The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-09-08

to temper the bitterness of his reflections
he felt conscious of a drowsness which
was exceedingly merciful. and so he fell
asleep. fully dressed. upon his bed
He awoke refreshed and with better
courage in the early morning, and after a
bite of breakfast he walked toward the
factory with a strong and increasing
resolution. He saw nothing of the de-
tective nor of Mr. Hallett. He had vague
ly expected that they would be waiting
for him at the factory gate. One or two
men looked at him peculiarly, but he en-
countered no unusual incident until he
was inside the factory, when a man
from the office met him and told him to
go to Mr. Halletts private room. This
summons was like the closing of prison
gates behind him, but he obeyed it readily.
He had decided to make no further offer
to return the money piecemeal. He would
earn it some day That was all he knew
about the matter. People were permitted
to earn a little money in prison, he had
heard. Anyhow, he would do his best.
The money was spent. 1t couldn't be got
back even if Carter were found out.
In the office were Mr.. Hallett and the
detective. One might have supposed that
they hadn't moved since Briggsy was
there last, their attitudes being precisely
as he remembered them.
''Well. Briggs" said Hallett, "have you
brought the money!"
NO" replied the boy. 81 haven't
brought it, and ! can't bring it. It's gone.
But you'll get it some day. That III
swear to-.
"you didn't take that money, but you
know who did,
Briggsy drew himself up to his full
height. which was a little more than five
feet. He slapped himself on the chest.
I'm the man." said he. Lock me up"
Hallett looked at him for some seconds,
smiling.
We've found out where the money
went" he said.
Briggsy turned faint.
Don't you believe it," he said. "You
just listen to me, and III
at went to buy piece Of ,.,'''7-' tus for
Miss Mamie Carter, We hiHs. nice,
honest little girl. as 1 see her SAID Hal
lett. "She called on me last evening"
acknowledgements"
Yes" said Hallett "She came with
her brother. He was there by her re-
quest-distinctly by her request"
You see," continued the "old man"
sour little friend, our poor little friend
who is lame, happened to hear about some
money being lost, and, being of the fem
mime gender, she jumped to a conclusion.
So she had it out with her brother, and
the upshot of it was that he brought her
to me with the walking machine in her
hands, for, of course, she couldn't wear it
after she'd found out how she'd come by
| it.
"Well," continued Hallett, after a
pause, that was a sight to draw tears
| from Jour friend here"-he jerked his
| thumb at the detective-"who doesn't
weep often, as I'm well convinced. Miss
| Mamie was afraid the man who sold the
| machine wouldn't take it back and pay
| full price, but she was going to earn the
| difference herself. Now, it just struck
| me suddenly as she was making this pro-
posal that she could earn the money
| easier If she had the harness to wear, so
| 1 begged her to keep it. And then her
| brother and I got down to business and
settled our little affair upon some such
! basis as you proposed yesterday aft@-
| noon. So therell be no trouble.
'And now, Briggs, a word to you. Don't
| try to palm yourself off for thief again
| You look too honest. You couldn't fool
| why, you couldn't even fool detective
He saw through you in a minute. Go
back to work now, and Wen say no more
about it. You did wrong. It's always
wrong to shield criminal or to help a
misguided man to walk in the way of the
transgressor. But, confound you, Briggs,
rather like you for IT,"