Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-07-23

ment.
But at sight of it, Ruth gave sigh
Of relief and laughed softly to herself.
She stood watching the proceedings
of the ghostly figure until it turned
and came toward the house-untll the
front door closed softly, and the stairs
creaked under the ascending tread
Curiosity, perplexity and amaze
ment had filled her face in turn, to be
followed by regretful pity.
"Poor mani" she said to herself
compassionately. at will worry him
into his grave, at this rate
School closed, a week or so later, for
one of those untimel y occasions which
district school committees are fond of
decresing; and the surveyor drove
Ruth to the station-she was t. 60
home for the holidays.
These two had come to an under
standing. Ruth wore ring on the
proper finger, apd all their converse
tion of late had been upon one subject
was, upon how little young
couple of strongly modest wants could
safely start out together.
They had not set succeeded in
bringing the probable amount within
the narrow limits Of Horace's salary,
their feats in this direction
had been marvellous: but they had not
dreamed Of losing courage.
IL shall begin cutting rags for car
pets as soon rs get home, said Ruth,
cheerfully, as the train came rumbllng
IN. "Dear me-, what will mother say
She shook her handkerchief from
the window AS the train moved slowly
off, and leaned forward to catch Hor
aces parting words:
"I'll be there to meet you, OF course. y
With tha, assurance still in her
ears, it was no worder that, when she
stepped of the train, two weeks later,
and looked around with an eager
smile, the sight of the deserted little
station would have filled her with
something like dread.
Nobody was in sight except the sta
ton master, and he was tipped back
in An easy chair against the baggage
room door half asleep.
Ruth walked to the edge Of the
platform and looked anxiously up and
down the road. There was n cloud of
dust in the distance, and she watched
it with frightened heart
Blu, the wagon which Numbered up
slowly and stopped before o,pplpl p
Mr. Rriscomb's
countryman who stepped out so awk-
~ardly the person she had hoped to
see. She recognized him as a neigh
Dor Of Mr.. Briscomb; and her fears re-
turned.
"Going down to Briscomb's, aim,
you:' said the young man, hesitatiny-
ly. Want to ride? can take You
down .s we'll AS not"
Ruth climbed into the wagon si
lently. Why had not Horace come:
Something must be wrong.
Heard about that surveyor fellow.'
her conpanion observed, as they drove
away. aud he looked a, her sympathst
ically.
About what ?" said Ruth. clutch
ing the seat, tremblingly.
at was the day after school let out"
said the young man, obviously divided
between pity for her distress and his
enjoyment of telling y startling story.
''Briscomb went to the mill that day.
and the surveyor (Bennett) he went
out TO Crawford he said he wanted To
telegraph to the railroad company
bout something or other. Well, when
Briscomb got back-you know he had
a lot of money willed to him lately
we'll, he got to thinking about that
money, and be went to see if it was all
right. He kept it up in his room, un-
der the floor, with q trunk over it..
Well. the money was gone. The trunk
was just AS he left it, but the money
wasn't there"
He paused to note the effect Of this
aud stared at his COM
panion IN astonishment.
For there was nothing like amuse
ment IN her face.
"WelI," she 5 id calmly, "what did
he do:'
ale told the neighbors about it. IL
you'll believe it, he hadn't thought Of
suspecring anybody Of taking it; he
always was good natured. He thought
it must have been rats carried it of.
But we thought right away of that
surveyor, and when We found out that
Briscomb had been simple enough to
tell him where he kept it. We was
pretty sure it was him that took it.
So we went out to Crawfnrd-two or
three of us-and got out warrant
and arrested him. We didn't expect
to find tho money on him, of course;
and it wasn't. But there amt doubt
but what he's got it somewhere. Any,
how, he's having his trial now, out to
Crawford, and the chances are all a.
gainst him. We do things up quick
out this way" he concluded with an
air of satisfaction. Truly, this little
school teacher was strange person.
The amusement had died out of her
face, and profound Indignation had
filled it.
She grasp,d his arm eagerly.
"He did not take it J" she said Scorn-
fully. 81 know where it is this min
ute. You must drive me out to Craw-
ford Immediately"
The Crawford court. house was filled
to overaowing. The trial, coming as
it did, into the midst of the sleepy
summer days, when e1citements were
few and proved great attraction.
1t was an exceptional trial. too.
The plaintiff had been unwilling to
prosecute, and had seemed troubled
ever since at having been led into do