Arizona republican., 1892-05-22

n' 'iiV i"'h oDdtSur to lniOrln the neigh bors, under the supposition that some strolling beggar or gypsy might have carried off the treasure, and would at- tempt to dispose of it in the parish. No body thought of Geordy Wilson. He had not been spied from the hay field; his circuits were wide; his visits to any house were not frequent; and if he avoided Widow Simpsons from the day of her Joss, it was believed Geordy knew that neither her temper nor her liberality would be improved by that circumstance.
 Lost the spoons were beyond doubt, and the widow bade fair to lose her senses. The rich relation came at his appointed time, and had such a tea that he vowed never again to trust himself in the house of his entertainer. But the search went on; rabbits holes were looked into for the missing silver and active boys were bribed to turn out mag pies nests. Wells and barns in the neighborhood were explored. The criers of the three nearest parishes were em- ployed to proclaim the loss; it was regu- larly advertised at kirkgate and market place, and Mrs. Simpson began to talk of getting a search warrant for the beg gar's meal pouch. Bathgate was alarmed through all its borders concerning the spoons but when almost a month had worn away and nothing could be heard of them, the widows suspicious turned from beggars, barns and maepies to light on poor Nancy. She had been securing the spoons, and had left the house last; silver could not leave the table without hands.
 It was true that Nancy had always borne an unquestioned character, but such spoons wero not to be met with every day, and Mrs Simpson was deter mined to have them back in her stock ing. After sundry hints of increasing breadth to Robin, who could not help thinking his mother was losing her judgment, she one day pumped the charge, to tho utter astonishment and dlsmay of the poor girl, whose anxiety in the search had been inferior only to her own. Though poor and an orphan, Nancy had some honest pride; she i'm mediatcly turned out the whole contents of her kist (box), unstrung her pocket in Mrs. Simpsons presence and ran with tears in her eyes to tell the minister.
 As was then common in tho country parishes of Scotland, difficulties and dis putes which might have employed the writers and puzzled the magistrates were | referred to his arbitration, and thus law suits or scandal prevented. The minis | ter had heard-as who in Bathgate had not-of Mrs. Simpsons loss. Like the rest of the parish, he thought it rather strange; but Nancy Campbell was one of the most serious and exemplary girls in his congregation, and he could not believe that the charge preferred against her was true Yet the peculiariues of the case demanded investigation. With some difficulty the minister per suaded Nancy to return to her mistress, | bearing a message to the effect that he and two of his elders who happened to | reside in the neighborhoOd would come over tie following evening, hear what | could be said on both sides, and if pos s:ble clear up the mystery. The widow was well pleased to have the minister and his elders come to inquire after her spoons, She put on her best mutch mat is to say, cap-prepared her best | speeches and enlisted some of the most serious and reliable of her neighbors to assist in the investigation.
 Early in the evening of the following | day-when the summer sun was wear | ing low and the field work was over ! n ,l. secured kitchen, the ministers, elders and neighbors, soberly listening to Mrs, | Simpsons testimony touching her lost silver Nancy, Robin and the farm men sitting by until their turn came; when the door, which had been left half open | to admit the breeze-for the evening was sultry-was quietly pushed aside, and in slid Geordy Wilson, with his usual accompaniments of staff and wal | let.
 There's nae room for ye here, Geor- | dy," said the widow; we're on weighty | business"
 "Weel, mem," said Geordy, turning to depart, tits of nae consequence. l only came to speak about your spoons.
 "Hae ye heard O them:" cried Mrs. Simpson, bouncing from her seat.
 '.I couldna miss beein blessed wi the precious gift of hearin, and what's bet ter, saw them," said Geordy.
 Saw them, Geordy? Whar are they? and here's a whole shillin for ye," and Mrs. Simpsons purse or rather an old glove used for thatpurpose, was instant ly produced.
 "Weel," said Geordy, Il slipped in ae day, and seein the siller unguarded thought some i'll guided body might covet it, and jist laid it by, may say, amang the leaves O that Bible, thinkin you would be sure to see the spoons when you went to read"
 Before GeOrdy had finished his revela- ton Nancy Campbell had brought down the proudly displayed but never opened Bible, and interspersed between its leaves lay the dozen of long sought spoons.
 The minister of Bathgate could scarce ly command his gravity while admon- ishing Geordy on the trouble and vex- ation his trick had caused. The as sembled neiShbors laughed outright when the daft man, pocketing the widows shilling, which he had clutched in the early part of his discourse, as- sured them all that he kenncd Mrs Simpson read her Bible so often the spoons would be certain to turn up GeOrdy got many basin of broth and many luncheon of bread and cheese on l account of that transaction, with which