Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09
CHAPTER XII.


The blacklist cloud sat on the brow Of Mr.
Murridge. Business was before him which
wanted his clever clerk, and she was gone
Wonderful unheard of She confessed what
she had done, and she went away without a
word Of excuse, without any appeal to mercy
just as if somebody else had done the thing.
Never was audacity more complete
II could forgive her." said Mr. Murridge.
Il feel it in me to forgive her." Perhaps the
thought of her cleverness, and the loss of
her departure, assisted him to this Christian
frame of mind. Eyes feel that l could
forgive her 1 could stop the sixty pounds
out of her salary, and we could go on just
exactly the same as before, only should
lock up the check book, if she'd only tell me
why she did it, and say she was sorry. And
the little devil goes off with toss of her
head and glare in her eyes as if somebody
else had taken the checksl It's wonderful;
it's wonderful"
Meantime how could he replace hera
"I'll make her come back to me" he said.
''1f she won't accept my terms I'll prosecute
her, even without the checks. She must
have taken them out of Dicks drawer, too.
Women will do anything-anyth But
that was clever. What will her father say2
don't care. I'll prosecute the Honorable Norah
Cronan, daughter Of Viscount Clonsilla for
forgery! That is"-he paused-'if l can
without the checks; and then she'll be glad
enough to accept my terms"
While Mr. Murridge was thus breathing
fury and flames he received a call. A
young gentleman, whose appearance was un-
known to him, knocked at the door and
walked in. ,
my name is Aquila," he said '.sYou will
understand why I have called when tell
you that l am engaged to Miss Norah
Cronan"
"Ohr' Mr.. Murridge replied, with snort;
''you are are yous And has that young
lady seen you since yesterday morningr'
YES; have seen her."
"Has she made any kind Of statement to
youa Do you understand what has hap
paneda'
Il learn from her that some kind of charge
has been brought against her."
"She is accused-not by me. but by an
other-of theft and forgery. Sixty pounds
is the total have been robbed in my own
office of sixty pounds by five distinct for
geries. She made no bones of confessing the
thing to me. Laughed at it, so to speak.
Laughed at it'll Told me to find out the
truth for myself"
''Confessinga Norah confessingY"
Certainly. And if young gentleman,
you can explain how she came to confess
without the least shame should be glad to
hear that explanation. Come"
Let me understand How could she con-
fess2 What did she saya'
'sShe confessed that she cashed one of the
checks herself, and that her brother cashed
another. Is not that confession enough for
youg'
Nothing would be enough for me, because
I am as firmly convinced of her innocence as
of my own Much more firmly, in fact, be-
cause Norah could not do this thing. Con-
slider, Mr.. Murridge"-the young mans voice
tremhled-"this is a very dreadful charge to
bring against any one, and most of all
against girl Yet you talk of it as if it
was not only a possible charge, but already
proved" - q
every day in this city," said Mr.. Muir
ridge, "there are robberies of this kind.
They are ali committed by perfectly innocent
persons previously unsupported. When they
are found out the first cry is that it is i'm
possible. Now, young gentleman, I am very
sorry, for the girls sake-I don't know an
other person in the world for whom I would
say so much The thing is impossible, is it
not2 Yet it has happened"
SIS that ala Tell me exactly. Is it all
that Moran said?"
''She said that she would answer no more
questions"
SIS that all!'
''Not quite. What she said them can't
understand twas that must find out the
truth for myself. What do you make Of
thatp
Only that you have not got the truth yet.
Stay; let us send for her brother. Will
you let me put question to him in your
presences"
by all means Send the office boy in
cab"
Hugh hastily wrote note, and dispatched
the boy in a hanson. From the city to
Clover street tolerably swift cab takes
twenty minutes. They had, therefore, forty
minutes at least to wait
And now" said Mr.. Murridge, "your
relations with this young lady are so init
mate. and You know SO much. it would be