San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-16

fore her, fresh from the wash and await
ing the darning needle, when the doctor
burst in without stopping to knock. He
held long official looking document in
his hand, and his face was flushed with
eager, happy excitement.
Excuse me, Mrs. Bissell, for forget
ting my manners. hurried in to tell
you that | have just had great news
from the Boston chief of police. They've
caught the thief that stole your money,
and got back all those marked bills but
one that has mysteriously disappeared
But it is sure to come to light in time"
What do you say?" Mrs. Bissell asked
sharply, clutching the arm of her chair
and looking up bewildered through her
glasses.
They've caught the thief" said he,
raising his voice with the impression
that she had suddenly gone deaf He
was an old state prison bird, who had
just been discharged from the peniten-
tiary. He pretended to be a plumber
and roofer by trade, and was engaged
here with Fraser early in the summer.
He intended, it seems, to clean out Lit
tlefield, but got scared after he had
robbed you and left town suddenly"
why, that's the very man that pre-
tended to mend my roof" cried Mrs
Bissell.
YES" said the doctor, smiling, land
it seems the fellow took the opportunity
to go through your bureau drawers"
A hot flush burned ON Mrs. Bissells
thin cheek, and she put her hand before
her eyes for very shame. "Oh, doctor"
she cried in stihed, choked voice,
broken with sobs, Il ought to go down
on my knees and humbly beg your par
DON"
The doctor looked startled and mys-
titled.
What in the world do you mean,
Mrs. Bissell?'
She rose slowly and tottered to her
closet, and unlocked little writing
| desk on the lower shelf and took out the
ten dollar bill, and came shamefaced
| and trembling and laid it on the doc
tors knee He took it up, scrutinized it
| all over, as Anne had done, and discov-
| cred in one corner the faint letter B,
| with a little cross in blue ink. Why"
said he, astonished, this is the missing
bill. How did you come by it, Mrs. Bis
| SELF
The color flooded his landlady's thin
brown face away up to the roots of her
gray hair and tinged even the tips of
her ears. Don't you know, DR.. Tbbets,
you gave it to me for board, she said
slowly. Il gave it to your" He ran his
hands through his light locks and sat
dumb for moment, stricken with sur
prise Then light broke in on him. 81
see now" he exclaimed. 1T was that
scoundrel Doyle, whose thief's name is
Shifty Mike. He Gale lie in that night
for the baby, the first III .ght call had in
Littlefeld | see now it was all trick
to pass this bill off ON me and save him
self from suspicion, for there really
wasn't anything serious the matter with
the child When he offered to pay me
remember at first thought | could not
make change for 50 large a bill, but
finally did manage, and then | stuffed
it into my pocket. and thought no more
about it-never looked at it, in fact, I'M
til that day l gave it to you.
Mrs. Bissnu did not look up. Her face
was still scarlet, and she was trembling
like leaf. The doctor rubbed his fore
head, still perplexed. 1T has just Oc-
CURED to me" he said, smiling little
wistfully, "that you might have thought
but no, you did not think | was a
thief his frank, sunny smile broke out
all over his face; 1.-The thing is too alb
surd. You couldn't suppose that l had
sneaked up there into the attic and taken
your money out of the bureau drawer
The poor woman looked so distressed
he wanted to spare her "And Miss
Anne" he stammered, did Miss Anne
could Miss Anne really think had
stolen?" The words cholled him and he
stopped short.
No, no." protested Mrs. Bissell,
stretching out her hands. "She could
never think anything to your injury.
She believed you were perfect gentle
man, and as honest and true as the sun.
She said she would stake her life on it,
and she got down on her knees and made
me promise l would never let you know,
would never breathe word to harm
You in this town. She knew if it once
got wind such as she, " motioning toward
Miss Carvers room, would soon tear
your reputation piecemeal. She said
she'd go away and not come back until
you were cleared, as she knew you
would be in some way, and the poor girl
has been sick waiting, but she never lost
faith" Mrs. Bissell paused, and then
went on in low, broken voice, Il was
to blame, doctor, and l ask you to for