The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-11-19

He made no objections, and the mar
riage engagement was sanctioned &C
cordingly.
One evening, when the last days of
Jennings, service were drawing to an
end, a gentleman on horseback stopped
at the inn. In state of great agita-
ton he informed the landlady that he
was on his way to Hull, but that he
had been so frightened as to make it i'm
possible for him to continue his Jour-
ney. A highwayman had robbed him
of purse containing twenty guineas.
The thief's face Gas usual in those days.
was concealed by mask; and there
was but one chance of bringing him
to justice. 1t was the travellers GUS
tom to place private mark on every
gold piece that he carried with him on
journey; and the stolen guineas
might possibly be traced in that way.
The landlord Zone Mr. BrunelD at
tended to his guest at supper. His
wife had only that moment told him
of the robbery; and he had a circum-
stance to mention which might lead to
the discovery of the thief In the first
place, however, he wished to ask at
what time the crime had been COM
mitted. The traveller answered that
he had been robbed late in the
evening, just rs it was beginning to get
dark. On hearing this Mrs. Brunell
looked very much distressed.
II have got a waiter here named Jen-
nings," he said "a man superior to his
station in life-good manners and a
fair education-in fact general favor
lite. But for some little time past |
have observed that he has been rather
free with his money in betting and that
his habits of drinking have grown on
him. | am afraid he is not worthy of
the good opinion entertained of him by
myself and by other persons. This
evening l sent him out to get some
small silver for me, giving him guinea
to change lie came back intoxicated,
telling me that change was not to he
had. | ordered him to bed-and then
happened to look at the guinea which
he had brought back. Unfortunately I
had not at that time heard of the rob-
berry, and l paid the guinea away with
some other money in settlement of a
bridesmaids account. But this / am
Of -thora woe q Y.ly 4o q
which Jennings gave back to me. 1t is,
of course, possible that there might
have been mark (Which escaped my
notice. on the guinea which took out
of my purse when sent for change.
"Or," the traveller suggested, cit
may have been one of my stolen guineas
given back by mistake by this drunken
waiter of yours, instead of the guinea
handed to him by yourself. Do you
think he is asleep?"
"Sure to be asleep, sir-in his condi-
ton"
"Do you object, Mr.. Brunell, after
what you told me, to setting this matter
at rest by searching the mans clothes?'
The landlord hesitated. alt seems
hard on jennings" he said, "if we
prove to have been suspicious of him
without a cause Can you speak posi-
lively, sir, to the mark which you put
on your money!"
The traveller declared that he could
swear to his mark. Mr.. Brunell yielded
The two went up together to the wait
er's room
Jennings was fat asleep. At the
very outste of the search they found
the stolen bag of money in his pocket
The guineas-nineteen in number-had
mark on each of them, and that mark
the traveller identified. After this dis,
covery there was but one course to
take. The walters protestations of
innocence when they woke him and
accused him of the robbery were words
fatty contradicted by facts. He was
charged before a magistrate with the
theft of the money and, as a matter of
course, was committed for trial.
The circumstances were so strongly
against him that his own friends rec
commended Jennings to plead guilty
and appeal to the mercy of the court.
| He refused to follow their advice and
he was bravely encouraged to persist
in that decision by the poor girl, who
believed III his innocence with hey
| xryhn1n haort A + thot 6raoAfn1 orr .it.