The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-17

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 It's contents that
the idea of saddling Acland with the
theft occurred to him.
1t was Mr. Vyse's custom to go for
walk, unless the day was very wet be-
tween the hours Of twelve and one.
He usually went down the high road
straight out of the town for mile, re-
turning home over the fields and
through a small plantation. A few
days after the loss Of the cash-box he
took the accustomed path. Dot, his
favorite dog half pointer, half re-
triever, accompanied him. In the mid
die of the plantation Dot suddenly
shifted the air, then bounded In among
the brushwood and pointed.
Dot! Dot" called his master. Here
good dog. come back!'
But Dot had evidently found some
thing and refused to be shouted OFF.
Mr.. vyse made his way to where the
dog was standing. Up sprang a fine
rabbit and dashed away, Dot in hot
pursuit. But Mr.. yyse needed neither
rabbit nor dog. His gaze was rlveted
on the place from which the rabbit
had jumped. Thus for a 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 Star
kie was summoned to his chiefs pres
ence. 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 it
only right to make you my spokesman
to them. | wish you then. to tell them
on my behalf that l attribute the dis
appearance of my cash-box to none OF
them; that l 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 frank
ness
Il am very pleased to hear that Rob
ert Acland has cleared himself, sir"
HE has done so most completely"
rejoined Mr.. Vyse. Il have a very
high opinion of Acland, Starkie."
so have l, sir" he returned glibly,
while he inwardly cursed the man Of
whom he spoke thus laudingly. "It
has caused me great pain to think that
he could possibly be thief"
"Is it possible that this man is inno-
cent after all?" wondered Mr.. Nyse.
IF not, his hypocrisy is simply as
founding. But l shall soon know the
truth"
Just one thing more" continued Mr.
Vyse, looking straight into his clerk s
eyes, which met his own unflinchingly,
land this is for your ear alone, Star
kie. In the theft of my cash-box I've
sustained far greater loss than any
one but myself is aware of. 1t is a box
of peculiar construction-in fact, ii had
false bottom, and in that false bot
tom, Starkie, there We're notes tc
the value of seven hundred pounds.
had placed them there only two days
before | was robbed"
"Of course, you have the numbers
sir?"
"Why, yes, have the numbers, Star
| kie, but an expert thief-and l imagine
from the coolness and audacity of the
robbery that l have been the victim Of
One-fnds no difficulty in changing
stolen paper. He knows where to TAXI
1t and obtain good price"
When Richard Starkie went back t,
his old colleagues to give them thei
employers message, his breast wa
torn by two emotions-baftied spit
and greed Of further gold.
II will destroy him yet" he though
Of Bob Acland. Hes escaped me 70
a while, but it shall not be for long
Elsie Venner shall never be his wife.
poor old buffer"-his mind revert
ing to the man whose presence he ha
just left-''yOu little guessed that Il
making a confidant Of me you wer
telling the thief how to further enric
himself! Well, five hundred guilds wi
come in very handy just now, and,
suppose, the commission would not b
more than two hundred pounds. MARI
by's getting very restive for his none
and l could pay him and still have
nice little balance in hand. You're |
lucks way, Dick, my boy. Forum
favors you"
Bending down amid the bramble an
brushwoOd which formed the unde
growth of a small plantation, gropin
among the briars and the grass, Ricl
ard Starkie was searching for I'll
cash-bOx.
II know flung 1t somewhere here
he muttered fiercely. Where can tt
thing be? Ah," and his hand at la
alighted on some metal, "here you ar
/ was just beginning to think that ia,
ish fortune had served me scury
trick. Well" clasping the box to h
bosom. you've been a good friend
me, and I'll treat you as lightly as po
sible. Come, let's away-merciful poy
, ers, what's that?"
-. L., - L. 4.