Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-12
CHAPTER XVI
THE MuRDEH At THE Mill

she left the office, what are you goinG
to do this holiday time?"
III hadn't thought about the holi
days" answered Mary. what with
the strike, being i'll, and one thing and
another, I'm In no grand spirits foI
holiday making"
Mary had forgotten that itwas Whit
suntide. and that the mill was TO close
after that day-the Friday-until the
following Wednesday
Late in the afternoon she saw Tom.
and was the witness Of n scene between
him and Mr. Coodc and Gorringc Mary
was passing near the Office when the
door was thrown open suddenly and
with some force from within. and Mr.
Coodc, Gorringo and Tom appeared on
the threshold.
They were all more or less angry.
and Tom was speaking very fast and
gesticulating violently.
III have given you the only answer !
shall give you, Roylancc," Mary heard
Mr.. Coode say, land nothing you can
now say will alter it,"
81 say It's n plot, u downright in.
famous plot to ruin me; and ! have a
AlEHN w hbNN hii AA'hlsAlN EANfh w
me-"
Don't make a scene here In the
mill, or I'll have you put out" said MIR
Coode. You're not going to bully me
into doing just what you want | tell
you again, | am considering what
course TO take. have not settled yet
what line II best; but you have not
explained any Of the circumstances
which these papers show against you"
lie drew some papers from his pocket
as he spoke, and shook them toward
Tom. And ! shall not give you
another opportunity OF doing so, uu-
less II Is before the magistrates.
don't say shall take such step, and
don't say shall not. These papers
are ample proofs II want them; but
shall not decide until after the holt
days"
AS he held the papers towards Tom
the latter made n hasty step forward,
and endeavored to snatch them from
his grasp. But the other moved back
as hastily, and avoided him.
THAT attempt on your part only
confirms me"
IL want to see what you call the
proofs" cried Tom, here breaking In
TO explain his attempt.
THAT may or may not be true; am
not going TO argue. Now you had bet
ter go away. don't want to do you
more harm than necessary. Your
father worked for me for many years,
and for his sake | wish TO do nothing
harsh. Therefore, you understand !
shall make no decision till Monday or
Tuesday. This Is Saturday. II by
then You have left the place, probably
no more will be heard of the matter; II
you are still here, and persist in com
ing to the mill, or showing your face
In the village, then you can reason for
yourself what my course will be.
You'll be sorry then you did not hc-
cept the offer"
81 shall not run away, don't You
fear. tell You for the ilftieth time,
the whole thing IL plant, and have
had no more To do with your money
than the mill chimney has; and that
man knows It," lie pointed TO Cor
ringer his finger shaking with rage.
ut is nothing but n cowardly attempt
TO disgrace me and drive me from the
place. But won't go, do you hear?
/ won't go. Or II do, it'll he after
there's been something to go for"
At this point the door of the office
was shut and Tom was left alone on
the outside. After muttering for
minute he turned on his heel and
swung out of the mill, across the yard,
and through the gates at a quick pace,
his face wearing an angry and de-
jected look, which went to the girls
heart.
She called him by name, but he did
not hear, and then she hurried back to
the room where her looms were, and
getting her hat and shawl went after
him in order TO try and console him.
She did not overtake him before he
reached his cottage, and when she
went In he was sitting woe-begone and
miserable, with his head resting ON his
arms, which were stretched out before
him on the table.
Mary laid her hand ON his shoulder,
and called him by name. lie raised
his face, all haggard and worn and
miserable.
They've beaten me, Mary. don't
know how they've done IL, but they've
got the proofs of my having robbed
them, and swear 10 Heaven I'm rs in
nocent as youngster. They've turned
me out Of the mill, and ordered me to
leave the village, or else they'll prose-
cute me. 1t makes me mad to think of
it,"
81 heard Mr., Coode, Tom" said the
girl, land am glad you told him you
weren't to be driven away. The truth
will come out In the end. What do
you mean by having proof"
~ don't know what they've done, or
how they've done II, lass; but the
money In the mill accounts Is short by
thirty or forty pounds. mean that
which has passed through my hands.
There are the papers which show had
II, and there's nothing TO show what
did with 1t. It's as clear as daylight
to look at 1t staggered me, my self;
but it's oil a lie from A to Y. I'm no
thief I'm no saint, maybe; but
haven't dropped to stealing. Though,
for all tho chance I've got of having
the thing cleared up, might as well
DO thief. But I'll face II out"
well said, Tom" exclaimed Mary.
"Well face II together, lad. Your
trouble shall be mine too, my dear;
Wen meet II hand In hand. II they
drive you away, they shall drive me
with you; but wen fight against II as
long and as hard as we can"
Tom was touched by her words and
the loving confidence of her tone, and