Smyrna times., 1882-01-11

" sec IL NlI. NIidIltiHl WIS uuHclls IlG saw
them coming up the walk, and met them
at the door.
"Why, Mr.. Graham, / was afraid YOU
were sick, and we just called in on our
way from church to see what was the
matter" said Fleming, pleasantly.
" There's matter enough, James Flem-
ing" said Mr.. Graham, excitedly. 81
believe you to be "a thief"
If a cannon ball had struck father and
daughter, they could not have been much
more surprised Neither could utter
word. They stood staring at Mr.. Graham
in blank amaZement.
you're surprised that | have found
you out, are yOu?' said Mr. Graham
snecringy.
"Why Mr. Graham, what do you mean ,"
exclaimed Alice, when She had partially
recovered her senses.
Il mean exactly what | say I bolicyr
you are both thieves Of the worst kind '"
Alice burst into tears The thu@pht If
the stolen money rushed across her braia
and she Il! once saw through the whole
thing.
Mr.. Graham. will you please inform
me what grounds you have for speaking
this way said Fleming
James Fleming, you know what
grounds | have for calling you thief
without my telling you. You know that
for some time past, ! have had valuable
| chickens stolen from my heInegy Up 10
twenty -four hours ago the thief was un-
| known to me: but, on going to the north
| east corner Of your lot, yesterday afternoon,
and seeing the ground covered with chick
| en bones, and the head Of one of the
identical chickens which had been stolen
from my hennery but few nights before.
| the whole thing was as clear to my mind
as if had seen you take them.'
| Mr.. Graham l.
| "Not a word! Last Wednesday morn
ing left my pocketbook home by mistake.
No one saw that pocketbook from the
! time left it on the stand i'll the mor1ing,
until / louAd i "n the maptelpiece that
! night, but your daughter. When ! found
| it, the mOney was gone Does it take any
great amount OF prophecy 10 tell who took
that money
But, Mr.. Graham, Alice told me the
baby had upset the stand, and the pocket
! book was thrown on the floor. The money
must have dropped ont of it. then"
Suppose il did. Haven't we searched
every place il The house," What do You
suppose tWO-year-old child would &c
with sl75?"
But if Alice took the money, what
would she do with it, sir?"
Fleming, do YOU suppose | am blind :
! Where did you get that suit of clothes YOU
have on? Where did your daughter gct
that new hat Where did the $50 come
from that you paid your interest wit
yesterday?
Fleming told how he had received the
present of 800 from Mr. Fanshaw, OF
Friday. Mr. Graham had heard, al the
time of Fleming's saving that gentleman,
son. But he did not believe the story o
the $10O
There trke your money, and leave
and never come on my premises again,
said Mr., Graham, pulling out his pocket
book, and handing Fleming and Alic,
their months pay.
Mr.. Graham said Fleming. quietly
there is a mistake somewhere. know
Alice never took the money. What
have told you about receiving the $l0
from Mr.. Fanshaw is true, 50 help me God
AS for stealing your chickens, | never did
If you saw the remains Of your fowls OF
my place, you may he assured they wer
put there by some one to wrong me"
THAT'S enough Don't make the matte
worse by lying. No matter what you say
guilty. Leave!
And Mr. Graham turned, and shut tn
door in their faces, much against his wife
will, who thought she saw by Fleming
whole manner that he was not a guilt,
man. She tried to demonstrate with he
husband but it was no use.
Fleming and his daughter returne,
home in different spirits than when the,
had left it, Mrs. Fleming was frightened
to see the wonderful change that ha,
come over her daughter, who had lei
singing, but now returned crying aS if he
heart would break. She heard, wit
astonishment, FROM her husbands lips, tn
terrible misfortune which had befallel
them. She could hardly believe her ears
Her husband-her child-guilty of theft
How could any one suspect such u thing
They must be mistaken. Mr.. Graham
could never have said this. She woul,
90 and SEQ him herself
And so she did. She reasoned. sh
pleaded, she prayed but all to no purpose
Mr.. Graham was convinced, and it woul,
take nothing short of a miracle to chang
his opinion. Slowly and sadly she return
ed to her hOuse-the home that for shor
time before had been one of the happies
+ in Fairview, but now one of sorrow.
James Fleming was known throughOu
the town as an honest, hard-working man
and when the fact of his dismissal fror
Mr.. Graham's, for theft, was known,
created no little comment
John Graham was equally well-know
and respected, and every one knew tina
. he was not the man to bring such seriou
charges against any one unless he ha
sufficient grounds forsO doing, Therefor
the story was pretty generally believed.