The true northerner., 1898-10-26

scrap. and he's fOrDlcden me the mouse.
"Poor boy!" replied Doyle; "and Ma
rian-how does she feel?"
IT haven't seen her since she got
here. but it's easy to imagine how she
will treat me-"
"That reminds me, went 10 see Bar
maid came TO the door whom l never
saw, and when she asked me my name
l couldn't tell her. No, sir; 1 couldn't,
and she thought she'd got lunatic, L
guess, because she slammed the door
in my face, and couldn't think what
my name was till l got round the cor
ner. But about the book. OF course
the thing has been mislaid, and I'll
make Barrie smart for this. Why, darn
ii all, / was reading the book myself
that afternoon, and / went home with
Barbara-I'll call her that this time
without the Miss-and she didn't have
it. Put ii back? Why, certainly; al
ways do. Of course. Fuddle-headed
fool! I'll cane him."
John went straight TO his aunt's, de-
termined not to tell her of the futile
interview with Barrie and its ending.
But Cupid ruled otherwise. He found
Marian Barrie in the house, and, real
izing how hopeless his love must be
now was hardly civil to her. Even his
aunt noticed il, and said:
why, John, Marian has been my only
comfort, except always you, since this
happened, and you act as if you were
angry with her. o, what are they
going TO do with me, John? What did
Mr.. Barrie say?"
AHd John could keep in no longer. Ii
all came in rush of passionate words
restrained only by Marian's presence.
AS she listened the color left her face,
and great tear filled each eye. She
loved her father, but now she realized
that she loved John Sprague more, and
as she realized it, her eyes told the
story.
Barbara had stolen from the room,
and they were alone. John finished
with: And that's why have little to
say 10 you, Miss Barrie"
"'Miss Barrie!' All, no, John, not
that; /" and she blushed and hesi-
tated. "I don't agree with father,
John"
Ten minutes later they sought Bar
bara Myles 10 assure her that neither
agreed with father"
"Now, john" said Marian, "I believe
that you and / can fathom this. Of
course, the most natural theory is that
some enemy of Miss Myles has put this
book here in this house. But there are
two facts against that. No one has
been in the house but old Job Doyle, and
Miss Myles hasn't any enemies. But
there was the book"
Where WAS il found ?" asked John.
'In the box under the seat here by the
fireplace" answered Barbara. How
could il have come there unless after l
had left here the morning Il found il
was gone, some one had come here and
placed it in the settle?"
'Were there any signs of anyone's
coming in, Aunt Barbara? Tell us the
whole story again from the last time
you saw the book" said John.
''When l came home TO lunch the book
was there in its accustomed place. That
was the last 1 saw of it. o, no, Job
Doyle bad it that afternoon"
"Yes, he told me so when / met him.
Did he put it back?"
why, John, you don't think? OF
course he put it back"
did you see it after you saw ii in his
hands? Think hard. now"
The poor little woman blushed and
looked uncomfortable and finally said:
"No. Mr.. Doyle was waiting outside for
me and il was storming fiercely. So 1
just put out the remaining lights and 1
do believe I did not look to see if the
Walton were safe"
eyes, yes" said John. what then ?"
''Why, we walked home together" she
said shyly, land 1 asked Job in to have
a cup of tea, and he took off his coat
and put it"
"Where?" demanded John.
'Why--why in the settle-why-
John, you don't think. Why, where are
you going, John?"
John rushed out Of the house, saying
something as he went, about that alb
sent-minded chap will forget where he
lives next"
He went 10 Job Doyle's house, and
the maid told him she expected her
master back at any moment. So he
concluded TO wait. Soon in came Job,
wearing a far-away look, and greeted
John with very formal "how do you
do, sir? What can do for you?"
Tell us what you stole the Walton
for" said John.
God bless my soul!" calculated Job.
What do you mean, sir?"
Nothing but what 1 said," said John,
laughing in spite Of himself. "Now, see
here, Mr.. Doyle. You told me you were
reading the book that afternoon. Did
you put it back? Now, for Barbara's
sake, Doyle, do try and recollect."
mo, have no recollection Of replac-
ing it."
Now, as a matter of fact, isn't this
what happened? You read the Walton
all the afternoon, and when six o'clock
struck and Aunt Barbara began TO put
the lights out you put your great coat