The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-04-20
The Litsis Detective
NJ MRs. ASSAH nosiSsos ssr~eN-

The clear. sharp report oi psS'9' i"'''
berated through tho house wi'h We sa'
denncss n thaDderelaP, aud quit" as
startling i, vas 10 the little gronp asseul'
( bl.A about the teatable Mr. aud Mrs.
Thornton with the three little younger
members ofihe family Each spAns from
his ses, aud rushed 10 the next room'
which had Jus, been leit-moihers rcom'
where the fire burned bright and the lamp
sbone undimned. Everything Was IN its
place, not a creature visible; but there I'M
bodded in the wall, was pistol bsll
Thank Godl We had lci. the rooml er.
claimed Mrs. Thornton, in low, frighten'
cd voice. as her husband hurried out to
The gallery. Then all through the grounds
he went, but no one was about the place
s.eept the servants. What could II mean
A tramp, suggested VIII, the eldest boy
Or, perhaps, father. IT was Willis; you
remember how angry he was yesterday
when you discharged himS said Arthur
No, no interrupted their mother i
cannot believe that II was q malicious shot
The house is so near the street that pis'
,ol acoidently discharged by some one
passing might well seem IN Intentional
shot
That is not probable, reioined her hus'
band; | would be sorry to think we had
an enemy. but that fellow Willis must be
watched.
You will not be hasty, dear, said the
wife. looking towards him an1iously
No, no, Of course not; but ! do not like
the appearance OF this affair
They returned to the supper-room. the
children talking eagerly over the sudden
interruption.
| am sure that il WAS Willis, said Arthur,
stoutly insisting upon his first suggestion.
| cant think that he would do such
thing unless unless, said VIII, slowly -he
was intoxicated. You know he does some
times lose his balance
That may be the solution OF the mys-
terry, remarked his father thoughtfnlly.
I'm right sure Willis wouldn't do 1t,
said Grace. ten.year-old girl, whose big
blue eyes turned appealngly to the
m )ther. Indeed he wouldn't, he was al
ways so kind. Think how careful he was
of nv flowers; aud / saw him one day go
way across the yard to bring back little
chicken that ad strayed from its mother.
saw Willis kind and good many times
when the rest of you did not notice.
Oh, yes, little owl, said Arthur teasingly,
you always see more than the rest OF us.
II would be well il we could all see the
good done by those about us instead OF the
evil, interrupted mamma, smiling toward
Grace who looked prieved and '.ou''e''
think, boys, that you are Judging poor
Willis quito harshly and that the testi'
mony against him is quite insufficient
only tha. he was discharged from our ser
vice yesterday and shot was fired into
the house to-day.
You forgot, dear, said Mr Ihofh'oi
seriously. We know that the man drlnk'
occasionally; We know that he Is quick
tempered and hot.headed; we know that
he was angered by beng sent away yester
day. These facts are, think, at leas
sufficient to direct our thought towart
him.
The matter was under discussion for
day or two, then ceased to interest them
but one morning Arthur came hurrying II
TO breakfast with the news that the mex
house had been entered by thief th
night before and several articles stolen
| l Just tell you. mother, ten chances to on
it was Willis; | saw him loafng aroun'
yesterday with nothing to do
Why dost thou Judge thy brotherS ans
wered his mother seriously. We are to
! much inclined to believe evil instead
good, and to forget the injunction. Adj
TO lrotherly kindness charity. When on
is proven guilty Of crime he should b
). punishea, but until then even the rig
criminal laws act upon the suppositlo
tbatla man is innocent. aud Christian
: code should surely be more generous stii
would never have thought OF Willis
this connection had heuot been addieie
to drink; that leads man into counties
sins which would be utterly abhorrent
his nature, added Mr.. Thornton.
Grace listened silently, sorrowfnlly Oh
papa I'm just sure Willis isn't bad maj
know him best; he is good, and kin'
and gNhtle.
All, Oracle, admit that you see moi
and hear more than all the others. wit
those great watchiul eyes, listening car
and obseryant ways. Butpapa is the be
= iudee in matters such as this. lie pate
her head tenderly and passed out, meetir
the injured reighbor at the gate. The
cent depredations we're talked over betwe'
them. and Willis was mentioned. NJ
Arnold was much incensed, and declare
that the theft must have been committ'
by some one quite familiar with the pref
q ises; and when the men parted be went
!, rect TO the police Office aud told
the robbery, together with the suspicio
regarding the guilty person. The matt
must be Investigated, be said, and th
:. hurried away, calling at the office OF
ss friend TO state what had been done.
A. noon, when 1t was known by the
tie Thornton group, Grace looked mo
= distressed than ever, and begged. Q
Y, please, papa, please. papa. don't let th'
do anything to Willis. Let's try to pro
tha, he didn't do IL
Twill be very glad, dear, il We can; b
il is impossible without having the mat