Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-10-06
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, shat you wrong mel swear
it by my soul!"
II wish I could believe you, Robert"
Mr.. Vyse replied, "for like you; but.
unfortunately, appearances are too
much against you. What, may I ask.
were you doing at five o'clock yesterday
evening in my private room? You had
no right or business to be there"
"Nor was l." returned the young fel.
low, proudly, drawing himself up to his
full height. ST have never been in this
room in my life except when you have
sent me. Has anyone told you that I
was here last evening, sir?"
| "Yes, Robert; your comrade, Richard
Starkie, assured me Of it not ten min
ptes ago."
Richard Starkie!" 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.. yyse 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, "I call
the God before whose judgment throne
we both shall one day stand to witness
that am guiltless," he declared, sol
emily. Surely, sir, you will believe me
pow2"
Mr.. vyse held out his hand. eyes,
Robert, believe YOU he said, "and
beg your pardon for having doubted
you; but what Starkie's motive in ira
ducing you has been am at loss to
understand"
$50 ann I, sir" answered Acland. ellis
conduct is quite reprehensible."
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. tits my
wish"
II will try, sir, but it will be hard
task" Acland replied, as he quilted the
room.
OF course the news that their en-
ployer had been robbed ran like wild
fire through the small community. it
was Richard Starlxie who first made
nation Of it was given; but to his fell
low-worlsers he dare not try to incrim-
mate young Acland, for Acland was a
favorite with his colleagues, and Star
kie knew well that any remark sug-
gestive Of his guilt would be received in
stony silence-the silence of sheer dis
belief.
That evening Bob Acland went to sec
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 tho
Office during the day, but the quick
witted girl soon saw that something
was amiss, and taxed him with it. And
after little hesitation on his part and
a little pressing on hers the whole story
came out.
81 cannot think, darling" finished
i Bob, "what has induced Starkie to dc
it,"
"shall I tell you" said Elsie, de.
murely.
"You?"
eyes, I. I can, you know" And
, then she proceeded orelate how Richard
Starl1ie had few days before asked her
to marry him, and, on her refusal, flown
into a violent rage, not only heaping
/, anathemas on her head, but also OF
Bob.
"And you believe he has attempted t.
lay the theft at my door to blacken my
character in your eyes? What a scoun
drel the fellow must bel"
eff you had seen the look on his face
when he left me-" replied the girl, "yor
would think, as do, that he is capable
of anything"
Next day Bob Acland repeated to Mr.
Vyse the conversation he had held will
. Elsie Venner.
Meanwhile Richard Starlie was in ,
very unhappy frame of mind. He hae
. just sufficient manhood left to be abb,
. to appreciate the unutterable currisll
ness of his own conduct. But that die
not tend to make him sorry forw what hi
had done. No, it rather embittered hin
still more against his rival. A mani:
/, for gambling, Inherited from his father
who had bet away large estate dur
! ing his life, dying only just in time t
) save himself from actual starvation
had in the first instance made him shor
: Of money.
!. In order to retrieve his position he be
still more heavily, and again lost. II
luck pursued him from day to day, til
|. at last, unable to meet the demand
made upon him, exposure stared him il
the face; and exposure, he knew, mean
prompt dismissal from Mr.. Vyse'
: service. In this dilemma he stole tn
cash box, and it was only when gloatin
over its contents that the idea of sad
ding Acland with the theft occurre
to him. Irresolute in this, as in every
). thing else, he wavered some time bt
q fore finally deciding to commit this las
piece of yillainy, but his evil genius, a
always, prevailed.
"Curse the fellow!" he ground OF
between his clenched teeth. IF only
can ruin him! If only can make Elsi
5ac,,;co on5 loo{ba b;D,I Wbot 4, 7,