Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-05-11

But must see her again. III feel that
my fate is-er-linked with that girl,
Kennion.''
''Oh, very well; then that squashes
the idea entirely, unless. Look here,
thief yourself, and send her letter say
ing you have repented and return the
money!"
"But I don't wait her to think that
I'm a bad LOTT
''Well, she needn't know that you sent
it.. You can pretend to be an ordinary
pickpocket." @so.r5
$50 I can. I never thought of that.
BY Jove, it's grand idea! Where's the
pen and ink? What shall I say?- Give
! us lift, old chap. You're dab hand at
this sort Of thing.'' 49,. =.
took up my pen, and, after little
thought, dashed off the following let
ter:
'tDerc Miss: This is from me, the
bloke wot TUX yer purse I sens the muny
bak bel1ause yer father wos once very
kind ter me when I wos down on mi
luck, an noas yer needs it sight more
than I does, yer humble servant, Bill
| Nokes.'
| "How will that do%' I said, as tossed
it across the table.
"Splendid- he cried, as he
ran his eyes over it. cts worthy of Bill
Skies himself, I'll send it off this very.
| minute And he thrust it in an en-
! velope in company with fve-pound
| note. II
"You'l let me know how it answers?".
! said, as he took up his hat.
| "Oh, yes" And then, with a hasty
good night, he went flying down the
| stairs to catch the post. i
| The following morning it happened
| that a matter of business took me in the
vicinity of Defendants chambers, and,
having half an hour to spare, deter
mined to call and see if he had heard
anything in connection with his plot. :
| AS I was about to enter his sitting
room, however, I heard the sound of
voices, and hasty glance showed me
that he was engaged Ayoung lady was
standing by the table, facing Deben-
ham, who looked as guilty as any school
BOY caught IN an orchard.
II got it back this morning." the girl
was saying. "a man who is employed
on the railway picked it up as he was
on his way to his work.
Ill am very glad" Debenham muir
| INJURED nervously. HE must have been
| an honest fellow
eyes, she said. "But the strange
part of it is that by this mornings post
there came letter from "a thief, in
closing a fve-pound note. You can
read it if you like
And she handed him the precious mis-
sive I had concocted.
He read it in feigned establishment.
II never heard of such a curious
thing he murmured. cts positively
Isn't it, you know?"
Of course, this childike attempt at
deception didn't deceive the girl.
"Mr. Debenham," she said, ''you
wrote this letter; you sent this note"
II? Really, Miss
*'Oh, yes you did. It's no use denying
it. No one else knew of our loss.'
There was a pause. Debensam stood
looking very red and foolish. r.. s
Come, you'd better confess she said
at length.
He rumpled his hair in a reckless
fashion.
ut seems impossible for fellow to
do a good action in this world!" he
cried. Hes sure to be found out!"
''Then you did send it?''
"Ye-es. You see, you wouldn't let me
help you, and $3.50 it struck me that
it would be a capital idea to pretend
that I was the thief (the humbug! his
idea, indeed! ST never thought for. a:
moment that you'd see your purse
again, and if you hadn't done so, my
little dodge would never have come to
light" ~. -...
mo, I don't think it would,'' she an
swered, ''for that was most realistic
letter you wrote" .'-"~.* ~r1 =
Debenham groaned. 49,.
''''You can't think what an effort it
cost me-" he said. =. i" p .-..:
What an effort, indeed! = 49,.
II do hope you will let me keep it as
memento?' -: - = ~ =. =
"Yes-if you will promise to forgive
me?"". :'.. -, =. i = -.- = T..
sob, there is nothing to forgive! 1t
was very. good of you" =. -
Atthis moment I'caught a glimpse of
her face, and I.was. forced to admit that
Debenham had some reason for his ex-
trayagant praise. ,-s......a...-.
"And you will not think the worse of
me for-for trying to deceive your he
went on. Really, he. was getting posi-
lively absurd, from his voice one would
have supposed that he was a prisoner
suing for his life. - ~ ~
A&Oh, think better of you'll" she cried.
Il shall never forget your kindness"
And as she gave him her hand she
blushed in a ridiculous fashion.
Then sDebenham made an ass of him
self. Instead of simply shaking hands
and saying good-morning, he held her
fingers and said nothing, but just
stared at her in moonstrnck kind of
way that was quite idiotic, and che