The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-27
MALINE'S CONFESSION.
Complications Caused by Servant
Maids DepraVity.


VERY DIsAGREEABLE.
81 am glad you have come in, Wilfred j
want 60 speak 10 you. Something very dis
agreeable has happened" said Mr.. Caringham,
the master of Eyerleigh Grange, TO Nilired
Power, his ward aud private secretary.
4" am sorry 10 hear that. What is it?"
asked Power a dark, good docking man of about
seven-and twenty.
That money Won fetched from the bank this
morning ] can't find il. lput il in this drawer.
You know where j keep money, usually; and
] had some other mOney-trench notes, and
the lot has gone.'
"Gonc!" exclaimed the other. "Do you
mean that ID has been stolen2"
4" IdOn't want 10 use a word like that /" replied
Mr. Caringham, who was a mild good-naturcd
and rather nervous man. 3" j should be very
sorry 10 think the old Grange bad a thief IN it,.
But Pm almost sure put the money an this
drawer"
!" know you did" answered Power; " / saw
you do il. There were two TouleauX Of gold
aud some loose sovereign eighty pounds
IN all--and a few notes"
q" ] Thought you were here. Well. il is gone.
j suppose ] forgot 10 loci. the drawer. ] really
ought 10 trust these things 10 you; you are so
much more thoughtful than am. Anyway,
when ] came la about an hour ago, found the
drawer unlocked; and when looked for tho
money ] couldn't find it, IL is very disagree
able"
"Disagreeblel" repeated the other. 1T is
q great deal worse than disagrecabe. thave
you looked everywhere? j suppose you did
not take the money out afterward and put it
Rnywhere2"
No Besides have been out nearly all the
time"
What time did YOU discover the loss?n
About an hour sgo-that would be about six
o'clock"
Well, il is very extraordinary was work
ing here, looking into these papers about
Meadowley Farm, until lunch; and i came
back after lunch, and did not leave the room
until past four o'clock, when ] walked over 10
Meadowloy 10 get some more particulars of the
stock. So ID must have happened between four
aud six o'clock. Had we not better question
the servants?"
No, no, replied Mr. Carngham. :" would
not for the world have il get about the place
that we have a thief here Leave things alone
and ID we keen our ewes open. something will
probably show where the money has gone, AMI
then we can quietly get rid Of whoever the
the person may be- he said, avoiding the word
thief Never mind the money. ] had no
right to bo SO careless as 10 leave the drawer
open. 1T serves me right
" Acumust tell Miss tarinRham," said Power.
IL will be necessary Tor everyone to be care
full"
I'D rather not; girls do chatter so abom-
inably. But ] suppose you arc right, aud that
Maline onght To be put on her guard. Here
she comes think"
A horse cantered quickly up the drive aud
. moment aiterward q girls voice was heard
calling:
Papa papa, where are you?"
The library door was opened by a quick
hand, and a bright young girl of about 20 ran
in. looking bcwlchiugly pretty in her habit
her checks flushed with rapid riding, and her
fair hair slightly disaranped.
d ..4H.- F.,fIs l,,G
a. iie SD fast, and dear old Ruby was SO tire
suiur md would not canter. IL was all either
google 0r rush and al last ] WAS obliged 20 lot
her have her head and gallop home. ] was
afraid ] should be late. ] couldn't get out till
very nearly six o'clock, for ! was in here, and
that novel was reading positively chained me
down 70 your char there People ought not
10 be allowed 10 write books that keep other
people from going for their ride 20 a proper
time. ought thevY But il was very much your
fault, tooe AlT. Power, said the girl, CHANGING
mischieyously at hiu, because ] couldn't get
IN here tiil o'clock. But she broke of sud
denly. look ing 20 them both. what Is the mat
ter2 You both look as grave as deaf. mutcs
I'm not very late, am ~ Not too late TO be
forgiven, am i, daddy"
She said this very caressingly and went close
o. DR. CarinRham and put up her face 10 be
kissed like a spoiled child.
+" no. my darling, no. he answered, smiling
at heI a. DE kissed her.
Z" ] thought not she answered, with merry
laugh, adding with assumed seriousness, " II ]
WIS very prnitcni you know. But what is itY
HAS something gone wrong sOmcwhcrcg IL ID
another OF those horud farms going 10 be
emFlyy l0u'.l tell Ine Dir. Power, won't yougn
sire said turning % bin with a pretty gesture
o. application, even li papa W0u'Ly"
The man would have done almost ANYTHING
in the world she asked him; for in his quiet,
reserved nature was great fire OF love for the
girl. But be did not reply, leaving Mr.. Caring
ham 10 answer
WOLF said the latter, in a hcsitating way.
'the fact d., Maliuc, j have lost some money"
The girl changed her manner directly and
went % lcf fathers side and put her arm in
bis eos she saIe, ln way that showed the true
W0maHly sympathy that was IN her nature, and
touched both men Eeculy
hope III De not very serious, dear: not
moro serious than we can bear together"
And She took His hand in hers aud kissed a.
No. darling. DO, said her atber. Not Sc
rlous u amount bui ols8prceabie aud disguiet-
luP iH tic WAY u which ID has gone" And lac
told bier what bad happened
Yes, ilat ls certainly very disacrccable
and bate 10 be suspicious. Are you sure you
put b DAB The drawer 10 aiIY7
Yes. quite sure. Wilfred was here when
did so.n
What do you think about it, Mr.. Power?n
asked The girl
% do not know what 10 think, aud you have
made the puzzle greater
!" lf : said the girl, quickly turning 10 him,
how j. thatY"
Because during the whole time since the
money Was put iu thE drawer until the time az
The discovery the room seems TO have been &C.
eupiea hrsi ly me, then By you. confess my.
sell beaten"
There must be some mistake somewhere
] should think you'll find the money. Uapa.
But ! must 30 aud get my habit OF. ] viii
promise 10 be cautious about my Things: but
have always left them about, and never LOST
peHuEW0rih of anything"
Maliue," said Mr CaringhRm, calling her
back for moment and shutting the door "be
careful any child, also, not 10 breathe a word
about tins DO the house. j wouldn't have IA
get about FOR Ten times the amount Of the
money"
Very well, papa" she answered am not
speak Of ID 10 q soul"
CHATTER III.
WHAT wLFRED FOUND ~ THE LIBRARY.
- - IL