Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-12
A LOVERS JEALOUSY

Robert" said Mr.. Vyse slowly, gaz-
ing fixedly at the young clerk, II have
no doubt that it is you who have robbed
me-"
The hot blood flooded Robert Acland's
neck and face as he took in the meaning
of the words.
II swear to you, sir, !" he cried pas
sionately, "that you wrong mel swear
it by my soul!'
II wish could believe you, Robert"
Mr.. Vyse replied, "for like you; but,
unfortunately, appearances are too much
against you. What, may 1 ask, were
you doing at 5 o'clock yesterday evening
in my private room? You had no right
or business to be there.
"Nor was I, returned the young fell
low proudly, drawing himself up to his
full height. ~ have never been in this
room in my life except when you have
sent me. Has any one told you that l
was here last evening, sir?"
eyes, Robert. Your comrade, Richard
Starkie, assured me of it not ten min
utes ago."
Orchard Starkiep' exclaimed Acland
in great wonderment. "Why, he must
be mad. What can have possessed him
to tell so wicked falsehood? We have
always been good friends, he and I.
Why should he thus try to ruin me?'
The words, the tone, were those Of an
innocent man. Mr.. Vyse began to waver
in his opinion as to Acland's guilt.
Robert, !" he said more kindly, twill
you swear to me before God that you
are innocent?'
Raising aloft his right hand, 81 call
the God before whose Judgment throne
we both shall one day stand to witness
that am guiltless, he declared SOL
EMMY. Surely, sir, you will believe
me now?"
Mr. Vyse held out his hand. eyes,
Robert, believe you, he said, "and I
beg your pardon for having doubted
you. But what Starkie's motive in ira
ducing you has been I am at loss to
understand. "
$50 am I, sir" answered Acland.
Hills conduct is quite Incompetence
ble."
"Well, Robert" wound up the old
gentleman as he dismissed his clerk,
"you must promise me one thing-that
you will treat Starkie just the same as
if nothing unusual had occurred. 1t is
my wish.
II will try, sir. But it will be hard
task" Acland replied as he quilted the
room.
Left alone, Mr.. Vyse, hale, active
man of 65, lay back in his chair and
gave himself up to thought. But the
more he puzzled over the disappearance
of his cashbox the farther he seemed
from solution Of the mystery. 1t was
gone, but BY whose hand it was difficult
to say,
OF course the news that their en-
ployer had been robbed ran like wildfire
through the small community. 1t was
Richard Starkie who first made public
the ill news, for no official intimation
of it was given, but to his fellow work
ers he dare not try to incriminate young
Acland, for Acland was favorite with
his colleagues, and Starkie knew well
that any remark suggestive Of his guilt
would be received in stony silence-the
silence Of sheer disbelief.
That evening Bob Acland went to see
Elsie Venner, the girl of his heart.
There was no actual engagement be-
tween them, but Elsie understood quite
well that Bob was only waiting for a
rise Of salary before asking her to be his
wife. He had intended to tell her moth.
ing about what had occurred at the of.
fee during the day, but the quick witted
girl soon saw that something was amiss
and taxed him with it. And after lit
tie hesitation on his part and little
pressing on hers the whole story came
out.
II cannot think, darling" finished
Bob, "what has induced Starkie to dc
it."
"Shall tell you?" said Elsie de.
murely.
"You?'
"Yes, L I can, you know" And
then she proceeded to relate how Rich
ard Starkie had few days before asked
her to marry him, and, on her refusal,
flown into violent rage, not only heap
ing anathemas on her head, but also on
Bob
"And you believe he has attempted
to lay the theft at my door to blackeu
my character in your eyes? What a
scoundrel the fellow must be''
If you had seen the look on his face
when he left me-" replied the girl.
"you would think, as / do, that he ID
capable Of anything"
Next day Bob Acland repeated to Mr.
Vyse the conversation he had held with
Elsie Venner.
Meanwhile Richard Starkie was in a
very unhappy frame Of mind. He had
just sufficient manhood left to be able
to appreciate the unutterable currishness
Of his own conduct. But that did not
tend to make him sorry for what he had
done. No, 1t rather imbittered him still
more against his rival. A mania for
gambling, inherited from his father,
who had bet away large estate during
his life, dying only just in time to save
himself from actual starvation, had in
the first instance made him short Of
money.
In order to retrieve his position he
bet still more heavily, and again lost
III luck pursued him from day to day,
till at last, unable to meet the demands
made upon him, exposure stared him in