallet back,
then, and perhaps he III let you Off
l can't. / haven't got it. never
saw it.. Oh, please believe me. Don't
send me to 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 no
more.
John had held his peace during this
altercationy sharply eyeing the parties
concerned in it meanwhile. The Nashes
he knew something about. They were
of good reputation as far as he was
aware. The maid was II stranger 10
them, as to him; but spite of the cir
cumstances, and her manner, which was
hardly less suspicious, he could not
bring himself to believe her guilty. he
was moi hasty man, and he was n just
| one, with kind heai to back his tenn
perate judgments; and alter few min
utes' reelection lie ma 10 up his mind
what to do.
can't swear that | put the wallet
under the pillow or anywhere else he
said. I'm pretty sure-that l did. but
my thoughts about it are confused
somehow, and il may be that left it at
Bolton, where | slept on Tuesday.
don't want no injustice done on my ac-
count So don'tcrv like that address
ing himself to the girl. Ii tell you
what I'll do. Get the bay shod during
the day, will you?'-to Mr.. Nash and
il you'll lend me a saddle I'll ride back
to Bolton and make inqElry there. If
find the money, well and good; if
don't, iJll be time enough TO talk fur
ther about it tomorrow
I'm 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 suspected thief IL
my house.
'There'll be no thing to suspect her o
if 1 find the wallet rejoined John
dryly. Don't give the poor thing ;
bad name I'LL you know that she de
serves it, Then he left the room, un
mindful of the look OF gratitude whicl
shone upon him from the blue eyes O
the girl, who had dropped her apron
and gazed after him till he was out @
. . sight.
His reflections were not agreeable a
: he retraced his footsteps over the dust
highway travelled but yesterday with s
light heart. The loss of his none
meant a great deal to John Boyd. Th
: pressure of anxiety seemed to settl
again upon his shoulders, as he though
: over the probabilities of its non-rC
> covery. But l won't give in withou
. fight for it, he thought, grimly as
!, urged on his horse. Miles SCENE
= doubly long when measured by heav
= heart, and what with dust, heat and I'll
/ continual effort to clear his mental col
y fusion as TO whereeand when he la
u had seen his wallet, the young farmC
= was tagged and dispirited enough befol
u noon was fairly come.
= He stopped to dine at little tavel
u attached to toll-gate, and with son
vague hope that the money might hay
L been picked up on the road by some on
= mentioned his loss. The toll-keep
= - shook his head.
n Bottoms your only chance he sal
~ If twas on the road you dropped
= there's no likelihood that you'll eV
3 hear of it again. The dust's eig
q inches deep, 1 should say, and there
n been three big droves of sheep and o
ts of bullocks along since yesterday, so
Id your WduOb was al JluS IhOASS bhOJ LII
n have trampled it under pretty the
ss oughly. It is buried deep enough, y
u may be sure, unless, which is just
,is likely to happen, some one has pick
it up and made off with it. Your chan
n is slim one, reckon
on Cold comfort this; but John W
forced to agree with the opinion. /
ly spondingly he rode through the aft
th noon, scanning the way as he went; fl
despite the toll-keeper, a faint hope st
M fingered in his heart, though the traC
re. deep in dust. and churned and tramp
by the crowding droves, presented
,ut sorry field for either hope or discover
zee He had gained the top of a long h
from which Bolton was dimly wish
mt when a moving object far ahead caue
he his eye, and he rose in his stirrups
order to see more clearly. AS he did
ss, his horse made a false step, stumble
and threw him forward in the sadd
his so that his head grazed the hors