The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-13
A FREE PARDON


church.
So noiselessly did he moye--so earnestly
| engaged In conversation were they-thai
| two men. sitting with their backs turned
TO him on bench near the door. were
unaware OF his approach One was speak.
ing very earnestly In very low voice.
but Proctor caught the words. "Offertory
money" ana paused to listen.
II can't help thinking that we ought tc
have known that there was something
wrong about IL before
!. Even In his dark corner he recognized
that Mr.. Blenoowe was the speaker. and
that his companion was Mr.. Vickers.
"Other people will say that besides
you. said Mr.. Vickers.
That's what am afraid of is there
any one whom You suspecty'
No, not unless 1T Is that hangdog-
looking fellow whom Father Urquhart
has been so kind TO.
What ProctorY'' eyes. Proctor. !
can't abide the fellow His knees knock
against each other AS he walks. his testh
seem To be- dropping out OF his mouth AS
he talks, he is loosely knit together both
IN body ana mind, and might shuttle or
stun ble into any wickodness.
He certainly has been launching out
Iatoly in most surprising way in that
shop of his.
Proctor had heard enough, and left the
church at once. They sat where they
so much before the appointed time. tnat
thoro was no cbance Of finding Father
Urquhart in the sacristy for at least half
an hour longer. Desire 90 learn tho re- :
suit of his experiment. with the marked
money had made hr. Blencowo restless
mud he had come early and made Mr.
Nickers come too. The marked moneF
was, of course, not TO he seen. There
was. indeed, very iitllo money of any kind
TO be seen, and yet TO both the collectors
knowledge some large offerings were
made.
About twenty five minutes later q
woman left the confessional. and as no
one came TO take her place, Father Urqu-
hart, who up 10 this time had not been
able to stir frnm the spot, rose to replace
the stolen money IN the almsbox without
further delay.
ellis Reverence Is coming, Blencowe, 4"
whispered Mr.. Vickers. Let us 90 TO
the sacristy." But they Were kept In
their places nv what they saw.
Two steps led down from the confess
sional, and Father Urquhart. in soutane
and stole, and with the packet OF stolen
money In hand. was just descending
them, whom policeman, who with the
saoristan had teen standing half con-
cealed by pillar. came forward. touched
the priests arm. and said in n low voice
You must come with me, sir. You are
charged with robning the poor box
Father Urquhart started. turned as pale
as death. and the bundle he held In his
hand dropped from il and fell heavily to
the Rroand.
"Il II Who charges -"
II do, said ths sacristan. give his
Reverence in charge. j saw him commit
the robbery not an hour ago.
"You scoundrel. cried the priest vino
was trem bling from head TO foot. lyon
most miserable scoundrell POLICEMAN"
ana then be stopped ana his exI Iression
changed To one Of absolutely blank dis
may. for he had remem bcrsd what iu the
frat shock OF amazed excitement hs had
forgotten. that all which could serve as
his own justification had bpen impaired
to him under seal OF confession, and that
not ono single word of it must ever pass
his lips ahe look which he cast en-
Proctor made the iuan quail. 1t was seen
hy more than the police-coustahle, for
Mr.. Blenuowe and MIR. Vickers had
drawn near.
lyon have been kind to me 1 know. ""
said Proctor but did see You doing it. I"
Constable, began Father Urubsrt,
II must warn you TO be careful what
you say. sir. for il will be used in evil
0enoo.
Evidencel There is no eviderce
against ine-thers can De none / am
Innocent SO help me God, l am lnno-
cent.
"No evideucer' cried poctor. mo
evidence! What was ~ that your Rev
erence dropped in such n fright when the
constable came up and charged you with
the rohieryy That may have Lceu the
money for anything that we Know, and
il IL was, won't that te ovidencey'
"'Ths man must bo mad, said MIR.
Blencowe; ard thou no turned 10 the DO
lioeman end said, Please 70 pick Up that
white package. Robson. and open IL. aud
let Us have an end To this dsgracetul
folly"
As Mr.. Dleucowe was a magistrate, It
was promptly picked W, aud it W, uld
ave been opened as promptly had not
Father Urquuart said hastily and in
much confusion:
lit is m ". but"
"but whntg" demanded Proctor, and
there was "a dHociBg light IN his eyes
which bore witness TO IA revelation from
the extremity of terror TO state Of com.
plots security. Father Urquhart saw IL,
and knew tBat the wretcH bsiore rim wHs
rejoicing in tne knowi,dza that is seer {
was safe. a cold pers irajiou br ke out
ON the unhappy irits. tore~cld; hn
rC 'Cguized tho full dnLgCr ana Eolror Vt
his position: lie recCgui2cd also that
Proctor must have sfon HIM move tJe
CurtGia asiu', End. finding himself Ce-
tccted had then and there resolved TO
con his crime as means Of escape Tor
himself, ,ut thar for the priest who had
heard lis confession and received the
stoicn moaeY thore wouid be nJ
OsCnyc.
MIR Blencowe, he said in his
despair. tell them-do he 81 kind as co
tell them that l could not oren the--alins-
box that l have no key-Chat | never
had one"
no kevl" interrupt d .!c policc con.
ft th q indemnify. for ID .,tUtn ~ fin spyS
In the st II ubo, creI NAPKIN. Wa some.
thing that irit vrIy ike ou0. - sho I'd
like to know what YOU call this gentle
men p" fNr even WI lie he was spclNIi @
bad untiei and unfJldc1 Jha 1T rf altar.
nnen ant lyiug inside IL. among hCIp