Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-10
searched herself and Amanda looked all

searched herself and Amanda looked al
over the room.
"What can you have done with it?"
Mrs. McMurtry asked ut last.
"Tve done nothing Amelia retorted.
'Alrs. MeMurtry, you have lost the
money on the road or left it at the law
yer's. I'm sure you took it,
did YOU see me take it?" asked tn"
old lady. "Cun either Of you swear to
| that?
II laid it at yourclbow," said Amelia.
"Well, let's look again. said Mrs.
McMurtry. 1--WE were all real nervous"
And now they searched the house,
went over ell the china, lifted teapot
lids, empticd baskets, turned cream
Jugs upside down--Amelia, in her grief
and wrath, continually declaring that
she had paid the money and that Mrs.
McNlurtry was to blame for it's loss.
At last night fell, and the plaid cloak
: vanished Mt the door, the wearrr utter
ing the words:
Il hope you'll find your money, young
ladies'. 1 should hate to do what III
have to do if you DON'T as parting
| bcncdiction.
"lm sure she carried it of with her,
| and believe she knows she DID,, said
Amelia.
"Oh. don't say that, Nelly" said Aman-
da. She's SO rich, too. 1t wouldn't
be temptation"
Then they packed the china for the
fair, hoping to find the bills i'll every
mug and pitcher and teapot, but hop
! ing in vain.
The news of the loss spread rapidly.
Miss Amelia posted notices offering
reward to the ''honest finder of roll
of 5O-dollar bills" probably lost be-
tween her home and Lawyer Smiths
Office, "by Il lady in plaid cloak"
Mrs. McAlurtry resented this. Pub
lie opinion was divided. Some said
the bills must, in all the washing of
china. have gotten into the dishwater
or the fire; others, that Mrs. Nc
Murtry had lost them; others still, on
whose property she held mortgages, or
who had been sold OUT by her, made
the same remarks about the plaid cloak
and the miser'S heart that Amelia Per-
nv had made. Finally the courthouse
was packed one day to listen to the
case Of Amelia Perry against Jean Nc
Murtry--the former declaring that she
had paid the latter the sum OF $4,000;
the latter declaring that though the
money was laid upon the table, close
to her elbow. she had never touched it.
II might have taken it up again and
forgotten" she said; but never since
! was born did l carry money loose i'll
my hand. When l was a child l put
my penny in my pocket when went to
buy candy
While Miss Amelia swore that she
laid the money at Mrs. McMurtry's ell
bow, she could not avow that she saw
her pick it up; and Amanda had not
seen her do it either.
Every one sympathized with the
Perrys, but neither Of them could
swear that she touched the money.
Laying it on the table near her was not
giving it to her; and shortly it was de-
cided that Mrs. McMurtry had the right
to foreclosc the mortgage, which was
overdue.
While Miss Amanda, wha was very
pale, pinned a blue veil about the bon
net of Miss Amelia, who was browne
in tears, Mr.. smith turned his atten-
ton to his client, who had found her
plaid cloak too much for her and had
removed it. The garment had fallen
to the floor. Il was an intricate thing,
with sleeves, capeS and straps and
know not what. and somehow, in pick
ing it up, MIR. Smith reversed it and
laid it over her shoulders upside-down.
She, unaware Of what had happened
shook it wildly, hoping to settle it, and
suddenly small boy, who had some
how smugeicd him self in, shricked:
Get on 10 the money!"
Those nearest stared A $50 bill was
lying at Mrs. McMulty's feet. In mo-
), ment more hollow SQUARE of cour:
officials had formed. about that lady
and her lawyer, who was OIL his knees
picking up vast quantity of bank
notes, all new and crisp and green,
that fell mystcriously as a shower
of mamma upon the courtro om floor.
"Two thousand five hundred dollars
he counted at last.
While Mrs. McMurtry tore off her
cloak and flung it from he as though
its touch were deadly, shrieking:
There's rip il the silk facing, and
it made 4 pocket Of itself, and me Il
thief! did pick up the money with
out thinking, and 1 put it in there.
wouldn't have doLc it ON purpose fol-
kingdom. Eut who'll believe me
Nobody
II believe you, Mrs. McMurty," erie;
Miss Amanda, who, perched on q
, bench, looked down upon :he scene;
land guess sister Amelia does, too."
EYES," said Amelia, family. eyes
it's that rip il, the cloak facing that's
. to blame for ALL"
Meanwhile bursts of laughter came
! from the midst of the group as Mr.
Smith shook out OF the plaid cloak
' upon the floor, host of hairpins
cards, letters, ginyer-snar, photo
!. graph, all sorts of small, Hat trifies
) the accumulation, probably, of several
. years which Mrs. McMurtry had put
, into the rim in fine farint- ipSfaoI of he-