The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-07

thing, and told him as much.
swell, 1 don't know what to think
either" he continued. s'Of course paid
them for the articles stolen, but that
won't stop the internal gossip now
spreading"
."I'll call on Mabel 1T once, Mr.. Bris-
ton"
"Do so; and If you succeed in stopping
this thing you may have her."
"Thank you, sir. I'll do my best"
Then we parted.
found Mabel in tears.
"Why these tears, Mabel?" / asked
removing her hands from her face and
imprisoning them within my own.
She gave me quick glance, quietly
withdrew her hands, and looked away
from me,
mabel" 1 repeated, ''can you not con-
flde in me?'
Ibid papa call on you this morning?'
she asked, her eyes upon the carpet
"Yes, Mabel"
''Then he told you alp"
"Yes."
sand do you believe these charges
true, Harry" her lips quivering.
"No." l thought 1t best TO prevari-
cate just then.
20, Harry! how good of you. have
one friend to stand by me-" said she,
hiding her face upon my shoulder.
snow tell me, Mabel, what founda-
ton have they for these charges?"
asked, gently stroking her fevered head.
She raised her face to mine, and looked
me straight in the eye. 81 do not know,
Harry. any more than you do. ! never
heard word about the thefts until
papa told me last night"
ut is strange, very strange" said 1,
abruptly. "Smith and Brown declare
the articles were stolen. They are both
honorable gentlemen, and could have no
motive in preferring false charges.
Have you offended the clerks in any
way?"
so, no; at least, not to my knowl-
edge. Ihave always been kind and con-
siderate, more so than the majority of
ladies on shopping expeditions"
"Still you may have incurred their
Well, have plan"
then her strange action of the morning
came to mind Before unfold it, how
ever, Iwish to know why you slighted
me this morning"
''Why Islighted you, Harry"
"Yes; is an explanation necessary,
Mabel?'
Really, Harry, I do not understand, :"
she replied in genuine surprise.
''Mabel, you do not mean to say you
did not see me this morning?" asked,
coldly.
81 do. have not left the house this
more mystery" thought, COM
pletely puzzled. In addition to theft,
was Mabel uilty of falsehood?
''Now, Harry, explain yourself" said
she.
SWELL, / saw you this morning while
going to the Office, and you crossed the
street without sign of frecognition--"
"You are mistaken, SIR" she inter
rupted, in tone OF coldness. "As
said, have not been away from home
this morning"
Pardon, Mabel, I must have been
s'Without doubt, Harry. But let us
not quarrel. What is your plan?"
Her answer was not satisfactory, but
in order to satisfy myself that the charges
made against her were either true or
false, my plan should be carried out.
moment, asked:
Have you any shopping to do. to-day,
mot to-day"
Tomorrow, then?"
"Perhaps-why?"
''Answer this, first, Mabel! Where
will you go shopping"
''Not at Smiths, most assuredly."
'sWhy not at Smiths, Mabel?'
because I'm disgraced enough now"
"Well, in order to carry out my plan,
you must go to Smiths"
A moment of silence followed before
she spoke:
at will be hard to do. Harry, but If it
isabsolutely necessary, I'll go to Smiths.
The charges are false, anyway, and be-
ing innocent, why should fear to show
my face"
"You certainly should not, Mabel.
Well, go there tomorrow, and the next
day to Browns. Continue this pro-
yramme for a week or SO, going to
Smiths and Browns alternately. We
may be able to trap the clerks If they
are the guilty ones. Manage to be at
these places at a certain hour each day
SAY two o'clock or three. Understand?''
Eyes, Harry, and I'll endeavor to carry
put my part to the letter. Will you be
there?"
II may, and again may not. You
fulfil your part, and leave tho rest with
me-"
"You may rely upon me, Harry-that
ls, of course, If sickness does not inter-
fere."
'svery we'll, Mabel. "rll trust you,"
I replied, feeling, however, that if she
could tell . falsehood in one instance
she could in another. Repeating the ar
bade her goodnight, and
loff