The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-05-25
A PANE OF GLASS.
BY Mrs. E. III. IIough.


good saleswoman, and all that--but I
cannot permit this pilfering to go on
1t will lead to something worse before
long. [ think the best way to save her
feelings will be to tell her at the end
OF the week that we don't require her
services any longer, and in that way get.
quietly rid Of her without any direct,
accusation. You know we took her
solely on her own recommendation
without asking for any references in
fact, III do her the Justice to admit
tAat she framkly told us she could not
FURNISH any, being a stranger in the
pace. But this stealing has been going
on Tor a month now, and as far rs we
Know or can find out, she is the first
one here IN tie morning, and is here
nlone long enough Ito give her an OPP
portlnity to help herself Another
thing have noticed, and that is that
she has had several little trinkets lately
which seem to me decidedly more ,ex-
'travagant than a girl with her means
could afford to indulge in, unless she
has come by them through such means
as begin to fear she is guilty of
Fred bit his lip, and was silent
1t would not have helped the case
any for him to have told his father
just then that he knew the source from
whence she had derived those little
gifts, Which he had ,contrived to con-
vey to her In such a way that she would
not be able to detect the :giver, and so
return them, and which it had afforded
him such delight to see her wear, little
dreaming at the time that they would
only serve as additional means of
strengthening suspicion against her:
He had been only waiting a favorable
opportunity to speak to her of his feel
ings, and assure himself Of her senti
ments, before telling his father of the
hopes he had been cherishing; but be-
fore that opportunity arrived this unex-
pected. trouble had threatened disgrace
had cast a shadow over the fair name
Of the girl he secretly loved.
IN stake my life, father, that she
hasn't a trinket about her but what
Is honestly come by" he exclaimed,
after moments embarrassed silence,
land that she is thoroughly honest
and trustworthy girl. Don't discharge
her this week, father. Give her-sive
me one week more and let me see if
cannot discover the thief promise
that if / find that it is indeed she,
will not try to shield her. But let me
udfc ldluL tlulG W Lfy 1uu ulS-
cover the real culprit.''
Il don't see how you are going to do
It, replied Mr.. Adams, looking around
that can see but by getting here ahead
OF the thief, whoever it is-and, of
course, the money will not be taken
with you looking on, and there is no
way for you to conceal yourself in the
room here. You know ! have been ac-
customed to leave money in that draw
er for the convenience of making
change if it should be needed, before
get down in the morning, but nobody
knows but you that am in the habit
of counting it every night before leAv-
ing, and that for the last month it has
not balanced with the>Casl,iers account
but constantly shows Il deficiency. It
must be taken i'll the morning, before
we, getahere, and Miss Allen is, as she
has said herself, the first one here
indeed. she has q key of her own, so
that she can get in as early as she
pleaseS'' -.s 'Y... 90 -ssa-~.-sa ~ g..
t'red's eyes had been rowing around
the room while his father was speaking.
There was, as he said, no possible
chance for his concealing himself any
where in the room without making the
fact of that ccncealment evident, and
thus defeating his purpose; but as he
glanced over at the desk, which stood
at the opposite side Of the room, near
the window, and in one drawer of
which was kept the money for such
miscellaneous expenses as postage, tele-
grams, and other incidental small OK
~ penditures. and from which sums that
could not be- accounted for had been
missing for !: month past, his face light
ened. The window faced another VIM
dow of q large building, tie side Of
which was separated only by narrow
court, and which was for the time va
cant, and q suggestion occurred TO him,
which he seized upon at once.
III admit it does look against her,
father" he said. But I believe I can
find way in Il weeks time either to
vindicate her, or prove that your sus-
picions are just; but I believe that it
will vindicate her. Just let me have
one more week, and if / don't discover
the culprit by that time, L will make 10
further plea ...-- 49, L.
''All right, my boy" said Mr.. Adams,
smiling, and perhaps not altogether
without an intuition as to the cause OF
his sons earnestness. II can stand the
loss of q few dollars more, guess.
luu tlAc CulpIlt, iuu JOu Auuy ulMc
your own reward" ST..
II don't desire any reward replied
Fred. ... .......ss st...
But his troubled face told another
story, and one that his father was not
slow to detect. -
Not only Margery Allen, but the
three other girls in the employ Of Mr.
Adams Photographic establishment
missed the frank, bright smile and
PLEASANT word with which his son had
been wont to greet them, and into Mar
gery's pretty eyes crept look of hurt
surprise, mingled with deeper feeling.
that went to Fred's very heart. But
he maintained his ;demeanor unshaking-
ily-meanwhile, however, studyiny each
face and ,act of the girls with a scrutiny
he had never bestowed upon them be-
fore, and by night Tue. had pretty well
settled in his own mind as to the cul-
pitt; but to make 1that suspicion GER
tainty was the task that remained.
If any of the girls, i'm passing near
the window where the desk stood, had
CHANGED to glance at the building Cd