Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-06-18

GUS thoughts of turning in, but before
the inclination gathered force enough !
to overcome the inertia of the tilted |
chair there came gathering Of a |
horses hoofs on the loose single Of the |
Gap road. The rider dismounted at
Layne's gate, and the inspector lighted |
a fresh cigar when he saw the figure of |
woman coming up the path toward |
the house.
"This is the girl in the case of !
course, " he muttered. Nov, how the |
devil did she find outp''
In another moment she stood before
him, and though the cigar was burning
well enough he made it the excuse to
strike another match, in the brief faro
of which he got a glimpse of pair of
flashing eyes set in Il face whercon grief
and resolution fought for tho mastery.
You're Mr.. Jaffray, amt your" she
began.
eyes, and you are Willie Godfrey
Sit down, Miss Godfrey"
She dropped into a chair as if thank
full for the permission. II reckon you
know what I've come for. l heard you
all had taken LATE Anderson for rob.
bin the mail, and
pardon me, Miss Godfrey" inter-
rupted the inspector. "How did you find
that out?"
"Bad news don't wait for an OK team.
l heard about it, and I've come % miles
on that hawss to keep you all from car
ryin an innocent man to Jail Late
new did take anything that didn't be-
long to him, Mr. Jaffray."
The inspector smoked in silence for a
full minute. Surprising were to tell
you that he has confessed"
at don't make any difference. He
amt the thief "
"Then why should he say he was?"
"Cayn't you see? He just told you
heap of lies to cover up the real one"
"And who is the real one, Miss God
frey"
II am"
1t was we'll for the girls peace Of
mind that she could not see the inefface-
able smile that stole over the face Of the
inspector at this, but there was no hint
Of levity in his voice when he said,
"Tell me all about it, Miss Willie"
She held out her hand and dropped "a
ring into his palm. That's John Cor
ny's," she said Il took it out of the
mail myself And I've taken other
things-letters with money i'll them. "
"What did you do with the money!"
"I-I gave it to Late to keep for me.
"And what did he do with it?'
al don't know. l new asked him.
"Did he know where you got it,"
The questions followed each other too
rapidly, and the girl caught her breath
and fought for consistency. Being nat
orally truthful, she hedged III the wrong
place. "He-he sort of suspected it, l
reckon"
Being an honest fellow himself. l
| wonder he didn Z try to stop you.
"You wouldn't say that if you knew.
You see, LATE and me-that is-well,
he thinks a mighty sight Of me, Mr.
Jaffray."
That's So I'd lost sight of that for
the moment" said the inspector grave
". Then he sprung an innocent little
trap that had been gradually taking
shape in his mind.
"Now, what clears up some things
couldn't quite understand. l wonder
what LATE did with the money"
The girl was too new to the business
of equivocation and she promptly be
trayed herself HE put it under the
hearthstone at Ma'am Wilkeson' s.
she began, and then she saw the trap.
"Ah, see!" said the inspector. 80
course this is merely supposition OF
your part, since he never spoke to yor
about hiding the money" He smiled
under cover Of the darkness 1t wa
transparency clear now. all save on
particular detail. How did it harper
that the girl knew Anderson's comics
sion word for word?
Jaffray was puzzled for a moment
and then there flashed across the field o
recollection the rustling in the laure
bush and the picture Of a barelegge'
boy galloping northward on Anderson
horse. Having thus solved the puzzle
he asked quietly, what is it you wan
me to do, Miss Godfrey"
ut seems to me like there amt bu
one thing to do. LATE hain't done any
thing and-and have. Cayn't you a
just turn him loose and take me il
stead?"
The inspector fought good fight &c
self control and lost it. "By God, youn
woman, he isn't worth it'll" he burr
out. But she put her hand on his arr
and straightway forgot her part.
"Oh, yes, indeed he is, Mr.. Jaffra.
p You DOM know LATE, and you new ca
3 know how much II love him. Cayn
you take me?"
mo-" said the inspector rough.
: driven to the last resort of the sore
: tempted. "You go back home, and /
Z see what can be done toward gettir
3 him OFF easy No, don't say anythiI
Q more. You don't know what you ask.
h Before he could stretch out his har
Q to prevent her she went on her kne
; beside his chair.
n 81 do know" she said piteousl
IS "and it 8 such little, little thing-ju
IS to let me go in his place. What do V
y care as long as you got somebody to ov
l. up to everything you ask?'
"Get up, Miss Godfrey" he sa
Is sternly. 81 repeat, you don't knc
3 what you ask. The law is not to be f
II aside or tempered with simply becau
Is its workings happen to hurt some
II u.s.
to "Oh, no, it isn't that" she went O
N unmindful Of his command. II dor
~ mind the hurt only for LATE sake. 1t