The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-09-25

tnen sne proceeded to relate how Richard
Starkie had few days before asked her
to marry him, and, on her refusal. flown
INTO violent rage, not only heaping
anathemas on her head but also on
Bob.
And you believe he has attempted l.,
lay the theft at my door to blacl<en my
character in your eyes? What scoun,
drel the fellow must bel"
IF you had seen the look on his face
when he left me-" replied the girl. "you
would think, as / do, thai he is 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 tie unutterabe currisi,-
ness of his own conduct. But that did
not tend to make him sorry for what he
had done. No, il rather embittered him
still more against his rival A mania
for gambling, iGherited from his father.
who had bet away large estate dur
ing 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
the face; and exposure. he knew, meant
prompt dismissal from Mr.. Vyse's
service. In this dilemma he stole the
cash box, and it was only when gloating
over its contents that the idea of sad
ding Acland with the theft occurred
TO him. Irresolute in this, as in every.
thing else. he wavered some time be
fore finally deciding to commit this last
piece of villainy, but his evil genius, as
always, prevailed.
Curse the fellow!" he ground out
between his clenched teeth. IF only
can ruin him! If only / can make Elsie
despise and loathe him! What is he
that he should steal her from me? I'u
win her yet in spite of him.
1t was Mr.. Vyse's custom to go for n
Fall, unless the day was very wet, be-
tween the hours of 10 and /. He usually
went down the high road straight out Of
the town for mile. returning home
over the fields and through small plan
tation. A few days after the loss of
the cash box, he took the accustomed
path. Dot, his favorite dog. half pointer,
half retriever, accompanied him. in
the middle of the plantation Dot sud
denly shifted the air, then bounded in
among the brushes, and pointed.
Dot! Dot!" called his master. Here,
good dog, come back" But Dot had
evidently found something, and refused
to be shouted off.
Mr.. Vyse made his way to where the
dog was standing. Up sprang fine
rabbit and dashed away. Dot in hot
pursuit. But Mr.. Vyse needed neither
rabbit nor dog. His gaze was riveted
on the place from which the rabbit had
jumped. Thus for moment or two
he stood, then, with a peculiar smile on
his face, he wheeled round and walked
briskly home. Some three days later
Richard Starkie was summoned TO his
chiefs presence. He went, trembling,
fearing he knew not what.
"Starkie," said Mr.. Vyse, "you have
been in my employ longer than any
other of my clerks, therefore l think II
only right to make you my spokesman
to them. | wish you, then, to tell them
on my behalf that | attribute the dis
appearance of my cash box to none of
them, that | am quite convinced of their
innocence"
Richard Starkie paled slightly. Had
his scheme to ruin young Acland failed
miserably after all? 1t seemed so. But
he replied, with apparent franl<ness:
81 am very pleased to hear that Robert
Acland has cleared himself, sir"
"I1e has done so most completely"
Joined Mr. Vyse. II have a very high
opinion of Acland, Starkie."
$50 have I, sir" he returned glibly.
while he inwardly cursed the man to
whom he spoke thus laudingiy. 1T
has caused me great pain TO think thai
he could possibly be thief"
SIS it possible that this man is inno-
cent after alp" wondered Mr.. Vyse.
"1f not, his hypocrisy is simply astound-
ing; but l shall soon know the truth"
And grim smile passed over his face.
Just one thing more" continued Mr..
Vyse, looking straight into his clerk 8
eyes, which met his own unfiinchingly,
"and this is for your ear alone, Starkie;
in the theft of my cash box have sus-
tanned a far greater loss than anyone
but myself is aware of. 1t is a box Of
peculiar construction-in fact, it had a
false bottom. and in that false bottom,
Starkie, there were notes TO the value
of / 700. | had placed them there only
two days before l was robbed"
"Of course, you have the numbers,