The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-03-20

"Taint no use talkin'," said MIR.
Granger doggedly "Tm just as 10th to
believe that Dick amt honest as you are,
but facts is facts"
Mrs. Granger took off her spectacles and
furtively wiped them on the corner OF her
apron. She was wondering whether there
was anything which she had left unsaid in
arguing in Dicks defence. Her voice
quavered little as she returned to the
attack.
"We've had the boy nigh on two years,
Silas,n she said, San he amt never, so far
as know, taken as much as a piece O.
bread which wasn't given to him.
"That's so, Mandy" answered Mr..
Granger, "but he ain had no temptations.
There's lots of thieves who would be
honest men today il they hadn't never been
tempted. l never thought o. them notes
LAYING right there in sight when l sent
Dick to the desk. If had, wouldn't ha'
done it. But its gone now, and ifhe didn't
take it who did?''
Mrs. Granger had no reply to make to
this last argument, so she started in on
another tack.
"Seem's if it's a wrong thing to condemn
that boy 'thout giving him chance to
clear himself" she declared.
Mr.. Granger fidgeted in his chair, cleared
his throat and looked decidedly uncomfort-
able.
1t was an unfortunate occurrence which
had disturbed the usual calm placidity OF
the farm house life. That morning Mr..
Granger had received $50 from the sale of
some hay, and heing busy at the time had
placed the five ten dollar bills in his desk
instead of taking them at once to the strong
box up stairs. Later in the day he had
needed something from the desk in hurry
and he had handed the key to Dick, bid
ding him bring it.
At night when Mr.. Granger went to the
desk for the money, one OF the bills was
missing No one had been in even momen
tary possession of the key but Dick and the
farmer himself. There was therefore, but
one conclusion to be drawn, and Dick was
stamped at once as the culprit
The farmer had said nothing to his wife
till after the children had gone to bed, and
the house was quiet. Then he had .:ap-
preached the subject with some trepidation
for he knew how warm a corner Dick had
occupied in Mrs. Changers motherly heart
ever since he arrived at Grange Farm some
two years before, ragged, starved, i'll
treated charity boy Dick had long ago
grown out of any resemblance to that
cowed, despirited child, and was now a
fine, manly looking fellow of thirteen, and
as Mrs. Granger had been won to proudly
declare, GAS good and honest as the day is
long" So when Silas nervously began the
story which ended by accusing Dick Of
theft, the blow fell like thunder clap.
Dick, unconscious Of the shadow hanging
over him, was up betimes next morning,
and went whistling about his tasks as
usual. He was much surprised when, at
about half past six, Harry, the farmers
only son, boy about Dicks own age,
came out into the yard. Harry was sell
dom known to get upso early, and Dick
knew that something unusual must be
afoot to make him forego the delights of his
morning snooze.
Harry glanced cautiously around, and
then advanced towards Dick.
"Come to the barn." he whispered.
Dick followed obediently while Harry
led the way to the hay NOW and into a
dark and shadowy corner.
"You know that rifle we wanted?' he
whispered. ''I'm goirg to buy it, and he
Haunted before Dicks astonished eyes a
crisp new $40 bill.
'Where did you get the money!" Dick
asked wonderingly. He knew that Harry
spent his allowance of fifty cents a week as
fast az he got it, and that at this season of
the year presents of large sums of money
were not usually in order. Harry's face
flushed guilty, but it was too dusky for
Dick to see it, and he accepted unquestion-
ingly the quick assertion, "Mr. Flack
gave it to me yesterday.
He knew that Mr.. Flack, who was
Harry's godfather, was quite free handed
with his money, and he never doubted but
that Harry had spoken the truth. But he
ventured word of remonstrance, never
theless.
"What'll your father say about it?" he
asked. "You know he thinks you're too
young to handle gun"
Don't talk so loud stupid" said Harry
giving him push. "Do you think Pm
going to be such ninny as to tell him?
You won't tell, will you?" he asked
suspiciou,ly.
Dick hesitated
YOU'RE not going to be such sneak