Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-09

you that it is wise thing for man to
be his own accuser?" asked Col Curtis
81 do not accuse myself, SIR said
Carlisle with dignity; 1.-The circum-
stances do that, and your manner be-
trays your suspicion.
There is no use for IS TO bubble over
anything at this time. | have trusted
you implicitly. This money was paid to
me, and placed it in the strong box.
You and are the only persons who have
access to the box The box has not been
broken open and the money is gone.
These are the facts"
''And they tell against me most damn
ably, sir; l grant all that. But, sir, !
feel that it is due to myself and to the
confidence that you have always placed
in me to say that have not taken the
money. For the past two hours have
been trying to live over in my mind the
whole of the interval between Josh
Jones visit and now, and think / can
recall every little circumstance. but l
cannot recall ever to have seen the bag
at all"
Possibly Jones did not pay me the
UnOueys Sstlu Tue SOiOucls VIII SeSlA sal
casm.
81 intimate nothing of that kind, sir;
all know is that l never stole your
money, and don't believe l ever saw
the bag that held it."
These nice questions had better be
discussed by less interested persons than
you and l." said the colonel sternly.
Very good, sir" responded Carlisle.
Ny ndfather-continued DR.. Curtis,
when he had filed and lighted his Ger
man pipe-returned to his house in much
trouble. He wished to consult his wife
about the missing money. He found
her in the sitting room, waiting to hear
why the visit to Albany had been post
poned. He told her about it, and she,
too, saw that he suspected that John
Carlisle had stolen the money.
William" she said very gravely, II
don't for an instant believe that John
Carlisle took that money!"
Il certainly don't like to believe it
myself, but 1 can't help it. How can l
get around believingit? Why don't you
believe it?''
Il don't know why, but 1 feeLthat he
did not do it; am sure that he could
not do it; know he did not do it,
''How do you know it,
Because he said he did not, and then
no man with an eye like his could be a
thief"
well, Maria,'' said the colonel, your
intuitions are usually pretty accurate,
and have great weight with me; what
shall l do? l can't keep John around
here with such suspicion hanging over
him"
| 81 don't know, l am sure; shall so
and talk to John about it."
And my grandmother, who was u
young woman then, threw a shawl over
her head and shoulders, and went over
to the store. She staid in the counting
room for two hours with Carlisle, and
| they came out together and went to the
house. John Carlisle went to his room,
| and she joined her husband in the sitting
| room.
''Well:' asked the colonel.
"John did not take that money, Will,
lam"
''How do you know
HE has told me So"
OH
William, your suspicious do a good
man great wrong. am perfectly SURE
that he is as innocent as a babe I'm.
born"
well, Maria, it may be as you say
but 1 don't see how can feel the samt
toward John and have him about her,
when l have not the same faith in the
inexplicable as you have"
mo, would not have him stay here
either, it would not be just to him; bu1
he does not like to go away with such {
suspicion hanging over him. l have
come to ask you to ratify proposition
have made to John for him to go to AL
bany and finish his law course as best HI
can. He will only go, however, on con
dition that he shall be upon parole anG
report regularly so that he may learn i
the money ever be found, or be in reach
if you should ever wish to prosecutt
him"
$50 you wish to make such an ar
rangement:" asked the colonel, with ;
suspicion of sarcasm in his tone.
Don't you think well of it?''
II don't know that it is not my duty
to have that young man arrested at ono,
and prosecuted said the colonel, but
shall do as you suggest, for, Maria,
never knew your intuition to be at fault
just as never knew you to be able t.
give the reason for the faith that is j;
you,' and the colonel smiled on hi
comely young wife, and seemed glad t.
dismiss from his mind all responsibility,
for the disagreeable incidents of tn,
morning.
(To be continued.)
To Nervous ana DeblIared Men.