, 1898-10-27
A GRAND JUROR.

bond, her share Of her fathers life in
surance. She thought Of pretty gowns
to be worn as a bride. Then she sobered
up. David would think her silly; she
was so practical. She was sorry fer
David.
About a month after the engagement
John Alroy was made postmaster OF
Carrot. He was young, quick, clever
and handsome.
Joyce was busy at the store, 60 Mary
often went to social gatherings without
him, he calling for her later on in the
evening. He did not dance; Alroy did.
1t gradually dawned upon him that
Mary danced a good deal with the post
master.
In April he made his usual spring
trip to buy goods. He had been away a
week, when he received a letter from
Mary. She asked to be absolved from
her engagement with him. He was
stunned and hastened home. The calm
ness with which Mary met him told
him his doom.
ut is Alroy, of course?" no said.
ut may seem to you that / treat you
badly" she returned, "but l never
knew what love was until l met him."
and Joyce went away.
Throughout the summer he saw little
Of the happy pair. invented business
excuses taking him often away from
home. Winter came, and the store
claimed him. April doomed up the an.
niversary Of his shattered hopes-and
be heard that Mary would be married
In June. In June the marriage was put
of until autumn.
This was the reason: The p~ostoffice
at Garrett was third class. Out Of his
salary the postmaster was expected to
defray all office expenses. In a second
class Office clerk hire and other liabili-
ties were met by the government, while
the salary Of the master was consider
ably increased. Alroy proposed to raise
his office to the second class, so ms to be
able to marry. To do this he must prove
that the business Of his Office had in
creaeed for q year to such an extent that
1t equalled existing second class offices.
Late in the summer he said that this
was 60. In September an expert discov-
cred that, while the sale Of stamps for
4 year equnled that of an Office of the
higher grade, it did not represent a cor.
responding increase in mailed matter.
Alroy was accused VI fraud.
In January Joyce was summoned to
act as grand juror ON the goth of Febru-
airy in the city more than 100 miles
away.
The afternoon Of the 18th brought
Garret q binding snowstorm. The
standstill. About 4 O'Clock and nearly
dark q lady entered Joyoe's private Don
at the store. It was Mary Hammond.
II have heard" she said at once,
THAT You are a grand juror in the Feb
ruary term. The postmaster g case m
mp before you"
Joyce's heart gave q bound. He had
not thought Of that.
"The grand jury, / am informed"
she went on, decide II there il sufficient
ground to make out a case to go before
tho court You will have a voice in de-
gliding whether or not there is . case
against the postmaster"
Joyce's eyes were like Goals Of fire.
IF It were in your power, you would
convict the postmaster, " she said.
Joyce found his voice.
IF I knew him to be guilty, yes, " he
said..
He ia guilty." she went on. "The
stamps were bought by me with the
o. 900 Of my fathers insurance. I pro.
posed the fraud. Love for him made me
do asI have done. Love for me made
him do the rest"
Without another word she went from
tho room ont into the snowstorm.
Joyce trembled in every limb. The
insult drove him wild. She knew that
he still loved her. and she called upon
that love TO a Y Alroy even at the ex-
pense Of honor. The outrage of I'll Alroy
wa guilty. and there was but one thing
70 do. Low and honor commended
hopeless love, inalienabls honor. There
could be nc question ~ to which would
win.
The following day, the ~outrage-the
insult-gnawing at him, he went on
the 100 mile journey. On the morning
oftthe goth he took oath that he would
do his duty rs . good and loyal man in
tha matters to BE- placed before the
graSd jury. In afew minutes more he
was sitting, with 90 other men, around a
long, table, listening to detectives and
others testifying against unseen people.
How many cases were disposed Of he
hardly knew, when he heard the name
he had waited for. Joyce raised his
head. Now would come his revenge for
all the pals he bad silently suffered,
md yet his revenge would be only his
honest duty. His face grew hard and
dim. .
A postofice expert testified among
Other things that Alroy had openly
boosted that he would fuise his Office to
ssoouA graAsiso that the increase Of SAL
ary would warrant bis marriage. Two
othsr witnesses testified as to the facts
already known.
wen eentlsmsn.r said the foreman
q ths Jury.
II seeosa th0mpdm,r mid apoeber.
"Ail In fsvpe Of = TIRE bill dignity
thsir aassnt By nying 'sya"
ssvsral ayes"
"Cuntrary. 'po.s"
0svssal >snoea"
NAGaAg and "a odnceS a ~
,oass Iooksd AtsunA Tho table.
"He may or may not have thought
0e6Olnoit1uatastsaSdon&
ttoaGEnnt4 heate Aave ths,bensAt of
tAotao1b4R's Mte1sanothers sit 10 get