Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-12-01
I, The NOrweII Treasure.
ll1IIHY. it,s .bsolutely absurd, Mr.

ashamed even TO listen 10 SUCH d sue
eestion. Can't you see that if she had
the book it must be in the house some
wher,9 She has had no opportunity TO
dispose Of IT,"
Robert Barrie, Scotchman, had tried
hard to keep his temper through TINS
interview with young Sprague ior
many reasons. One Of them was MS
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 a young ''whipper-snap-
per" that he ought to be ashamed oil
anything was not to 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" He came a
step nearer and added: "And it was
found there this morning. Here 1t is
now"
And he held out the priceless copy Of
Izaak Walton that had long been the
pride of Norwell. Sprague turned
white.and seemed about to fall. Found
in my aunt's house, you say?" he fal-
tered.
aye" answered Barrie. Now, can
you deny she stole it? Who else knew
more of its value? Who else had
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 well? | 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. shall call a 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 you step over my threshold again
so long as you live. L don't want any
thing to do with your breed of thieves
either you or your"
Sprague took a sudden step and
tackled" Barrie as ne had many a
time tackled running half-back at
football practice. Barrie fell heavily
and looked half afraid up into the stern
young face above him.
"Now, get up" said Sprague, land ii
you ever sag another word against my
aunt in my presence pll-I'll give you
another lesson in football tricks Of the
goal-kicking description" he finished,
half smiling to himself.
: Only the morning. before this inter
view the town of Norwell had been
, thrown into spasm of excitement by
the news that "our book" had been
stolen. When Peter Hackett died he d.
yided his really notable library among
the public libraries Of his native state
and to Norwell fell his famous Walton
the object Of many a bookworm's pill
grimage to his library. Its bequest
( was hedged about by many conditions
I the foremost of which was the solemn
, Injunction that under no circum
stances was it TO be removed from the
, library.
1t was this particular condition which
caused Barbara Myles to experience q
D continual depressing sense of responsi
D bility. The Walton was never absen
5 from her mind when she visited its rest
{ ing place in the library dozen times {
A day.
n Beyond the slender salary which can't
. from her position she had little eXcep
an unusual education and the biblio
phile's love of books. John Spragu,
2 was her only relative and she loved hin
a with the love of a mother. Robert Bar
o rie. bringing her the quarters salary
his daughter Marian, and of late &c
i centric Job Doyle comprised the list o
her Norwell callers.
Young Sprague repaid her love anc
sacrifice with almost the devotion of
lover. He knew the story of the extr
s catalogung done for the big city Ii
e brary that he might complete his col
o lege course. His love for Marian Bar
Il ric, too, was no secret from his gentl
a little aunt, and she fed him, hungry 70
news of his sweetheart, with constan
- letters.
's She herself had discovered the los
and reported it to the chairman o
d trustees, Robert Barrie, with fear an
e trembling. He had told the village con
l. stable, and that Sherlock Holmes, be
- ing told the remark made to Miss Tin
- Minis about the value of the Waltor
Immediately arrested Barbara Myle'
John SpraCue left the house reaizin
that probably his love dream was owe
'e for good and all, but not sorry, on tn
Us whole, that he had defended his aunt
good name in such a summary fashior
1t The news Of the finding Of the boo
d staggered him and he sought to eN
Ia plain it TO himself, never once depart
n. ing from his stout belief in his aunt
honesty. On his way to her hous,
y where she was confined in the absenc
'e of more suitable jail he met 10
y DOYLE. job was as eccentric and al
De sent-miuded as Pudd'n' Head Wilson
y and withal a hookworm Of the wormies
in kind. This morning he was full Of tn
M missing book and as indignant a
!, Sprague himself at the turn affairs ha
taken,
VI John, my SON." said he. 'whg
y fuddle-hcaded piece Of business is this
II could get hold Of that constable
believe ia cane him; l do. Why, III
fool, to think raIbara-I mean Mi.
IN Myles-took 10. The angel Gabri
S might steal g., but she wouldn't. St