Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-10-17
MY THIEF
"Please give it to me. Miss Emma. .

vi NbAA ~ A4oSA N@AN ~
those. of one long dead and gone; yet,
when I turned round, the face of a
total stranger confronted me. He was
a very young fellow, barely eighteen,
I judged, not good looking. but with a
genial, frank expression that was quite
progressing.
How did you guess my anne? / an
swered. rather ~irreleyantly.
.'Oh, I've been near where you and
your pupils nave been picniel5ing this
afternoon, but / didn't like to ask be-
fore those youngsters. I'm glad they've
outwallzed you"
1 had been b~otanizing with several OF
my scholars on what our people call
bay road'-a fine, d.nsely-shaded
promenade which winds lovingly
around the beautiful Bay of Mauvila.
We had taken some refreshments with
US.
When he said this l looked at him
rather sharply, for it flashed across me
that he belonged to the genus tramp"
and the twilight was rapidly approach
ing. But, somehow, found it hard to
distrust his honest-looking face, which
now wore a very doleful expression for
one SO boyish.
He interrupted this train Of thought
by repeating his request.
81 intended what was left for a poor
widow said l, moving a little away
from him, for this sounded very tramp
like.
Yes, l heard you talking to your
sells about it just before l spoke"
Talking to myself, indeed! I have
a habit of thinking aloud sometimes"
l answered, with dignity, I hope.
Really, this boy was too presumptuors,
GOOD evening"" l said, dis l turned
to leave him.
Nov, don't be offended, Miss EN-
ma. That was what meant. I'm aa
awfuliy unlucky man lately. really
am hungry and in lots OF trouble be-
side, bat I'm not u beggar. as you
think" He pulled out some money.
Take whatever you like for the
food, bat please let me have it"
I felt ashamed Of my suspicious when
he did this, and babe him take it all
ard welcome. How he did eat! All the
time, however, we proceeded toward
the town, he keeping as much in the
shadow of the trees as possible. Ne
were on the footpath that bordered the
drive, and not very visible from the
numerous equipages that were pass
ing.
What is your troubie?" I asked
Its mostly nv own foolishness and,
until I saw you just low, l felt desper-
ate, but you had such a friendly look
that l made up my mind to tell you the
whole story, especially as something
you were talking about let me know
that o could help me if you would.
I'm an undergraduate Of Columbus cox
lege and / spend my vacations in the
neighboring country, as my father
travels around a great deal on BUSH
ness, and I've no mother. During va
cation / do as I please and can go any
where, provided | do not leave the
state without permission from the
president. Expulsion is the penalty
for that ~ofense. This year l came d
long way from the college and stayed
not far from the Eslneralda river,
which is the boundary line between
that state and this. wa fishing here
Yesterday afternoon, when l suddenly
took q notion to cross on the ferry
boat.
mo sooner thought than done
They'll never be the WISER l said t.
myself. So I thought I'd go a little
4 LlltL iLAa 4id ' 81 IoSh GA VIZ WV l.
There wa q famous circIs performing
that night, and I made up my mind t.
stay all night and go, for I had plenty
of money with me-. Fathers always 81
liberal about that. had a jolly gooG
time and a nice supper at the hotel
The waiter was very friendly and in
telligent, and / confded to him M
little escapade, as well as the fact tina
I boI rariCtarn6 ondar an aSSJJn1at
name. lie said boys would be boys,
and he'd wake me M early SO that
could recross the river as soon as
liked. l noticed two men as l walked
out before breakfast standing in froR
Of the hotel. They nudged each othe
as / passed, and one followed me at
distance, while the other reentered tn,
house.
when returned and entered tn
breakfast-room, my friend the waite
ga We me a peculiar look, and motiene.
to me to follow him into the pantry
Very much nystifed l obeyed. and h
then led me int a small room adjoir
ing and locked the door.
MIR. Digby,' he said, those me
have q warrant for your arrest fo
horse stealing. They say tIaey'v
IStCACo y Gu LII lII. dI1A nave d pi1Obt
graph that's your mortal image, sil
I'm bound to confess
"A horse theft / laughed. C
co lrse you said | was a student-nt
confound it! (beg pardon, Miss Emma
you couldn't DO that after your pronais
to me-
"Nhat was / to do? 1 didn't know
SOIL in the town who could clear n,
Nor could I help myself without tel
graphing to the college. for l had bee
in the village across the river only
few days. and my landlady had onl
my word for it that l was a student.
Eyes, said the waiter, noticing no
! CLAM | looked, its rather serious fl
you. You're bound to get hit, whicl
ever way you turn. You'll, of cours
get free in time, if you quietly subn
] and go with them, though horse stea
ing is thought a greater crime tina
murder in some places, you know, ar
they might lose you on the way
"'What do you advise me to do?'
asked.
"'Well, you can't go back to Il
= river because they've a guard at Il
boat, SO / think you'd better start rig
off and catch the train for Mauvil
which leaves in about fifteen minute
and from there go on a coasting schoo
er to Port Benton, and then by railro,
back to where you came from. A roun
about way. but you can'thelp yourse
There! that's the bell for me. They
come in for breakfast. They kno