Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-10

Least possible quantity and sent the
money home that should have pur-
chased her three meals every cay.
Suddenly something happened hheL
Bertha, weak from fasting araggeo
10 the stairs one evening and unlocked
her door. a large white envelope lay
upon the floor. She stopped to pick II
up and fell dizzily II was addressed
TO her plainly. Within was bundle
of crisp bills and slip Of paper on
which was printed only four words:
"The reward of silence.
bertha drew back in horror, but the
money lay in her lap, crisp new bills
$500 in all Who can measure What
that sum meant to the half-starve lit
tie woman sick with the clamor OF nee4
in her ears and with six souls depe ne
ent upon her eXertions?
The next day she read an announce
ment of a thousand-dollar reward Tor
the arrest and conviction Of the muir
/ derer or the information leading 10 IL
Then she understood. But her ZIP
curled. Desperate as was her need sht
would not have gone into courtroom
TO testify for $4,000. However, the no
tiee had curious effect. She decided
to use the other money, little at
time. She went to the post office ant
sent generous remittance home, al
though not enough to excite any sus-
pieion. This quiet little woman was
not without much shrewdness. sht
felt that any change in her circum-
stances would excite suspicion among
those who still watched the neighbor.
hood. So she continued her frugal life
only once in awhile allowing herseli
a good warm meal in downtown
restaurant. The rest of the money she
sewed into the hem of her school gown
and went about without any anxiety
concerning IL. tmust last a .ong time
In a months time, during which The
search for the murderer was unayall
ing. Bertha found another white en-
: velope on the floor and the same NJ
closure. She wondered how it came
there. how anyone knew Of her know
edge, who it was that commanded s
much money and whether this was th'
end of it. Bertha knew she was no
:. silent for the money, but she woul'
I be silent with the money.
Then an arrest came, the arrest o
relative of the murdered man
Bertha had not calculated on the effee
such news would have upon her. il
: her soul burned the truth-the knowl
edge that a glance would tell her tn
! truth. She was in fever. An limo
cent man might suffer. Her clear dut.
shone before her and on the afternool
: of the examination Bertha Dunn
. pallid and grave, worked her way int
the much-dreaded courtroom, paeke
: with spectators.
: Unaccustomed to the scene, she di
a not even locate the prisoner, but 81
= failed to find. within the room. the ma
of the dark red hair, the peculiar att
tude. the long. 1.-THE arm, the haughi
J, profile. Nor did she understand tn
: procedure of events. She had hurrie
! down after her school hours and ain
y lessly wandered about the city bal.
: long time, too shy to inquire her wa
inside. There had been a number {
witnesses examined and now the judg
~ and several lawyers were consu.tin
= together in low tones. Suddenly II
= group fell apart and a stern voiS
Il sounded through the room:
- "The prisoner will stand upl"
Bertha could not see for the crow
=. ing forms pushing before and besic
- her. She struggled under one man
~ elbow and emerged, hatless, to hei
al the rest of the judges words:
Arthur Kirby, you stand commits
nm to Jail without bail for the murder
Kincaid Homerson!"
=. But upon the silence that follow
i the last word broke in a woman's or.
~ "He, 0, no, he did not murder Z
.er man. not he"
al Then arose the wild sounds Of M
he shouting and women weeping vi
joy. And the little school teacher "
IA. swept to the front and questioned. 5
is never once swerved. That was not 1
eek man nor anything like him. She kn'
Of that. As to the real murderer, 5
ed might or might not know him, but II
tn young mamie was nothing like hi
as He was innocent. because she had Sc
h the real murderer, and this was 2
lad him at all.
Bile Why had she not spoken?
eat Because she was unable 10 do a
the more than save the innocent. Til
Of tia fash Of steel in a nome ~
ort two forms in a sunshine shaft. the
Sc body on the ground. And she-all
re- in great building with few tenal
hes and night coming on.
lad The prisoner was discharged.
the tectives and officers piled Bertha Vi
ing questions But she was reticent. ,
ies- had saved the innocent; she woald !
shy betray anyone else.
ha' As she entered her humble b.
the after nightfal she was conscious g
not. presence on the stairway behind /
INK As She fed to the security Of her re
. hand detained her in the darkness
the Good and wise little woman" s
over a deep voice, you shall never be
lng. gotten in all the years to come. ]
Idly man cruelty treated and deserted
The sister years ago. He deserved
- !