The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-05

in il. on the counter, and turns her back
on il. After a while, along comes tho
salesman. and while she is speaking to
him this gentleman goes round the other
side and takes up her muff. and turns il
in his hands. as il were. A minute after
wards she takes the muf from him. and
finds that the money and the purse are
gone The gentleman says he had his
hands in the muf. and that it was empty.
That's how the case stands. Now,
want to know il the gentleman has any
thing more to say" And no looked at
Nolen. 1920 /.
II nave told all 1 know about II. r.
Piled Percy steadily IL found the mull
empty. and if Mrs Tunst2lI had not
been so po-iiive tina; the purse and the
money wcr- in il | should say she must
have bvn mistaken The bank notes
might have fallen on the ground and not
been noticed. but the purse would have
teen heard to drop"
MAY ask. then, what your theory
Isl inquired Tunstall. courteously
Il have none. he answered shortly
And what is yours, Sylvan her nus
hand continued.
I'm sure don't know what to think.
she said in faitering voice.
The eyes Of 1tinstall and the detective
/ fixed themselves upon Percy in silence
/ lie Redeemed "a he returned the gaze. but
whether with anger or with some Other
emotion il was impossible to determine
We'll. he broke out at length. 1t
seems to me that | stand in the position
Of suspected person can hardly be-
lieve. he added. in a hoarSer voice, that
/ can he seriously charged with picking
ladys pocket-espccially "A lady with
whom | am acquainted" lie paused M
one spoke well. then" he went on
angrily. Il will say that repudiate the
charge. and will hold to account who
ever has the face TO make IT, mean
you. sirl" he said. with fierce look at
/ Tunstall Have you anything TO say
/ to IL"
80 far as | am aware" said 1unstall
coolly. the only person who has spoken
Of charging you with the theft Is your
self was not present, and can only
Judge from hearsay But will say this.
/ Sir Nolcn il were in your place. !
should wish 10 yindicate my innocence
in some other way than 10y asserting It
/ should iegn 10y asking this detective
to search my pockets.
do you dare 10 say you want me e
be- searched" cried Nolen. his face flush
inc red. while he advanced a step toward
the other, with a threatening gesture.
That IS what an honest man would
wish to have done. replied the other, not
/ flnchins
Come. come said the detective, step
ping between them. I'VE don't want any
hard words here. gentlemen But I'm
bound to tell you. Mt Nolen, that Mr.
Tun,tall is right. There's no disgrace in
being searched. that know OF; and b
would be- worth moro than a lot OF loud
talking
Percy stood uncertain for moment.
then he stripped oil his overcast, and
tossed IL 10 the detective. DO az you
like" said he you have your duty to
perform. suppose will settle with
/ ~ unstall afterwards"
The detective put his hand into one OF
the side pockets Of the overcoat. then
into the other. Here's something. al
any rate" he remarked: and with the
words Inc drew out lady's purse.
Percy uttered "A cry. as Of utter aston.
ishment and dismay. and stared at the
pocket hook like man bewiidered
Is that yours. Sylvia" inquired her
husband quietly. taking the purse and
handing il to her
She took it mechanically and opened
it. 1t is mine," she said, under her
breath
Are the notes in it, demanded the
detective.
She shook her head.
They are not i'm the overcoat," the de
tective added I'VE shall have TO pur.
sue our examination little further, Mr.
Nolen. he said in grave tone.
Il don't underestimate have nothing
to say-there seems to have been some
plot against me-" said Percy. in "a dazed
rmanncr II desire 20 have the thing
cleared up more than any one else can
| wish to be taken 20 tho station and ex
amlned.
That's the best sense you've talked
yet. answered the other approyingly
Call a couple OF hacks, Ferris, he SAID
TO the salesman. land we'll start at once
You charge this man on suspicion Of tho
robbery" headed. 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 i'm a delicate position. and she knew
IL II she sided with Percy, it would he
tantamount To defiance of her husband
IA 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, kind OF prom
inence that no one would envy her. H.
on the other hand. she took sides with
her husband, 1t would afford the strong
est possible indication. IN his eyes, OF hei
virtuOus and wifely conduct and rebukt
Of the suspicious he had entertained
against her Moreover. the evidence
against Percy was very strong anf
plausible 1t might be misleading-anC
in the bottom OF her heart she did no
believe him guilty-but. in case it should
turn out that he had yielded 70 some
sudden temptation. it would be awkward
to say the least. 10 have compromised
herself for ielon. Had she loved him
indeed. there might have been a tragic
pleasure in sacrificing herself; but il wa
now revealed 10 her that the only love IL
the matter was love, not Of Percy, bu
Of excitement. The excitement had rir
itself out. and was succeeded by desir'
to get out Of the scrape by the shortes
route. But did she feel no remorse a
abandoning her lover at the moment o
his greatest need? No; the feminine con
science is not SO easily caught 1t wa
with a glow Of conscious virtue and con
nubial rectitude that she lifted her prett'