The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-15
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 lust
right for taking in a girl with no recon-
mend-a girl l 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 all
the time shes been in the house, sir
but this is the end of it. It's the last
time I'll ever have o 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.
la better go for the constable, hadn't
lp-if you're sure it was under the
pillow you put it, suggested the land
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. l haven't got it. I never
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 eyeing the parties
concerned in it meanwhile. The Nashes
ne knew something about. They were
aware. The maid was a stranger to
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 not hasty man, and he was Just
one, with kind healt to back bis tenn
perate judgments; and after few min.
utes' reelection he made up his mind
what to do.
:! can't swear that I 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 it may be that left it at
Bolton, where l slept on Tuesday. ]
don't want no injustice done on my ac-
count. So don't cry like that address
ing himself to the girl. IN tell you
what I'll do. Get the bay shod during
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
find the money, we'll and good; if
don't, icll be time enough to talk fur.
ther about it tomorrow
I'm sure tits 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 l find the wallet rejoined John,
dryly. Don't give the poor thing 0
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 a 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-re
covery. But l won't give in without
fight for it, he thought, grimly, as ht
urged on his horse. Miles seemed
| doubly long when measured by heavy
heat, and what with dust, heat and th,
continual effort to clear his mental con
fusion as to where and when he las
had seen his wallet, the young farmer
was tagged and dispirited enough befor,
noon was fairly come.
He stopped to dine at little taverl
attached to n toll-gate, and with SOM
vague hope that the money might hav,
been picked up on the road by some one
mentioned his loss. The toll-keepe
shook his head.
Bottoms your only chance he said
If twas on the road you dropped it
there's no likelihood that you'll evel
hear of it again. The dust's eigh
inches deep, should say, and there
been three big droves of sheep and on,
of bullocks along since yesterday, so i
your wallet was a.lying there, they mus
have trampled it under pretty thor
oughly. 1t is buried deep enough, yol
may be sure, unless, which is just a
likely to happen, some one has picked
it up and made off with it. Your chanc
is a slim one, reckon
Cold comfort this; but John wa'
forced to agree with the opinion. De
spondingly he rode through the after
noon, scanning the way rs he went; for
despite the toll-keeper, a faint hope still
fingered in his heart, though the track
|
by the crowding droves, presented
sorry field for either hope or discovery
He had gained the top of a long hill
from which Bolton was dimly visible
when a moving object far ahead caugh
his eye, and he rose in his stirrups il
order to see more clearly. AS he did 81
his horse made false step, stumbled
and threw him forward in the saddle
so that his head grazed the horse
neck. 1t was in this position that ;
tiny object, patch of red not over al
inch square, in the dust beneath, caugh
his quick eye. His heart gave a littl
leap; then he called himself fool; bu
all the same he dismounted to examine
| Already random hoof-stroke hat
buried the red patch from sight, bu
John recollected the spot, and STOPPING
dug and scooped till again it becam
visible. His fingers recognized solit
substance. Trembling with excitement
he continued to dig; another second th
| object was uncovered, lifted out, ant
with wild, increduloUs whoop ofjoy
John Boyd held in his hand his wallet
buried deep by the hurrying herds, ant
uncovered for one passing moment tina
his eye might detect it, and no other
Except for that lucky stumble, ne to,
would have ridden over the lost treas
ure, and never dreamed what lay be
meath his horses feet.
And some folks say there amt nj
Godp was his mental comment, spokel
half aloud. Then-for John Boyd's re
ligion, though homely, was a true on
he bent his head and said few word
of thanksgiving; after which. jumpin
on his horse, he took the backwar,
route. eager to tell his good fortune an