Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-26

4
an yious.
"Yes," he said in answer 10 her look.
~ have news, bad news. IT'S hard on
me to have 10 be the bearer Of bad
news to You; IL will turn you against
me, Mary"
Nay! | would never turn against
anyone for the sake OF the truth"
answered the girl. what is the bad
ncws?"
something that seems 60 give the
motive for that deed at the mill" he
answered.
Against whom does II point?" she
asked, almost brcathlessly, her eyes
wide open in apprehension.
Against Tom Roylance."
"Nyhat Is it?" she asked, brave but
pale, and facing the man.
something was taken away which
concerned no one but Tom" he
answered. lie paused, and then added:
"rupcrs that related to that money
business"
II was hcnrt-thrust, and the girl
went cold
"What papers were thcy?" she asked
after awhile. her voice hoarsc and low,
aud her lips quivering.
They were the papers which proved
the case" answered Gorringe. There
were the accounts. on separate sheets,
the receipts given by Tom for the
money he had had and the receipts he
had taken from others for what he had
paid. The former included those for
which no account was ever given in by
him"
"Who missed thcm?' she asked, when
she hal time TO understand what this
meant.
"Thc police, when they searched"
answered Gorringe.
The use of the word was another
sharp stab
GLOW did thc--how did they know
the papers were thcre?'
"1hcy went over all the papers, and
these were missing"
eyes, but who missed them? Who
knew that they were ever In Mr..
Goodies possession, and on that night
pirticulurly?'
81 did. gave them myself into Mr..
Goodies hands"
The girl thought she could see n
glimpse ~ hope in this.
but yuu have not told the-anyone
of this, have You? You are Toms
friend aud mine" she spoke, eagerly,
and light flashed In her eyes as she
Touched his hand.
40, have told no one yet" was
his answer.
Mary took his hand md pressed IT,,
aud then carried 1t To her lips, and
looked at him with n light cf sweet
gratitude.
"You are good indecd-n true friend
a stauuch friend. II Is not such bad
news II only you and know it." She
spoke with smile 50 wistful and sad
that II touched his heart. lie tried To
respond 80 ms to Ieassure her; hut nc
could not. lie had what he knew
would he much worse news than any
yet told.
She was quick to read his manner;
and then sought TO buoy up the hope
she had expressed.
You will not tell anyone, will your
she asked, almost pleading to him.
"Nou will promise me this?'
IL will promise, II IL be possible
and" he added In Il low warning voice
"if it be Of any use"
"What do you mean2 All, there Is
more behind. What Is II? Please
what Is the worse2 Tell me the
worst" she cried, in a voice through
which the pain and dread were audible
"The police have found witness
who saw Tom go into the mill at about
ten o'clock on Friday night" answered
the man, in slow, distinct tones.
She tried bravely to keep up an ap
pearance OF Indifference, even e
Reuben Gorringe, friend though h
said was was.
what does that proye?" she asked
glancing up Mt him with almost a
much fear as II he had been a judge.
at shows that he was In the mil
that night-on the last that Mr.. Cood'
was seen aliye-almost at the hou
when he was thought to have been
TO have died" he said, checking him
self and changing the expression h,
was going to use.
"liut does anyone suppose that l
Tom Roylance went to the mill to-t'
do any such net as-as this, he woul'
have gone publicly for all the world I,
see? People, when they go to do wrong
don't carry a lamp to show other
what they are doing, suppose, d
they?" She spoke fast, trying to fee
Us che spoke.
~ don't say he went publicly" al
swered the man. "Mary, my Lass h
said, suddenly, taking her hand AN
clasping II firmly. ITS no use strup
Cling against this, Heaven knows, T.
spare you the knowledge of II all, II
, could. Tom was seen TO break int
the mill from the BACKGROUND b
: Watercourse lane; you know the spot
: The police know It all now! and as
that were not enough, the traces q
the window having been forced hav
: been seen easily enough, while clos
by the window inside the mill this wa
. found"
A. Ac spoke he took out of his pockt
!. thin neck scarf with Toms name O
It.
: Mary recognized it instantly. sh
herself had given IL to him.
"NLq found that?" she asked, jul
in whisper,
II did" said Gorringe II have M
= shown II to anyone yet" he added, 1
y II anticipating her next question.
:, The girl buried her face in her hanC
y again, profoundly moved by what LA
u been told her; too full OF distress
HnanL Than lha rosa mud haIl nut Ia