Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-26
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
THE LOST BILL
IOriginal.1

terest that / should not marry and
rear a family, for she had arranged
with my father that if he died before
fraction OF his estate. If, on the con-
trary, L married and had family,
was to have half.
l did not think Mrs. Mendicott so
depraVed as TO commit any overt act
to keep me from marriage, but be-
lieved she would foster any circum-
stance that might lead to that result.
She had a governess for her children.
Adele Trimball. II sweet, patient girl
OF strong character, with whom fell
| in love AS soon as Mrs. Mendicott
discovered the situation she gave Miss
Trimball notice that she would dis
pense with her services.
The day before her departure she
came into the library, where L was
sitting, very much discomposed.
What is it," 1 asked.
George" she said. Mrs. Mendicott
has made up her mind to keep us
apart by running me-"
How do you know"
"Knowl I've seen through her from
the first. What do you suppose she
has done? On going into my room
just now l found a twenty dollar bill
ON the floor before my dressing table.
Mrs. MenGicott put it there i'll the hope
that L would take it and she could ac-
cuse me OF stealing it,
what did You do with it,"
left it where she placed it. l
wouldn't touch it with IL pair of
tongs."
THAT won't do. I'll go and get it"
hastened to the room and locked all
over the floor. but the bill was not
there, nor could Adele find it when she
went to look for it. Mrs. Mendicott an
nounced that she had lost twenty dol
lar bill in Adele's room when she went
there with her purse in her hand to
put some clothes in the empty bureau
drawers. She left US all to draw our
own inference.
/ did not propose that Adele should
rest under such an imputation. l ques-
toned my stepmother, not-teliing her
that had been warned in the matter,
and she convinced me that she had
not herself taken the money from the
room. 1 questioned the servants, but
gained no clew from any of them till
looked Joe in the eye and saw there
sly shrewdness that convinced me of
his guilt. searched him and his room.
but found nothing.
Then my father came to me and in
sisted that Miss Trimbalrs effects be
searched before she left the house l
protested. but without avail. The bill
was not found, but more money was in
-1,r
bad. for she was very poor and her
salary had been very small. At any
rate. Mrs. Mendicott convinced my IA
ther that Adele was the thief. and L
was informed that if / married her l
would be disinheritcd.
What would it avail to tell my father
that Adele lad seen the bill in her room
and told me of it? Such n statement
would not be believed and would only
widen the breach. Either Mrs. Mendi-
colt had taken the bill herself or some
one had gone into the room in Adele's
absence and taken it. l inclined to-
ward the latter opinion. 1 must either
find the thief or lose my patrimony, be-
sides seeing the girl would marry re-
main under IL cloud. I lay awake the
night of Adele's departure thinking
out some plan of investigation, but
could hit on nothing. l believed that
Joe had appropriated the bill, but since
he and his effects had been searched
there seemed to be nothing more to
do.
One Sunday evening Joe came home
smoking n cigarette. He had n cob
pipe in the stable which he smoked
when off duty, and 1 had sometimes
seen him smoking n cigar. but never
before cigarette. 1 had been watch
ing for him to possess something new
which he had bought with the money
1 believed he had taken.
''Joe," / said, ''have you another Gig
arette?"
He pulled out package and handed
it to me. I took one. looking into Joe's
face as did so and noticed that he APP
peared anxious. Lighting the ciga-
rette. pulled awhile. then said:
''These are fine, Joe. Where did you
get them?'
He told me. and in ten minutes was
in the shop in conference with the to-
bacconist TO find out if Joe had offered
large bill for his purchase. 1 was
disappointed. The boy had paid in
small change.
Later / went out to the stable, where
found Joe enjoying his pipe.
"Have you another cigarette, Joc:'
asked.
''No. sir: smoked 'em all up
''What. Smoked ten cigarettes in an
hour."
well. you see, 1 give some of 'em
away"
''Whom did you give them top
Il gave 'em to- He could get no
further. he was cornered.
'What makes that lump in your vest |
pocket?"
He looked down at the pocket. while |
l. putting my thumb and finger into ii, |
drew out a paper case half full of Gig
arettes.
felt sure was on the scent and