Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-03-30

- t ~ " pib euulA bCnihu Nhc
desk and looking severely at Margaret
Lee, who stood in the centre of the
room, very pale, but very erect and
dgnitied, with her slender hands
clasped before her.
The senior partner whirled around,
hFriedly locked the door, and with
ont looking at Margaret, snapped his
tinger in her direction.
"That girl accuses my fcrewoman,
a lady who has been with us for two
years, with being the miscreant. It's
a ie-I'-he stamped his foot and
grew very red in the face.
But sir" interrupted the chief,
''let me hear Miss Lees reasons.
81 want her to clear out. Why,
Mss Ray" naming the forewoman,
III the soul of honor.
Margaret smiled against her will.
''she is certainly the thief" she
said to the detective.
fCan you prove it?" asked Barry
kindly, feeling that Miss Lee spoke
the truth.
Yes, sir, without doubt
"That is all we want He turned
to the junior partner.
"We don't want her proofs, said
that gentleman, sarcastically.
"But you must have them and l
must have tliem. That is business, not
sentiment. Miss Lee" turning to
Margaret with great deal of respect;
'whsn can we have the proofs?'
- be best time is just after the clos
ing -e'g, or rather after every one is
/ sup oscd to have gone home for the
nigle Manage to secret yourself near
the Joliet room, and you, also, TO her
'.~;;s '.;sssS :. f55r,:r'S.'sA@e3 ! will prove mg
BAH exclaimed the senior part
ner- at will probably be put up
job"
'1ou are hardly just, Mr.. Potter, .
said the chief, mildly.
Hem, hem, ugh !" "granted Mr. Pot
ter. He was almost in love with his
forelady, with her handsome face and
her stylish figure.
There was the usual hustle and chat
ter at closing time, and one after the
other girls and women, men and boys
departed, Margaret among them. But
in the dimly lighted hall she easily es-
CARED notice and quietly returned
No one saw her enter save the chief,
Barry Lawrence, who was concealed
behind stack of boxes and goods.
Nlr. Potter, the senior partner, had
gqne off in a hurry, but the junior
pftner remained, and he also was
dftly hidden away, but his sharp eyes
loPked from loophole and saw all.
form paused a moment and then
g ped to a sewing machine in the cen
fof the room, and stopping, struck
patch softly upon the floor, and as
1iared up the face of woman bend
over it was plainly yisable. The
fman was Miss Ray.
The match soon died ont, but it
fTe sufficient light for an instant for
to reach ont and draw some boxes
Fard her, and then she removed the |
Is and began removing pieces of
sods, silk and velvet.
Ihe watchers could not see Just
pat she took, but they heard the rus
OF the silk and paper, and felt
fher than saw her take stout cord
pm her pocket, and after seemingly
idlng the goods into as small a com
ss as possible, she arose to her feet,
Pen lifting her dress skirt, tied the
Shng, across which she hung the
rlous pieces of goods around her
list.
softly shaking ont her skirts, she
EN- quietly unlocked the door and
the room. Margaret, trembling
d breathless, came forward from her
ce OF concealment just as Barry
wrence lit the gas and turned it
Nn low, and seeing her approach, he
TX off his hat and bowed.
Youare a jewel, " he exclaimed, heart
"How did you find this out?"
1 beg your pardon, Miss Lee, and
4 junior partner, who had drawn
lr, extended his hand.
1T is granted, sir" she said, then
ming to Barry.
'Oh, | just watched. l frequently
H Miss r. folding and putting things
by in what seemed to me a mysteri-
Il and unusual manner that at once
hkened my suspicious | knew she
Id have no opportunity of taking |
se things away in the daytime, and /
or several nights | have remained
e to find out. Two nights | re- I
kned here all night. "
tRemained here alone?" calculated /
junior partner in surprise. a
FCertainly, sir. " i
tAnd you weren't afraid?" asked
chief jocularly.
kWell, no but I'll acknowledge II ]