Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-09-11
a FOUR-LEGanD THIEF.


"My dear, what do you think" said
the wife Of Rev. Mr.. Vivian, almost
in tears. "Jane, of whom we thought
so much, Is q thief" .-.-
"Impossible, my love-" was the an.
swer. Jane, our chambermaid,
whom we have known so long, whose
probity we have seen tried so often2"
"It seems incredible, l know" re.
piled Mrs. Vivian, excitedly. ''But
there Is no doubt Of It," ...-
mo doubt of it2'
mo You remember giving me,
as usual, the marriage fee after pretty
Towards wedding, don't your"
"Yes."
well, | was tired and sleepy, for
we came home very late, and instead
of locking up the money, as / ought
to have done, l pinned it by one
corner to the pin cushion on the dress
ing table. Yesterday morning, when
/ came to look for it, 1t was gone. l
have searched everywhere, but cannot
find it. Now, nobody had been in
the room but ourselves and Jane"
By this time Mr.. Vivian had begun
to look almost as serious as his wife.
"You are sure that nobody else has
been in the chamber"
why, my dear, you know we
always keep 1t locked, and that Jane
is the only servant who has pass
key. No burglar could get IN"
"You have looked everywheTe?"
''Everywhere-through all my
drawers, in the pocket of the dress l
wore, on the floor, under the bed, in
every possible place. But 1t was
really not worth while looking, for l
am positive l pinned the note to the
Ipincushion. When went to look for
il after breakfast ii was gone. Jane
had been doing her chamber work as
usual, while we were breaktastng,
and is the only person who could have
stolen it.
"Have you spoken to Jane YETI"
mo; l thought would consult you
| first. Had we not better have her
trunk searched secretly If we let heI
know she is suspected she will find
some way to hide the note away"
II am glad you have not spoken to
her. 1t is no light matter to take
away a girls character"
"But the proof, my dear2"
1.-THE proof looks strong, but it is
not conclusive. Suppose-just sup.
pose-that after discharging the poor
thing, and SO destroying her character,
lyou should discover some day thai
she was Innocent l think l will
take look at the room myself. F"
"It's really a waste of time, my
ldear; | have looked everywhere
lsdll, 1t is but right to give the CIR
Ievery chance"
~ should know the note anywhere.
1t was a peculiarly marked twenty
Idollar greenback, not a national note
but legal tender, and stained at ont
end. The stain attracted my atten
ton particularly. 1t was IS ii a thumb
wet with ink had been laid upon th,
mote. The impression was very dis
Itinct
An hours search, however, onll
confirmed Mrs. ViYian's story.
MIR. Vivian desisted at last.
81 cannot believe it. l will not Civ
Iup my faith in Jane, he said.
"But whoielse could have done it
would not have believed it, either
Let us 20 upstairs and search he
room. She is busy in the kitchen, am
will not know 1t. ="
mo, my dear. II We search he
room it is due to her TO tell her first @
our intention. Let us do nothing IN
gderhand"
"Then shall l call herr"
81 suppose there is nothing else t
Ibe done,6 MIR. Vivian said YEARLY, bu
as If he only half assented to the pre-
position.
Mrs. Vivian moved toward the dool
hut before she reached 1t her husban
had started to his feet.
"Stopl l have itl' he said. IN
dear, have you never seen mice about
lThey generally infest every house."
Mrs. Vivian laughed.
"Mice? Why, my dear, are 20
orazy9 Mice don't eat twenty dolla
lnotes.
"But have you ever seen mice i
this room, !" he persisted.
II have heard them at night occt
Esionally, but have never seen then
What can that have to do with tn
; money"
al am certain now. l should hay
searched every place in any event b,
, snoW feel sure the mice have done
IDon't look so incredulous, my dea
la mouse wouldn't eat a bank not
she would rather have bit of chees,
- hut she might think the note woul
make very nice nest for her lit
Zones. We must have the carpet up"
, "Oh, Mr.. Vivianl what do yo
y meanP Take up the carpet and hay
the room to clean again, and every
:, thing upside DOWN."
IL INV dear, I'll begin at the mo
e likely place-by the hearth, say;
~ will take out the lacks myself. and
v. i, very carefully; there shall be
dust made, assure you. Perhaps v
: won't have TO look tar. "
MT Vivian knew when her hui
u band spoke in his mild but decide
N manner that there was nothli
RI Ito do but yield gracefully. She Wen
u therefore, to closet, and brought o.
a tack hammer. n. Wit.
clergyman as he was, MI. ViVl'
IL did moi disdaip TO get down on J.