The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-30

wne-- the circumstances seem to fit into
each other like couple of cog-wheels,' .
said John I. M orris, who is an expert
enced detective Of Springfield, Ohio.
Give us the story, Uncle john"
Not long ago there resided in Frank
lin county a Wealthy old maid, Miss
Sablna Smith. BY inheritance she was
the possessor of large farm, on which
was an old-fashioued, though comfortable
dwelling-house. She was reputed to have
good square bank account"
How old is she?"
"Well, on the shady side of seventy,
but she had weakness like all old maids,
not for kittens, poodles, or canaries, but
for children. She had raised several
orphan girls, who are now well settled in
life. In 1865, she adopted six-year-old,
black-eyed girl, bright as button, named
Mollie McCann, whose father had fallen
in battle fighting for his flag and coun-
try, while her m other, crazed with grief,
pined and fad ed away Mollie soon
learned to love her new mother, and from
prattling maid in short clothes and pin
azores she soon Bloomed forth into gush-
ing school girl, and at eighteen was the
belle of every rustic gathering-the
pretty Miss Mollie Mccain, over whom
the boys raved and the girls envied. To
all her admirers she turned deaf ear,
and. with pretty toss of the head, and
merry twinkle Of her rougish eye, bade
them be off and not bother her.
"Miss Smith was sensible; knew that
Mollie would probably marry and have a
home of her own some day, SO she
neither discouraged her fondness for So
ciety nor harped upon the miseries of
welded life in the maiden's ear, but when
she came back from the State Fair at
Columbus in 1878, and told her adopted
mother about the young gentleman she
had met, his attentions and good quail
ties, Miss Smith was not pleased, nor did
she hesitate to frown her displeasure and
advise her ward to turn a willing ear to
the many suitor RS of the neighborhood
instead of seeking in far-off fields that
which was nearer home
" But Mollie was like many another,
struck on tray cling man, and she car
ried on secret correspondence with him
through lady friend for long time,
until at last they were engaged.
Miss Smith and Mollie were the sole
occupants of the house. The bedrooms
were four in number, two of which were
used as spare rooms, one occupied by
Miss Smith and containing two beds,
Mollie occupying one, Miss Smith the
other. The four rth bedroom was called
Mollie's, but was only used by her when
lady friend W as visiting her. In one
of these spare bedrooms was an old-fash-
ioned bureau and bookcase combined, the
top drawer of W hich could be converted
into desk. The back part of this drawer
was fitted up with small drawers One
of these small drawers had from time inn
memorial been used as inoney-drawer.
In the Summer Of 1879 the sum of 1855
was missed from the drawer; in the Sum-
mer of 1880, 5000 mysteriously disap-
peared, together with a quantity of old
gold coins, which had been in the family
for over century. On the goth day of
last May Miss Srn nth loaned to neighbor
$500, giving him her check and he signing
note in her fav vor. Sickness prevented
his presenting the check at the bank at
Columbus, and, learning that Miss Smith
was going to that city on the 30th, he
requested her to get it cashed. She did
80. and returned with Mollie about dark
on that day, having the money all in 800
bills -
''The house was all securely locked
downstairs. and Miss Smith deposited the
$500 in the secretary drawer, closed the
drawer, locking it and placing the key in
the bureau drawer beneath. She then
locked the room containing the bureau,
and placing the key under some quilts
that lay in wardrobe in her bedroom.
Before retiring che locked her bedroom
door. and she and Mollie retired for the
night in separate beds in the same room.
The next morning, April LIST, the neighbor
who had borrowed the money, having q
| long journey to perform, during which ne
expected to make . payment on some
..l...a la.1laa IA oavlv a fiua