The aegis & intelligencer., 1894-04-27

THAT girl accuses my forewoman,
lady who has been with us for two
years, with being the miscreant. It's
a lie-I"-he stamped his foot and
grew very red in the face.
| But, SIR" interrupted the chief,
'let me hear Miss Lees reasons
Il want her to clear out. Why,
Miss Ray" naming the forewoman, lis
the soul of honor"
Margaret smiled against her will.
"She is certainly the thief" she said
to the detective.
"Can you prove it % asked Barry
kindly, feeling that Miss Lee spoke
the truth.
eyes, sir, without doubt"
THAT is all we want" He turned
to the junior partner.
I'VE don't want her proofs" said
that gentleman, sarcastically.
But you must have them and l
must have them. That is business,
not sentiment. Miss Lee" turning to
Margaret with a great deal of respect !;
when can you have the proofs p
1.-The best time is just after the clos
ing hour, or rather after every one is
supposed to have gone home for the
night. Manage to secret yourself near
the toilet room, and you. aiso,n to her
employers, land will prove my words
truen
'Bah!" exclaimed the senior part
ner. 1T will probably be a put up
job"
You are hardly just, Mr. Potter,n
said the chief, mildly.
Hem. hem, ugh ~ grunted Mr..
Potter. He was almosti 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
capped notice and quietly returned.
No one saw her enter save the chief,
Barry Lawrence, who was concealed
behind a stack of boxes and goods.
Mr.. Potter, the senior partner, had
gone off in hurry, but the junior
partner remained, and he also was
deity hidden away, but his sharp
eyes looked from a loophole and saw
all.
A form paused a moment and then
glided to sewing machine in the CEN
tire of the room, and stopping, struck
a match softly on the floor, and as it
fiared up the face of a woman bending
over was plainly visible. The woman
was Miss Ray.
The match soon died out, but it gave
sufficient light for an instant for her
to reach out and draw some boxes to-
ward her, and then she removed the
lids and began removing pieces of
goods, silk and velvet.
The watchers could not see just what
she took, but they heard the rustic of
the silk and paper, and felt rather
than saw her take a stout cord from
her pocket, and after seemingly fold
ing the goods into as small compass
as possible, she arose to her feet, then
lifting her dress skirt, tied the string,
across which she hung the various
pieces of goods round her waist.
Softly shaking out her skirts, she
then quietly unlocked the door and
left the room. Margaret, trembling
and breathless, came forward from
her place of concealment just as Barry
Lawrence lit the gas and turned it
down low, and seeing her approach,
he took off his hat and bowed.
You are a Jewell" he exclaimed,
heartily. How did you find this
out p
II beg your pardon, Miss Lee" and
the junior partner, who had drawn
near, extended his hand.
ct is granted, SIR" she said, then
turning to Barry.
"Oh, | just watched. l frequently
saw Miss r. folding and putting things
away in what seemed TO HE nyster-
ious and unusual manner that at once
awakened my suspicious. Iknew she
could have no opportunity of taking
these things away in daytime, and so
for several nights | have remained
here to find out. Two nights l re-
manned here all night"
Remained here alone ?" calculated
the junior partner in surprise.
Certainly, sir.'
"And you weren't afraid p asked
the chief jocularly.
"Well, no but I'll acknowledge it
was very cold and lonely" answered
Margaret.
Barry Lawrence smiled.
You'll do" he said sententiously.
The junior partner rubbed his
hands.
Father will have to be convinced
with his own eyes, for he'll not believe
even me, so we will do nothing further
until l have seen him."
A few nights later the senior part
ner was fully convinced, and in very
quiet manner sent for his forelady to
come to his private office, where he
plainly preferred his charges and dis
missed her.
At first she appeared very indignant
and stoutly denied it, but when she
learned that he was a witness she
broke down and confessed all.