Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-05
IAIIhE'S CONFESSION.
CHAPTER 1.
VERY pIsAGREEABLE.

II am glad you have come IN, WIifreo
want to speak to you. Something yer.
disagreeale has happened" said Mr.. Car
ingham, the master of Everleigh Grange
to Wilfred Power. his ward and privat
secretary.
81 am sorry to hear that. What is it?'
asked Power, dark, good-looking man o
about seven and twenty.
"That money you fetched from the banl
this morning, can't find it. l put i
in this drawer. You know where kee,
money, usually; and 1 had some othel
money-French notes, and the lot ha.
gone"
"Goher' exclaimed the other. "Do yor
mean that it has been stolen"
81 don't want TO use word like that,
replied Mr.. Caringham, who was a mild
good-natured, rather nervous man. 81
should be very sorry to think that the old
Grange had thief in it. But Pm almost
sure put the money in this drawer"
Il know you did" answered Power ~
saw you do it, There were two rouleaux
of gold and some loose sovereigns-about
eighty pounds in all-and few notes."
81 thought you were here. Well, it is
gone. | suppose | forgot to lock the
drawer. / really ought to trust these
things to you; you are so much more
thoughtful than / am. Anyway, when /
came in about an hour ago, l found the
drawer unlocked; and when | looked for
the money 1 couldn't find it. 1t is very
disagreeable."
bla ranaotaJ III H.
sit is great deal worse than disagree
able. But have you looked everywhere?
/ suppose you did not take the money out
afterward and put it anywhere"
"No. Besides, | have been out nearly
all the time"
"What time did you discover the loss %
About an hour ago-that would be
about o'clock.
well, it is very extraordinary. was
working here, looking into these papers
about Meadowley farm, until lunch; and
came back after lunch, and did not leave
the room until past o'clock, when |
walked over to Meadowley to get some
more particulars of the stock. So it
must have happened between 4 and
o'clock. Had we not better question the
servants ?"
'No, no" replied Mr. Caringham. 81
would not for the world have it get about
the place that we have thief here.
Leave things alone, and, if we keep our
eyes open, something may probably show
where the money has gone, and then we
can quietly get rid of whoever the-the
person may be-" he said, avoiding the
word thief. "Never mind the money. l
had no right to be so careless as to leave
the drawer open. 1t serves me right
"You must tell Miss Caringham," said
Power. at will be necessary for every
one to be careful"
''Fd rather not girls do chatter SO
abominably. But l suppose you are right,
and that Maine ought to be put on her
guard. Here she comes, / think"
A horse cantered quickly up the drive,
and a moment afterward a girls voice
was heard calling:
"Papa, papa, where are you ~
The library door was opened by quick
hand, and a bright young girl of about
twenty ran in, looking bewitchingly pretty
in her habit, her cheeks flushed with
rapid riding, and her fair hair slightly
disarranged.
"Oh, papa, am nearly out of breath.
l had to ride so fast, and dear old Ruby
was SO tiresome and would not canter. 1t
was all either joggle or rush; and at last |
was obliged to let 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 to your chair there. People
ought not to be allowed to write books
that keep other people from going for
their ride at a proper time, ought they !?
But it was very much your fault, too,
Mr.. Power" said the girl, glancing mis-
chievously at him, because | couldn't
get in here till four o'clock But" she
broke off suddenly, looking at them both,
"what is the matter? You both look as
grave as deaf-mutes. Pm not very late, am
[? Not too late to be forgiven, am l.
daddy?
She said this very caressingly, and went
close to Mr.. Caringham and put up her
face to be kissed. like spoiled child.
''No, my darling, nc" he answered, smil-
ing at her as he kissed her.
II thought not" she answered with
merry laugh, adding with assumed serious
ness, Eff | was very penitent, you know
But what is it? Has something gone wrong
somewhere? Is it another of those horrid
farms going to be empty? You'll tell me-
Mr.. Power, won't you ?' she said, turning
to him with pretty gesture of supplica-
ton, even if papa won't|
The man would have done almost any,
thing in the world she asked him for in
his quiet, reserved nature was a great fire
of love for the girl But he did not reply,
leaving Mr. Caringham to answer.
all a.
way, "the fact is, Maline, have lost some
money"
The girl changed her manner directly,
and went to her fathers side and put her
arm in his as she said, in a way that
showed the true womanly sympathy that
was in her nature, end touched both men
keenlv
81 hope it is not very serious, dear; not
more serious than we can bear together"
And she took his hand in hers and
kissed it.
NO, darling, no." said her father "Not
serious in amount, but disagreeable and
disquieting in the way in which it has
gone" And he told her what had hap
pened.
Eyes, that is certainly very disagreed
bic, and hate to be suspicious. Are you
sure you put it in the drawer at all ?"
YES, quite sure. Wilfred was here
when | did So"
What do you think about it, Mr. Pow.
er? ?" asked the girl
Il do not know what to think, and you
have made the puzzle greater
"I?' said the girl, quickly turning tc
him show is that ?''
Because, during the whole time since
the money was put in the drawer until the
time of the discovery, the room seems tt
have been occupied first by me, then by
you. / confess myself beaten"
There must be some mistake somewhere
i should think you'll find the money, papa
But | must go and get my habit off. I vii
promise 70 be cautious about my things