Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-12
you as rich as the lawyer tharaa'

| ycu as rs tuG yST lH9i1F
! Certainly not.
4 If you feel like coming back on your own
/ account, five pounds will do from yon.
| There. there! Think of it-think of it."
snow, thena" said Mr.. Troy, waiting foe
his companion, with the door open in hid
hand. He looked back at Sharon when?
Moody joined him The old vagabond was.
settled again in his armchair, with his dog
in his lap, his pipe in his mouth, and his
French novel in his hand, exhibiting exactly
the picture of frowzy comfort which he had
d 'esented when his visitors first entered the
6 oom
: Good day. said Mr. Troy, with naughty
Z ,ondescension.
Don't interrupt me, rejoined Old Sharon,
absorbed in his novel, you've had your
guinea's worth. Lord! what lovely book
this isl Don't interrupt me-"
"Impudent scoundrelm said Mr.. Troy,
when he and Moody were il the street again.
"What could my friend mean by recon-
mending hims Fancy his expecting me to
trust him with 910. l consider even. the
guinea completely thrown away
Begging your pardon, SIR" said Moody,
81 don't quite agree with you there"
"What! you don't mean to tell me you I'M
derstand that oracular sentence of his-iSus-
pect the very last person on whom suspicion
could possibly fall! Rubbish"
81 don't say I understand it, sir only
say it has set me thinking"
Thinking of what! Do your suspicious
point to the theft
"If you will please to excuse me, Mr.. Troy,
should like to wait while before I answer
that
Mr.. Troy stood suddenly still, and eyed his
companion little distrustfully.
''Are you going to turn detective police
man on your own accounts" he asked.
There's nothing won't turn to, and try,
to help Miss Isabel in this matter Moody
answered, firmly. 81 have saved few hun
dred pounds in Lady Lydiards service and
am ready to spend every farthing of it if 1
can only discover the thief ~
Mr.. Troy walked ON again. "Miss Isabel
seems to have good friend in you" he said.
He was perhaps unconsciously) little Of
Tended by the independent tone in which the
steward spoke, after he had himself engaged
to take the vindication of the girls innocence
into his own hands.
miss Isabel has a devoted servant and
slave in me-" Moody answered, with pas
sionate enthusiasm.
every creditable; haven't word to say
against it" Mr.. Troy rejoined. "But don't
forget that the young lady has other devoted
friends beside you. am her devoted friend,
for instance have promised to serve her,
and mean to keep my word. You will ex-
cuse me for adding that my experience and
discretion are quite as likely to be useful to
her as your enthusiasm. know the world
we'll enough to be careful in trusting stran-
gers. 1t will do you no harm, Mr.. Moody,
to follow my example"
Moody accepted his reproof with becoming
patience and resignation. "If you have
anything to propose, sir, that will be of SER
vice to Miss Isabel" he said, Il shall be happy
if 1 can assist you in the humblest capacity"
'And if notg' Mr.. Troy inquired, conscious
of having nothing to propose as he asked the
question.
I'm that case sir, 1 must take my own
course, and blame nobody but myself if it
leads me astray."
Mr.. Troy said no more; he parted from
Moody at the next turning.
Pursuing the subject privately in his own
mind be decided Oh TAXI lg the earliest OPP
portunity of visiting Isabel at her aunt's
house, and on warning her in her future ia
tercourse with Moody, not to trust too much
to the stewards discretion. 81 haven't
doubt" thought the lawyer, "of what he
means to do next The infatuated fool is
going back to Old Sharonr"