The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-01-27
!. The NOrweII Treasure.
nIKIHY. it's absolutely absurd. Mr..

wv Barrie, and you ought to be
ashamed even 90 listen to such sug-
gestion. Can't you see that if she had
the book it must be in the house some
where's She has had no opportunity to
dispose of it,"
Robert Barrie, Scotchman, had tried
hard to keep his temper through this
interview with young Sprague for
many reasons. One of them was his
suspicion that Sprague loved his daugh-
ter Marian, the very apple of his eye.
Another was his respect for Sprague
himself, and perhaps the strongest of
all his boast that he never let his tenn
per master him.
This occasion, however, was too much.
To be told by young ''whipper-snap-
per" that be ought to be ashamed of
anything was not 10 be tolerated. Be-
sides, Sprague evidently did not know
that the book had been found in the
house of his aunt. Barbara Myles. He
turned on his Caller, purple anger
mounting to his forehead, and shouted:
Yes, can see that the book must of
course be in the house." lie came
step nearer and added: "And it was
found there this morning. Here it is
now
And he held out the priceless copy of
1zaak Walton that had long been the
pride of Norwell. Sprague turned
whit,siud seemed about to fall. Found
in py aunts house, you say?" he fall
tered.
Aye" answered Barrie "Now, can
you deny she stole it? Who else knew
more of its value? Who else had a
chance to steal It? Didn't she tell Miss
Timmins it would sell for at least $500,
and she knew where she could use the
money well7 l don't know that she
hasn't used her position as librarian TO
steal other books. Heaven knows where
she got any money to send to you at
college. l shall call meeting of the
library trustees at once and see if they
will not agree with me to prosecute her
to the extent of the law. And now,
don't sou step over my threshold again
so long as you live. don't want any
thing % do with your breed of thieves,
eisheg you or your"
sprugue took a sudden step and
taeA,eo Barrie as he had many
time tackled running half-bnck at
football practice. barrie fell heavily
and locked half afraid up into the stern
young lace above him.
Now, get up" said Sprague, "and II
you ever say another word against my
auntin my presence rll-I'll give you
smother lesson in football tricks of the
goothieking description" he finished,
half milling to himself.
Dnly The morning. before this inter
ple0 lie town of Norwell had been
thrown into q spasm of excitement by
tAc. news that sour book" had been
stolen. When Peter Hackett died he d.
sided his really notable library among
Tie public libraries of his native state,
and to Norwell fell his famous Walton,
the object of many boolSworm's pill
grimage TO his library. Its bequest
was hedged about by many conditions,
the foremost of which was the solemn !
injunction that under no circum-
stances was 1t to be removed from the
library.
1t was this particular condition which
caused Barbara Myles to experience a
continual expressing sense of response
bility. The Walton was never absent
from her mind when she visited its rest
ing place in the library dozen times a
day.
Beyond the slender salary which came
from her position she had little except
an unusual education and the biblio-
phile's love of books. John Sprague
was her only relative and she loved him
with the love of a mother. Robert Bar
RE, bringing her the quarters salary,
his daughter Marian, and of late &C.
centric Job Doyle comprised the list of
her Norwell callers.
Young Sprague repaid her love and
sacrifice with almost the devotion of a
lover. He knew the story of the extra
cataloguing done for the big city liz
brary that he might complete his col.
lege course. His love for Marian Bar
RE, too, was no secret from his gentle
little aunt, and she fed him, hungry for
news of his sweetheart, with constant
letters.
She herself had discovered the loss
and reported it to the chairman of
trustees, Robert Barrie, with fear and
trembling. He had told the village con-
stable, and that Sherlock Holmes, be-
ing told the remark made to Miss Tim
minis about the value of the Walton,
Immediately arrested Barbara AIyles.
John Sprague left the house realizing
that probably his love dream was over
for good and all, but not sorry, on the
whole, that he had defended his aunt's
good name in such summary fashion.
The news of the finding OF the book
staggered him and he sought to ex-
plain 1t to himself, never once depart
ing from his stout belief in his aunt's
honesty. On his way to her house.
where she was confined in the absence
of more suitable Jail, he met Job
Doyle. Job was as eccentric and alb
sent-minded as Pudd'n' Head Wilson.
and withal bookworm of the wormiest
kind. This morning he was full of the
missing book and as indignant as
Sprague himself at the turn affairs had
taken.
John. my son % oa{d he sts..L~4 |