Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-14
The Starp Teller.
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.

1t was six o'clock of a crisp October morn
ing, and John Boyd, farmer, rousing from
his sound nights sleep, sprang out of bed
with the alert readiness ofaman who knows
the value of the first hours of day. 1t was
tavern bed from which he jumped; home
and its cares were miles away; but a long
ride lay before him, and he washed and
dressed briskly, as one in haste, humming a
cheerful air, meanwhile, as became man
who felt himself in good spirits and had am
pie reason for being so. For, be it known,
this year had proved the best to farmers
since John had been his own master. Har-
vests had been large, prices high, and John,
on his way back from the annual market,
carried sense of freedom and liberation at
his heart from the final extinguishment of a
mortgage on his farnl-a mortgage which
had pressed as heavily on his conscience as
did the burden of Christian on his shoul-
ders. The burden was lifted now, and, fur
ther than that, John carried in his fat, red
wallet, 5000 over and above, toward the ex-
penses of the next year. He hadnever been
so beforehand" before, and the sensation
was joyful one.
"My neck is out of the collar now," he
muttered to himself as he brushed his thick,
brown hair. 81 should be fool indeed if
put it in again. No mortgages for me y"
Then, his toilet completed, he ran down
stairs, two steps at time.
Farmer-like, his first visit was to his
horses. They were munchlng their corn
very satisfactorily, and after look or
two and pat, John returned to the inn,
where a iingling bell announced break
fast. It was smoking on the table-a SUBJ
substantial meal of the kind universal in
taverns thirty years ago, and John Boyd,
whose appetite was of the kind proverbially
said to accompany good conscience, was
doing it ample justice, when sudden in
stinct led him to thrust his hand into the
inner pocket, which held two hundred dol
lars. The wallet was gone:>
In the suddenness of the shock John felt
himself turn pale and then flush painfully as
he confusedly tried to remember if he had
pillow-there it was He recollected dis
tinctly, or so it seemed, putting it there for
security's sake when he went to bed the
night before. With muttered excuse ne
left the table and hurried upstairs. The
door of his room stood open, and the maid
servant was putting fresh sheets on his bed,
and the soiled linen was lying in heap on
the floor.
Toward the heap John hurried and began
turning it over.
"Have you lost something, sir?" asked
the maid.
John Strengthened himself to answer. He
had not noticed the maid before, though she
had waited upon the table at supper. Now
he observed that she was young and rather
pretty-fair, with trim, slender figure,
beautiful glossy hair, neatly dressed and
braided, and pair of sweet, apprehensive
blue eyes. Her voice was soft too, and she
had shy modest manner, which suggested
an idea of refinement. All these things Far
mer Boyd observed in flash, and instinct
lively noting, weighing, estimating by that
wonderfully rapid progress of which the hu-
man mind is capable, while yet his his thoughts
eyes, I am looking for my wallet, which
I left under my pillow. Did you find it ?"
The girls face banched to deadly white
ness and her eyes dilated as with sudden
terror.
"No, sir" she said, her voice trembling
and sinking away as she spoke. 81 didn't
see any wallet"
John looked at her distrustfully; but
there was something in the pale face that
disarmed suspicion.
"I'd like to search the bed," he said. "It
may have slipped under the mattress"
Together they turned the mattress, butno
wallet was visible.
"That off horse of yours has got his shoe
loose, somehow" announced Mr.. Nash, the
landlord, suddenly appearing at the door.
81 thought I'd better tell you, so that you
can stop at the blacksmith's as you pass and
get him to put in couple of nails. Why,
what's the matter ?''
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave. He
whistled softly to himself minute, with
his eyes fixed on the tumbled bedding
then he went to the head of the stairs and
called his wife. Presently they came in to-
gether, and the landlady's face looked very
red and troubled.
"Such thing never happened in my
house BEFORE" she protested. "But there's
only one person that has been in your room
since you came, beside yourself, and she's
the person you must reckon WITH" pointing
to the maid, who, with white cheeks and
downcast eyes, leaned against the. wall as if
awaiting sentence.
ooh, indeed, indeed, didn't take il /
never saw any wallet" she said but her
voice was drowned in Mrs. Nash's louder
tones.
"And pray who else took it, do you sup
pose? Who else had the chance? Answer
me that! It serves me just right for taking
in girl with no recommends girl / don't
know nothing about, not so much as her
name, or where she came from, or where
her folks are. Five weeks ago tomorrow,
that's all the time she's been in the house,
sir, but this is the end of it. It's the last
time I'll ever have help don't know the
long and short of, so you needn't be afraid
to stop with us again, no, none of your
friends, either; as for her, out she packs
this very day!"
cpd better go for the constable, hadn't I,
if you're sure it was under the pillow you
put it ?" said the landlord.
"Oh, don't, please DON'T" pleaded the
girl, weeping bitterly.
"Give the gentleman his wallet back,
then, and perhaps he'll let you, 60"
II can't. | haven't got it! Oh, please
believe me! Don't send me to Jail" she
urged.
The landlady only answered by an ex-
preston of disgust. And, throwing her
apron over her head, the poor girl wept in
silence, saying no more.
John had held his peace during the alter
cation, sharply eying the persons concerned
in it meanwhile. The Nashes he knew some
thing about. They were of good reputation
as far as he was aware. The maid was a
stranger to them, as to him; but, in spite of
circumstances, and her manner, which was
hardly less suspicious, ne could not bring
himself to believe her guilty. He was not
a hasty man, and he was just one, with
kind heart to back his temperate judgments;
and after few minutes reflection he made
up his mind what to do.
"I can't swear that put the wallet under
the pillow, or anywhere else, he said "pm
pretty sure that 1 did, but my thoughts
about it are confused somehow, and it
may be that l left it at Bolton, where l