Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-19
At all Drug Stores Price SO Cents -FOSTER-MLBURN CO.. Buffalo.

he begged of me TO take the blame. He
said 1t would ruin him. but that Crane
wouldn't do anything to me-. He's a vile,
sneaking thief, Allis!"
Hush, Alan, don't say that. It's all SOM
dreadful mistake, The money will be found
somewhere"
ut has been found; Mortimer put IT back.
Why should he replace the money II he had
not stolen it?"
Where Is Mr.. Mortimer, Alan? ?"
The boy pointed with his thumb to the
door Of the cashiers office. Cranes in
there, too. l hope Mortimer owns up. He
cant do anything else; they caught him
putting the money back"
Allis remembered that she had seen
Mortimer on the race course, but she
couldn't believe that he'd zen been bet
ting.
"Mr. Mortimer doesn't oct" she said.
Yes, he does; he did yesterday, any
way and when he saw that knew about
It he begged me to say nothing, prac-
tically admitted that he had taken the
money and was going to put it back"
why should he tell you that. Alan?"
81 don't know, unless he feared 1t might
be found out while he was away; or per-
haps he was so excited over winning n
thousand dollars that he didn't know what
he was saying. At any rate he took Il
right enough, Allis and you ought to cut
him."
81 shan't do that. He's innocent. I
know he is, I don't care what they say.
II he replaced the money, II was to shield
the man who took It," She was looking
searchingly into her brothers eyes, not
that she was accusing him of the theft;
she was Just searching for the truth.
D. you mean 1t was to shield me-that
I took II? No one else could have taken
the money except Mortimer or myself"
Il don't know" answered the girl,
YEARLY; its all so terribly new; I only
know that Mortimer did not steal it."
While she was still speaking the ac-
cused man came from the cashiers office.
holding his head dehantly erect, not at all
as a half-convicted felon should have skunk
through the door, yet withal in his face
was a look of hopeless gravity.
AS he resumed his place at the desk
close to the brother and sister, Alan
looked dehantly at him.. He could see in
the boys eyes malignant detestation, a
glimmer OF triumph, as though he felt
that Mortimer was irrevocably in the tolls.
The lad was like a STRIPPING Judas. His
attitude filled Mortimer with loathing. He
stole a look into the girls face. Would
she, too, say with her eyes, Behold here
is the theft"
A thrill Of e~cstatic comfort warmed his
being. In Allis' gray eyes was the first
touch Of kindness he had known in this
hour Of trial. Faith, and sorrow, and
cheer, and love we're all there, striving
for mastery; no furtive weakening, no un-
certain questioning, no remonstrance Of re-
NAVAL nnNhtn~ hnN 4,taN .,nI4-.tN-a ~
and love.
Mortimer heard the brother say, 81 think
you had better not" then the girls voice,
clear and decisive, answering, "T will, /
must"
In anger Alan left his sisters side. and
she, stepping up to the wicket said, "will
you please come out for a minute, Mr..
Mortimer? ! want to speak to you"
He passed around to her side. Crane
and the cashier were still closeted In the
.latter's office.
LET us go out into the sunshine" Allls
said. "Can you-will It make any differ
ence?"
81 don't think 1t matters" he answered,
" earlly; "things are as bad as they can be,
l suppose"
He took it for granted that she knew
everything. but he was possessed OF no
shame, no difhdence, no reserve; he was in
%nocent, and her eyes had assured him that
she knew II.
As they passed through the door II
cresked again on its dry hinges. Before
she had laughed at the weird complaining;
now il sounded like a moan OF misery.
outside, the village street was deserted.
There was no one to listen.
what is this dreadful thing all about,
GEORGE" He started. She had never
called him by his Christian name. He
at her generous faith. All but