Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1906-02-13
TRUE AS STEEL


evening there came to my registry Of
fee door gentle, unobtrusive knock.
When my assistant answered the knock
and ushered in poor, bedraggled look
ing creature, therefore, 1 was not sur
prised.
But certainly was astonished when
the broken down looking woman asked
me to obtain a situation for her as gen
eral servant.
Have you any references?" 1 que
ried.
mo. ma'am, 1 am sorry to say.
have not"
''Where do you come from and what
is your name?"
Il have just come out of-jail. My
name is Grace Campion.
about five years ago." she said, 81
took a situation as general servant in
the household of the postmaster of -.
The family consisted of my employer,
his wife, son and two daughters.
1.-The postmaster was very fond of
company, and every evening at 6
O'Clock he went out for brisk walk.
which generally ended at a certain
noted suburban hotel. He always re-
turned in time to get off the heavy post
and then went out again to the Golden
Ball hotel. adjacent, for the remainder
of the evening.
when there was q crush In the post
Office l was called in to help. and. be-
ing trustworthy, the money drawers
were always open TO me.
STANLEY Gore, my employers son, be-
gan TO follow his fathers footsteps, sad
ly too soon. His father kept him mOder-
ately well supplied with pocket money,
but still Stanley often used TO borrow a
few pounds from me on one pretense or
another
HE generally paid me back again
with great promptitude. Whether he
meant anything or not, he was very
handy with his compliments, and from
these we got to kisses.
STANLEY one day spoke to me on the
subject of marriage. After some de-
lay / accepted him. His father. when
he heard of the engagement, while he
received the announcement coldly,
raised no barrier
"Just about this time a curious thing
took place In the postofiice. There
was something wrong with the cash.
A test letter containing marked coins
had been sent by a departmental de-
tective, and it had not arrived at Its
destination. Indeed II had never passed
through our office, although the recep-
ton of 1t had been traced to the hands
of Stanley Gore,
II overheard the detective declare
that he had search warrant and that
be should forthwith proceed TO put it
into execution. almost flew upstairs
TO his room, and in less time than il
takes to tell ! found convincing proofs
of his guilt. With the intention Of de-
stroying the telltale letters / was rush.
ing down into the kitchen with them
In my hands when who should meetme
on his way 70 Stanley,s room but the
The officer recognized the test letter
at glance and by a quick movement
ON his part snatched it from me- Be
fore could recover from my surprise
he had my arms plnloned in such
way that was entirely In his power
''For Stanley's sake l went quietly
with him. When outside he called a
cab, and In a few minutes afterward
I found myself in cell at the police
office.
Next morning. when the newspa-
pers, whose reporters had picked up
the information at the police office,
gave full particulars of the robbery
and arrest, public opinion was very
much divided on the subject Some
people believed ] was guilty, and 9th
ers inclined to a contrary opinion.
"All doubts were, however, set at
rest when | pleaded guilty to stealing
the letter and its contents. The other
charges were then dropped.
1.-The Cores took no notice of me,
fully believing was the base woman
had pleaded guilty to being. The day
] was sentenced, however, just as the
warden in charge was asking me 10
step down from the dock, | looked
round and saw among the crowd I'm
the court the agonized face Of Stanley
Gore
soon afterward Stanley disappear
ed after giving formal notice of his in
tention and making all arrangements
TO 60 abroad He has not been heard
of since.
His family will have nothing 10 do
with me, although | told his father
privately the real history OF the rob
berry. He simply said was lying and
that Stanley had left home through he
ing disappointed in not obtaining the
hand OF certain manufacturers
daughter who had, in fact. married
near friend of his
aNow. then, after hearing my story.
will you try TO obtain a situation for
me2u
Yes. ! will, for somehow or other
the conviction forces itself on me that
you are telling me the truth"
One day retired farmer who want
ed u housekeeper owing to the death OF
his wife agreed 10 take Grace at
small wage My common sense told
me that q woman who could saprifice