The Florida agriculturist., 1889-06-26

Nolen,' he said in grave tone.
II don't understand have nothing
to say-there seems to have been some
plot against me. said Percy in dazed
manner II desire to have the thing
cleared up more than any one else can.
wish to be taken to the station and ex-
amined."
That's the best sense you've talked
yet" answered the other approvingly.
''Call couple of hacks. Ferris" he said
to the salesman, land We'll start at once
You charge this man on suspicion of the
robbery" he added, turning to Mrs. Tun-
stall
She was standing with her eyes cast
down and her hands hanging folded be-
fore her, leaning against the table. She
was in delicate position, and she knew
it. If she sided with Percy, it would be
tantamount to defiance Of her husband
"a defiance which he would never for
give and would fight out to the bitter
end. 1t would mean for her loss of social
position and consequent exile and obscur-
ity, or, if not obscurity. a kind of prom
inence that no one would envy her. If,
on the other hand, she took sides with
her husband. it would afford the strong
est possible indication. in his eyes, of her
virtuous and wifely conduct and rebuke
Of the suspicious he had entertained
against her Moreover, the evidence
against Percy was very strong and
plausible. 1t might be misleading and
in the bottom Of her heart she did not
believe him guilty-but, in case it should
turn out that he had yielded to some
sudden temptation, it would be awkward,
to say the least, to have compromised
herself for felon. Had she loved him,
indeed, there might have been tragic
pleasure in sacrificing herself; but it was
now revealed to her that the only love in
the matter was love, not Of Percy, but
Of excitement. The excitement had run
itself out, and was succeeded by desire
to get out Of the scrape by the shortest
route. But did she feel no remorse at
abandoning her lover at the moment Of
his greatest need? No; the feminine con-
science is not SO easily caught. 1t was
with glow OF conscious virtue and con-
nubial rectitude that she lifted her pretty
face, and addressing her husband, said:
''Well. suppose he must have done it.
don't see who else could have. Yes, I
will make the complaint. though it will
be very disagreeable to appear in court
among lot of criminals!
She just glanced at Percy asshe turned
away, perhaps to see how he would take
it. His eyes were fixed upon her with an
expression of half incredulous curiosity;
but the next moment he threw back his
head and burst into loud laugh. She
shrank a little at that sound, and edged
toward the door: and this was the lovers
parting scene.
Such was the train of events that
brought young gentleman who might
have made good and respectable figure
in the world to the office of Inspector
Byrnes at police headquarters. The in
spector listened to the story. contemplate
ing the prisoner and his accusers dream
lily in the meanwhile; and after it was
told he sat for while absently making
lines on the blotting pad in front of him
with the point of paper knife
Finally he looked up and briefly re-
quested that every one should withdraw
except Mrs. Tunstall and Percy Nolen.
When the three were alone together he
regarded Mrs Tunstall pensively and
said;
How long have you known the pris-
oner?"