Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-02-02

4
They're too grave for me. I'm not
a Quaker"
Henry, looking at her bric!sdust-coi-
ored skin and shapeless figure, thought
that the gravest colors were needed to
tone down such marked imperfections,
but 1t was his business to sell to his Gus
toners, and not to cultivate their taste.
After deal of tossing and turning
over the goods, pulling them to see II
they were strong, pleating them to see
II they cracked, Mrs. Walton chose a
bright shade of mauve. The very shade
to show off her defects of complexion
and figure, but she was jubilant over it
until 1t came TO paying the bill. Then
she haggled over the price, and it was
useless for Henry to remind her that he
was not the owner of the store, and
could not deduct from the stated price.
Here I've gone and bought laces,
! and embroideries, and a silk dress, run
| up q bill of over hundred dollars, and
you won't take cent off It's Just a
! swindle, that's what it is; but when
people have money everybody takes a
turn at cheating them. Well, ] suppose
I've got to pay"
She felt in her satchel for her pocket
book, but changed color when she
found it was not there.
''I'm sure put it in my satchel," she
said nervously. ''But no, l remember
when was loolzin' at them lace fichoos
ycnder, | took it out and put it out on
the counter"
you'll be sure to find it there,
them" said Henry, going to the next
counter. mo one has touched these
laces since | showed them to YOU"
The counter was piled with laces and
embroideries. Piece after piece was
lifted, but no pocket-book was visible.
Mrs. Walton's broad face grew redder
and redder as the search progressed.
Il can swear on stack of bibles |
lald 1t right here, young man." she
cried in shrill, angry voice. II was
lookln' at this here valenshun fichoo, and
laid my pocket-book under it. There
was three hundred dollars in it, and it's
got to be found"
What is the matter, Mrs. WaltOn?n
said Mr.. Storrs, who had hurried up,
hearing her raised angry voice"
Matter enough, l reckon. I'm will
in to spend my money freely, but |
amt goin' to lose three hundred dol
lars in bank notes. laid my pocket
book right here, and it's gone"
HAS any one been to that counter
since you left it, Mr.. Allen?" asked Mr..
Storrs sternly. The young man was
pale with indignation at the woman's |
tone and looks, but he answered |
quietly:
mo one, sir. We only left the laces
a few minutes ago, and think it posi- |
BILE Mrs. Walton is mistaken as to the |
place she left her pocketbooS"
II tell you, Mr.. Storrs. put it right
here she cried. yehemently." Il |
never forget where | lay my money.
It's my opinion you needn't look futher |
than that young Allen to find it. can't
understand what you meant by takin' /
him as clerk after all his fathers dis
grace. I'm going home now, but /
want you to understand | amt goin' to
lose that money quietly
The whole place shall be searched,
madam" Mr.. Storrs said, nervouslv
his hands. I'm confident ii
it has been left here it will be found.r
Il guess If you go the right way to
work" with contemptuOus look at
Henry, you'll be pretty apt to find it."
She swept away, her head higher than
usual, and Mr.. Storrs turned furiously
upon the young man, who stood pale
and silent before him.
Come to my office. sir, and wen in
yestigate this matter" he said.
''Now, hand over that money without
. word" he said, when they reached
there.
why, do you believe / stole it, Mr..
Storrs2" he cried. II swear to you /
never saw the pocket-book. sIdon't be-
.ieve she ever brought il to the store.
Surely, surely, knowing me as well as
you do, you cannot really think would
commit such a crime!'
''How do know when bad blood Is
going to crop out?n his employer an
swered, brutally. II ran risk in TAX
ing you on, and now I'm going to suffer
or it You've got TO be searched, sir,
md to avoid scandal in my establish
nent, I'll do it myself, instead OF send
ng for a policeman. You needn't re-
iistr'
''Resistw the unhappy boy drew him
'ef up proudly. 'IWould have insisted
ipon a search even il you had not pro-
posed it."
He said no more. In the agony Of his
he uttered no protest, made
10 assertion of innocence, but when the
inavailing search was over, he said to
lis employer:
81 hope, sir, you are satisfied"
Satisfied! no, I'm not. You haven't
rot the money on your person, but per-
laps you dropped it somewhere in the
tore when you were suspected. You'll
tay in here while have the place
earched.
For hours Henry Allen sat there, his
ace buried in his hands. He knew that
he mere suspicion of the theft was quite
to ruin him in the community
yhere he lived, and his father had ]
inned.
He thought Of his mother and little
lister, and how he would be forced to
cave them to make living among
trangers, and another home for them.
or they could not live without him.
SUIT could he do itp Would not this
ASS suspicion cling to him like Iep-
osyp The terrible burtheR of an In
eritance Of shame seemed to crush out
ii hope and strength from hia aora | s