Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-29

Don't 20. wished to see whether
you would, ps you said. trust me.
see you do not. / know that YOU wanted
the money for Tom. Here l. the note
that gave you. II was brought TO me
By Murstonc, who had IL from Tom
within an hour or two Of your being
here"
The girl made no answer, but sat
down again In her chair. She knew
there was more TO come
"Why did Mdrstone bring you that
notc2' she asked.
"Will you tell me whether you have
beard anything about money matters
between the two men2 Did you know
the purpose for which Tom wanted tins
money when you gave II to him2 II
you would tell me IL would make me
able to speak with greater freedom"
~ know what lies were told about
Ten having kept some OF the money "
the sicl, fund, said Mary, angrily.
81 thought 80 too"
"You thought so? Say whether you
knoU Tom 20 he as straight as ! know
him to be Don't say YOU thought.
That means you don't think 80 now"
THAT means that ! don't-or rather
that cnn't-think 50 now"
Mary rose from her chair. her face
flushed crimson and her eyes flushing
with angry light
This Is no place for me, then" she
said. III will stay nowhere to hear
Tommy Tom, my husband that Is to
bc-.ingultcd like TINT"
"You are rlghtto be angry. admire
you for IT, knew you would be. and
that made me hesitate how to spcal; at
first | know you may think ! have
some cowardly motive In saying what
have said, aud what | have to say
But can find no one else to say It;
and yet you must know all; and you
will help me, aud help US all, IL you 10
not make II 10 difficult for me to
speak"
Ills manner impressed the girl, and
the fear that there was something
really serious to be heard ovcrcamc
even her anger.
III there I, anything that | ought 10
know, | will try to be patient while
you tell me; but please do not again
make such charges against him, or |
may not be able TO keep my temper"
81 will try 10 give you the facts by
themselves, and leave you to form
your opinion; but shall be Obliged to
ask you question now and again.
You say you know that the trustees Of
the sick fund believe the books to BE-
wrong: that, acting under this belief,
they went to Tom last night md
asked him 10 explain; that lac did not
give nny explanation which they could
understand; that he said he had the
proper amount Of money in the house;
that when he went To fetch II he re.
turned with broken cash box which
was empty; that he said the money had
been stolen, and that he took the
money which the book showed to he
the balance round to them this morn
ing. You know that"
If know that some one stole the
money belonging to the sick fund
which was In the cash box, and that
Tom took the full amount for which
he was accountable to them to-day"
"D1 you know that he gave up his
books IN order that no scandal mixht
be madc?"
81 know that he allowed himself to
be browbeatcn out OF his books by some
threats that they made about public.
lty," said Mary.
But do you not know that sub.
scqucut examination OF the books
showed a farther amount missing Of
ten pounds?"
mo" answered Mary. cmphatically;
and don't believe IT, II these mer
were fools enough to believe Tom
would take money placed In his charge
for such n purpose, they would be
spitoful enough T. try and make Ia.
books out to be wrong. Hut II ten
pounds Is claimed, ten pounds cat be
paid"
at has been paid already" said
Gorringe.
who paid it?"
II did. said knew there must be
"A mistake, and that | thought Tom
would wish the amount paid at once.
thought you would wish that to be
done, Mary, when saw what you had
wanted the other ten pounds FOR"
but why did they bring that to you
Mt ALP"
They came to tell me about II all.
aud-nnd the note had my own private
mark on II, which Murstonc knows; no
hc-he thought It would be better to-
To show II me"
ale thought Tom might have stolen
IL from you to cover the amount stolen
from the fund, | SUPPOSE said Mary,
in cloar, distinct, scornful tones, ~
don't believe word about any more
money being short. believe it's all
lie from first To last" she said, vigor-
0usly. But you know Tom better
than to believe word of II, You have
had him about you here In this office.
II any man knows that Toms rs
straightas die, you must know IT,"
Reuben Gorringo did not speak, and
avoided the girls look, The expires.
sion of eager, harassed pain In her eyes
was too distressing for him to endure
when he reflected that he had to thrust
the bayonet deeper into the wound
than ever
why don't you speak, Mr., Gorringe?
Why don't you answer"
~ know not how 10 answer, Mary"
lac replied, In II tone scarcely above y
whisper.
"Do you mean that you don't know
that Toms straight" she cried, at her
heart u great fear
II have told you that I would not let
mySelf hold IL doubt Of him. You know
how ! have trusted him, how have
had him here In the office. II there Il
any change in him, do not believe il