Evening star., 1907-10-19
UNDER SUSPICION.

Has any one seen my gold cuff but
tons?" asked Jack, coming anxiously into
the room. He was making a hurried
toilet for school. and the loss of his cun
buttons had just been discovered.
Not your new ones, surely" began
Ethel
Yes, my brandy spandy new ones
cuffs and all. 1 remember distinctly TAX
ing them off on the croquet grounds and
hanging them on the limb of the pear
tree, but I don't believe I put them on
again when 1 finished the game. Anyway,
I've looked and there's no sign Of them
this morning
Maybe the wind blew them away"
suggested his mother.
No wind, ma'am, last night; you re-
member how still 1t was"
Well, 1 can't think"
But 1 can" Jack went to the window
and flung 1t wide. 1t overlooked sweet.
old-fashioned southern garden, and the
breath of autumn roses rushed into the
room.
"Ned!" he called. "Ned!'
A bobbing, klnky head appeared be-
meath the window.
'Yaas SIR
Ned. what were you doing on the
ground last evening!
''Nothin-nothin', sir. 'ceptin' 1 done
ate two leetle bits of pears"
I thought SO. Why did you go there!
4 dunno" Ned's eyes began to roll
in an embarrassed fashion. ''Sho 'nun.
he added, II jes' wanted them pears"
Did you happen to see my new cuff
buttons hanging on the tree?"
Ned shook his head emphattcally.
No. sir; 1 amt seed nothin'."
Very we'll" And shutting the window
lack faced tho ntharS
Now, you see." he said, with shrug
of his shoulders, why we can't trust Ned
out of our sight. No one else was on the
croquet ground, and I'm sure 1 left my
1T does look strange" said Mrs Ward.
Have you searched everywhere in the
house?"
Two or three times over. Mother. 1
about Ned"
He's such a good little fellow, 1 don't
believe he'd steal anything" said Ethel.
II wouldn't care If it wasn't something
l valued" began Jack.
There Is where you are wrong said
his mother, "a small theft would be as
wicked as great one. l won't speak to
Lucy until I'm quite sure, because she'd
doesn't deserve it. The cuff buttons may
turn up somewhere
Jack shook his head though he follow
ed his mothers advice, but days and
weeks passed on with no sign.
Finally the weather grew too bleak
for croquet. and the pretty spot was aban-
doned. Jack gave up hoping, and con-
tented himself with his old mother-of-
pearl links. He still held Ned in sus-
picion, and no longer gave him pennies
for candy. slight keenly felt by the poor
little darky. who placed SO much faith
in 'Marse Jack
So the winter passed, and when the
early southern spring came the young
ones, eager for outdoor games, rushed
to the croquet ground to smooth and
level 1t for playing. Ethel took broom
to brush away the dead leaves, and Jack
a rake, with which he worked with a
will.
Hello" he exclaimed suddenly. He
was just under the pear tree, and his
rake had hit a hard substance. He
stopped down and digging with his fin
wet and mildewed, where they had soak
and there were the cuff buttons, tar
nished to be sure, but unhurt in any other
way.
Ned must have knocked them down
when he climbed up for those pears,'
said Jack sheepishly, but he was re-
joiced. nevertheless. From that time, as
II to make amends, he gave Ned SO many
pennies that even Aunt Lucy" was
forced to interfere.
II declare, Marse Jack. If you gives
Ned so much sweets you'll spile him
inside an out. Buy him a cap-dat's
what he's needin'."
And though Jack laughed, he took the
hint