The Russellville Democrat., 1883-10-25

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The logic Of this argument was un-
Observation-Disclosures as much so as that
of the man who insisted that he must be
able to write prose because he couldn't
write poetry. Mr.. Falmouth had MOTH
ing to reply, but insisted that Aiming
should be sent for and given hearing
before any decided steps were taken.
IF youth take my advice" urged
the Jealous Bloke, you'll swear out q
warrant agin him at wunst. Ten to one
it's too late a'readys''
But Mr.. Falmouth insisted on frst
sending for Nathan to come to the store.
He might be able to exculpate himself
at any rate, he should have chance to
do so.
Aiming, whom the messenger found
quietly at home, came without objectios.
He was simply informed that Mr. EaHr-
mouth wished to see him on special
business; and If he had any surmises as
to its nature he kept them to himself.
Nathan" said Mr.. Falmouth. when
the young man had been conducted to q
private room, where none were present
but they two, the village justice and con
stable, fare you quite sure you fastened
up all right last nightp"
"Quite, replied Nathan. 81 locked
and barred both doors, and bolted all
the shutters"
"And found them all right this morn
ingP"
Perfectly"
"And the safep''
"l didn't examine it. hadn't opened
it myself, and took it for granted It was
properly locked"
"Anning," said Mr.. Falmouth,
speaking slowly and solemnly, "when |
locked that safe less than half an hour
before handing you the key yesterday it
contained over fifty thousand dollars.
After your departure this morning /
found it locked as usual, but on opening
it, discovered that every cent / had left
there was gone. This loss makes beg
gars of my partner and myself, and,
what / still more deplore, must bring
distress on many poor people who had
intrusted me with their all" And Mr..
Fairmouth's eyes filed with tears.
Nathan's face turned white. and he
trembled from head to foot.
"In Gods name, you-you don't sus-
pect me, Mr.. Fairmouthl'' he gasped.
That gentleman buried his face in his
hands. He was too agitated to speak.
"The case seems very plain" the
Justice said, at length, ssand see but
one course, Mr.. Falmouth, for you to
pursue. If the loss fell on you alone the
question whether you should prosecute
the criminal would concern yourself
alone-though, even then, think it
would be mistaken lenity to hesitate
but to omit your duty as the case stands,
would afford just complaint to those
who are ruined through your misplaced
confidence in one who has SO wickcdly
abused it,.
ell suppose your view is correct"
faltered Mr. Falmouth. "What are the
proper steps to take9"
anticipating that the case would
turn out as it has, replied the magis
trate. 81 have already prepared an
affidavit and warrant-the former for
you to sign and swear to, alleging your
belief that Nathan Aiming is guilty of
the robbery; the other will then sub
scribe and deliver to the constable, who
will understand his duty
"But-but am innocent" cried Ma
than, with frantic agony. 81 saoear IT.!
oh! my poor wife!'
Mr.. Fairmouth's hand shook as, with
half-averted eyes, he wrote his name to
the paper put before him, and it shook
more violently when he raised it to
swear that what he had subscribed was
true.
The warrant was duly completed and
delivered to the officer, who at once led
his prisoner away.
1t was well he executed his duty
promptly; for there is no knowing what
violence might have been inflicted on
the unfortunate young man by the an
gry, excited crowd of sufferers by the
robbery when the news of it had fully
spread.
Falmouth & Finback acted nobly,
everybody said, in surrendering every
cents worth of their property. Their
assets, it is true, paid but a pittance of
their debts. There was nothing, in
deed, but their stock of goodsy which
had been bought in the East on credit
and remained unpaid for, and was, be-
sides, much reduced in amount, not
having been replenished lately. They
had no outstanding accounts, having
pursued the plan of selling exclusively
for cash. But instead of being blamed,
they were universally commiserated,
even by those who had suffered most
through them. $50 e
The county town in which Aiming lay
in Jail waiting for his trial was twenty
miles from Glenville; so his wife
could visit him but seldom. She
managed to see him at intervals,
and tried to cheer him with
the hope that all would come
out right; but guilty or innocent,
he shared but little in her hope, though
it gave him some comfort to know that
Fanny thought him innocent.
She contrived to scrape together some
money to employ lawyer; but when
the kind gentleman saw her wan,
troubled face and worn apparel, he mo-
toned her to put back the little purse
she was opening, and said she might
rely on his doing what he could for her
husband, though she must be prepared
TO face the worst.
When at last the day of trial came,
Fanny sat by her husbands side. Both.
looked cheerless and respondent. 1t
was plain that they had well-nigh
abandoned hope.
Presently the lawyer who had under
taken Nathan's defence came in and
took his seat by the latter His face, it
was observable, wore more confident
look than one might have supposed
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