Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-01
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
The instant Isabel was out of hearing Old
Sharon slapped Moody on the shoulder to
rouse his attention. 1--WE got her out of the
way" he said; "now listen to me- Ny bust
ness with the young angel is done; l may &c
back to London
Moody looked at him in astonishment.
Lord! how little you know of thievesI'
exclaimed Old Sharon "Why, man alive, |
have tried her with two plain tests. If you
wanted proof Of her innocence, there it
was as plain as the nose on your face. Did
you hear me ask her how she came to seal the
letter, just when her mind was running on
something else"
81 heard you," said Moody.
| "Did You see how she started and stared at
mef'
81 did"
'Well, can tell you this: If she had stolen
the money she would neither have started
nor stared She would have had her answer
ready beforehand in her own mind, in case of
accidents. There's only one thing, in my ex-
perience, that you can never do with thief,
when the thief happens to be a woman-you
can never take her by surprise. Put that re-
mark by in your mind; one day you may
her blush, and look quite hurt in her feel
ings, pretty dear, when 1 asked about her
sweetheart! Do you think thief, in her
place. would have shown such face as that?
Not she, The thief would have been re-
lieved. The thief would have said to her.
self: All right; the more the old fool talks
about sweethearts the further he is from
tracing the robbery to me- Yes! yesl the
Tx-a
reckoned up the servants; I've questioned
Miss Isabel; I've made my inquiries in all
the other quarters that may be useful to US
and what's the results The advice 1 gave,
when you and the lawyer first came to me
hate that fellow!-remains as sound and
good advice as ever. l have got the thief in
my mind" said Old Sharon, closing his cum
ming eyes and then opening them again, ''as
plain as I've got you in my eye at this min
ute No more of that now," he went on,
looking round sharply at the path that led
to the farm house; "Tve something particu-
lar to say to you, and there's barely time to
say it before that nice girl comes back. Look
here! do you happen to be acquainted with
Mr.. Hardyman's valet!'
Moodys eyes rested on Old Sharon with a
searching and doubtful look.
Mr.. Hardyman's valet!" he repeated. 81
wasn't prepared to hear Mr. Hardyman's
name"
Old Sharon looked at Moody. in his turn,
with flash of sardonic triumph.
'Oho!" he said; 'has my good boy learned
his lesson? Do you see the thief through my
spectacles already."
Il began to see him, Moody answered,
"when you gave us the guinea opinion at
your lodgings"
"Will you whisper his nameF' asked Old
Sharon.
Not yet. l distrust my own judgment
I'll wait till time proves that you're right"
Old Sharon knitted his shaggy brows and
. shook his head. IF you only had a little
more dash and go in you,n he said, 'you
finished the sentence by swapping his fingers
with grin of contempt Lets get to bust
less. Are you going back by the next train
along with me, or are you going to stop with
the young lady!'
II will follow you by later train, " Moody
answered.
''Then must give you your instructions at
once" Sharon continued ''You get better
acquainted with Hardyman's valet. Lend
him money if he wants it; stick at nothing to
part of it; my appearance would be against
me. You are the man.. you are respectable
from the top of your hat to the tips Of your
boots; nobody would suspect you. Don't
make objections Can you fix the valet! Or
can't your
81 can try" said Moody. "And what
thenr
Old Sharon put his gross lips disagreeably
close to Moody's ear.
''Your friend the valet can tell you who
his masters bankers are" he said; land he
can supply you with specimen OF his mas
ter's handwriting"
Moody drew back as suddenly as if his
vagabond companion had put knife at his
throat You old villain!" he said; ''are you
tempting me to forgery!"
"You Internal foolr' retorted Old Sharon.
"WiN you hold that long tongue of yours,
and hear what / have to says You go to
Hardyman's bankers, with note in Hardy
mans handwriting exactly initiated by mel
to this effect: Mr.. H. presents his compli-
ments to Messrs So-and-So, and is not quite
certain whether a payment OF five hundred
pounds has been made within the last week
to his account. He will be much obliged If
Messrs. So-and-So will inform him by a line
in reply whether there is such an entry to his
credit in their books, and by whom the pay
ment has been made. You wait for the
bankers answer, and bring it to me. It's
just possible that the name you're afraid to
whisper may appear in the letter. If it does,
we've caught our man. Is that forgery, Mr.
Muddlehead Moodya III tell you what-if I
had lived to be your age, and knew no more
of the world than you do I'd go and hang
myself. Steady here's our charming friend
with the milk. Remember your instructions,
and don't lose heart if my notion of the pay
ment to the bankers comes to nothing.
know what to do next, in that case-and
what's more, I'll take all the risk and trouble
on my own shoulders Oh, Lord I'm afraid
shall be obliged to drink the milk, now it's
come"
With this apprehension in his mind. he adj
vanced to relieve Isabel of the jug she car
ried.
'Here's treatr' he burst out, with an af-
fectation of joy which was completely belied
by the expression of his dirty face. Here's
kind and dear young lady, to help an old
man to a drink with her own pretty hands.
He paused, and looked at the milk very much
as he might have looked at dose OF physic
''Will any one take drink first?' he asked,
offering the jug piteously to Isabel and
Moody. ''You see, I'm not used to genuine
milk; I'm used to chalk and water l don't
know what effect the unadulterated COW
might have on my poor old inside" He
tasted the milk with the greatest caution
'Upon my soul, this is too rich for me! The
unadulterated COW is a deal too strong to be
drunk alone. If you'll allow me- I'll qualify
it with a drop of gin. Here, Puggy! Puggyl'
He set the milk down before the dog, and
taking flask out of his pocket. emptied it at