Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-12-08

cumstantiGl evidence, it Ia unreliable,
even when the circumstances seem "a
fit into each other like q couple oi
cog-wheels," I" said John 7. Morris, who
is an experienced detective of Spring
field, Ohio.
"Gixe us the story, Uncle John.
Not long ago there resided in
Franklin county a wealthy old maid,
Miss Sabinia Smith. BY inheritance
she was the possessor Of large farm,
on which was old fashioned, though
comfortable dwelling house. She was
reputed to have good square bank
account"
"How old is she?''
"Well, on the shady side of 20, and
she had a weakness like all old maids,
not for kittens, poodles or canaries,
but for children. She had raised sever
al orphan girls, who are now well set
tied in life. In 1865 she adopted a
six-year-old blackeyed girl, bright a.
button, named Mollie McCann, whose
father had fallen in battle fighting for
his couatry, while her mother, crazed
with grief, pined and faded away
Mollie soon learned to love her new
mother, and from a prattling maid in
short clothes and pinafores she soon
bloomed forth into gushing school
girl, and at eighteen she was the belle
Of every rustic gathering-the pretty
Miss Mollie McCann, over whom the
boys raved and the girls envied. To
all her admirers she turned deaf ear,
and with a pretty toss Of Che head
and a merry twinkle of her rough
ish eye, bade them be off and not both
er 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 fond
ness for society nor harped upon the
miseries Of weeded life in the mai
den's ear, but when she came back
from the state fair at Columbus in
1878, and told her adopted mother
about the young gentlemen she had
met, his attentions and good qualities,
Miss Smith was not pleased, nor did
she hesitate to frown her displeasure
and advise her ward to turn q willing
ear to the many suitors of the neigh
borhoOd instead of seeking in far-off
fields that which was nearest home.
But Mollie was like many anoth-
er struck on q travelling man, and she
carried on a secret correspondence
with him through lady friend, for
a long tine, until at last they were
engaged.
Miss Smith and Mollie we're sole
occupants of the house. The bed
rooms we're four in number, two of
which were used as spare rooms. one
occupied by Miss Smith and contain
ing two beds, Mollie occupying one,
Miss Smith the other. The fourth
bedroom was called Mollie's, but was
only used by her when "a friend was
visiting her. In one of these spare
bedrooms was an old fashioned bureau
and book case combined, the top
drawer of which could be converted
into q desk. The back part Of this
drawer was fitted up with small draw
ers. One Of these small drawers had
from time immemorial been used
as . money drawer. In the sum-
mer of 1879 the sum of 1856 was
missed from the drawer; in the sum-
mer Of 1880 $500 mysteriously disap-
peared, together with a quantity Of
old gold coins which had been in the
family for over q century. On the 20th
day Of last May Miss Smith loaned to
. neighbOr $500, giving him her check
and he signing note in her favor.
Sickness prevented his presenting the
check at the bank at Columbus. and.
knowing that Miss Smith was going
to that city on the 30th, he requested
her to get it cashed. She did 10. and
returned with Mollie about dark on
that day, having the money all in
800 bills.
The house was all securely locked
down stairs. and Miss Smith deposited
the $500 in the secretary drawer.
closed the drawer, locking it and
placing the key in the bureeu-tlrawer
beneath. She then locked the room
containing the bureau, and placed the
key undes some quilts that Law in 4
wardrobe In her bedroom. Before
reflnng she locked her bedroom door
and she II M0Ilie retired fs,r the
night y hfate beds in the same
room The next morning. June l, the
who had borrowed the
money, having . long journey 10 per-
form, dnrlsSg which he expected to
make payment on some land pur.
chased, called as early as 5 o'clock,
before Miss smith and Mollia had
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