The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-03


said Mr. Bennett doggedly. "There
wouldn't another one o them men a
done it; I know 'em all I want over
pleased with him fust minute I see
him."
Myra put the goblets into the dish
pan silently.
81 can gencr'ly tell when man amt
honest" Mr.. Bennett proceeded, with
growing confidence, "and that feIler
amt. He see them glasses aud he took
'cm; he didn't s'pose he'd be suspi-
cioaed. He's caIc'lating to sell 'em
soon as he gifts back to the city. Clear
case, I consider. He'll git come up
with, though. He won't git out O
town with them glasses"
''He couldn't have taken them, Mr..
Bennett, said MyrA 'tHe didn't go
near the window-siIl'
Glow do you know he didn't2" Mr..
Bennett demanded, tartly. ''Wal, yis,
come to rccollcct-hanging round you
alter supper, wan I nef'
Myras checks famed, and her lips
trombled; Mr.. Benn nett's tone was gruff
"Yisp Mr.. Bennett got up and
went rambling about tho room, agi-
tatedly. ''And I don't s'pose you Il
hear to reason more most gals will.
You're took with a good-looking face
and smart ways, and you don't see the
rascality behind 'em, nor you won't be
made to- You're jest like the hull
tarnal set of 'emI'
''Mr. Bennett!' cried Myra, her tears
dropping into the dish-water.
oval, hahn nothing to say about
it. You'll hev to go your own way
said MI. Bennett, sternly. "Al I hev
got to say is, he don't git out O this
town with them glasses. I'll hev the
law
A tall, bowing form and handsome,
smiling face were at the door. NJ.
Goodwin looked in pleasantly at Mr.
Bennett and Myra.
"Ohr Myra faltered, hurriedly dry
ing her eyes and smiling back at him.
'I must apologize for bursting in in
this way" sid the young man; but his
quiet, gentlemanly entranco could hard
ly be called a burst. "And my errand
is hardly of enough Importance. I could
have waited-'
He looked at Myra, shyly. 1t was
plain that his errand was the lesser at
traction.
Mr.. Bennett stood with folded arms
and hostile eyes Myra, tremulous with
apprehension, placed a chair for the
young man.
II am sorry to bother you," said Mr..
Goodwin, in pleasant apology, "but l
have lost my scarf pin somewhere here
abouts. OF course there is every chan ce
of its having fallen out while I was at
work. Feeding bundles of wheat to
threshing machine is pretty we'll cal
culated to loosen scarf pins" he said,
laughing. ''But possibly I may have
dropped it here, either at the dinner or
supper I enjoyed so hugely."5 He
smiled at Myra. '1 am so sorry to
trouble you'll Just glance over the
floor will discover it, if it is here"
"C-rtainlyr said DIyra, and opened
the west window blinds for more light.
M. Bennett eyed the young man
sternly.
"Seems to me its pref good joke
you a-coming here after somethin g
you've missedr' he snapped.
Mr.. Goodwin betrayed his astonish-
ment at the remark only by his silence.
Myra gazed at Mr. Bennett in plead
ing misery.
"What I should call good JOKE"
Mr. Bennett repeated, with a chuckle.
S'posc you want to search the house,"
''My dear SIR the young nan ejacu-
lated IN shocked amaz9ment, 'is it pos
sible that you suspect me of suspecting
you9 Believe me, nothing could be
further from my thoughtsl How can I
persuade you"
Like to look through my pockets,
wouldn't you2' Mr.. Bennett pursued,
with grim irony. "Wal, I'll give you
a chance if you'll let me look through
yours fust"
'Nr. Bennettl' cried Myra, implor-
ingly.
Mr.. Good win was distressedly speech
less.
Guess we'd better do it. Guess I'd
better go after the constable and hev it
done quare," said Mr. Bennett.
And he reached up to the clockshelf
and took down his second best hat
which lay there.
And then they all saw-the little
gold scarf-pin, lying on the spot which
the hat had covered. And Myra and
Mr.. Bennett saw, also tho shining, gold
bowed spectacles, showed to the back OF
the shelf.
Mr.. Bennett gasped. His honest old
face turned from red to white, and his
L aces trembled so that he sank to a
chair.
"Wal," he muttered tremulously, and
was weakly silent.