Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-26
MYLADY'S MONEY
By WILKIE COLLINS.
AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG G fRIA
Continued from last aoeek.
Continued from last aoeek.]

"Wel, can tell you this: Ii she hGG 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 woman-you
can never take her by surprise. Put that re-
mark by in your mind; one day you may
find use for remembering it. Did you SEQ
her blush, and look quite hurt in her feel
ings pretty DEAR when l asked about her
sweethearts Do you think a thief, in her
place. would have shown such face as that?
Not she! The thief would have been re-
ieved 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! yes! the
grounds cleared now, Master Moody. I've
re- koned 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 result! The advice 1 gave,
when you and the lawyer first came to me-
hate that fellow remains as sound and
good advice as ever. I 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; ''lve 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 valets'
Moodys eyes rested on Old Sharon with
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 a fla h of sardonic triumph
''Ohor' he said; has my good boy learned
his lesson! Do you see the thief through my
spectacles alreadys"
Il began to see him" Moody answered,
''when you gave us the guinea opinion at
your lodgings
.sWill you whisper his name?" asked Old
Sharon.
Not yet. 1 distrust my own judgment.
I'll wait till time proves that you're right"
Old Sharon knitted his shaggy brows and
shook his head. eff you only had little
more dash and go IN you,' he said, you
would be a clever fellow. As it is" H.
finished the sentence oy swapping his fingers
with grin of contempt Lets get to busl-
ness. Are you going back by the next train
along with me, or are you going to stop with
tn young lady?'
81 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
make bosom friend of him. I can'tdo that
parL of it; my appearance would be against
me- You are the man; you are respectable
rom the top OF your hat to the tips of your
toots: nobody would suspect you. Don't
make objections! Can you fix the valet? Or
can't you9
81 can try" said Moody 'And what
thenm
Cd Sharon put his gross lips dsagreeably
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 fool" retorted Old Sharon.
Wal you hold that long tongue of yours,
and hear what l have to say? You go to
Hardyman's bankers, with note in Hardy
man handwriting exactly initiated by mel
10 this effect: Mr.. H. presents his compli-
ments to Messrs So-and-So, and is not quite
certain whether 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 line
in reply whether there is such an entry to his
credit in heir BOOKS, and by whom the pay
mrnt has been made. You wait for the
bankers answer, and bring it to me. It's
ii, ct ,,occihla tbat tha no, afraid To
whisper may appear i'll the letter. If it does,
we've caught our man. Is that forgery, Mr..
Muddlehead Moody! I'll tell you what-if
had lived to be your age, and knew no more
OF the world than you do, I'd go and hang
myself. Steady! here 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 AXE all the risk and trouble
Oh 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 a treatr' he burst out, with an af-
fectation of joy which was completely belied
by the expression Of his dirty face. Here's
a kind and dear young lady, to help an old
man to drink with har own pretty hands"
He paused. and looked at the milk very much
as he might have locked at dose of physic.
XVIII any one take drink first?' he asked,
Offering the jug piteousy to Isabel and
Moody. "You see, Pm no. used to genuine
milk; I'm used to chalk and water. l don't
know what effect the unauthorized COW
might have on my poor old inside" He
t Sled the milk with the greatest caution.
Upon my soul. this is too rich for me! The
unauthorized COW is deal too strong to be
drunk alone. If you'll allow me. I'll qualify
IL with a drop of gin. Here, PIGGY! Puggy"
He set the milk down before the dog, and
taking a fl4sk out of his pocket enptied 1t at
draught. That's something lke!" he said,
smacking his lips with air of infinite re-
lief. $50 sorry, miss, 10 have given you all
your trouble for nothing; it's my ignorance
that's to blame, not me- ] couldn't know
was unworthy of genuine milk till l tried
could L! And do YOU know?n he proceeded