The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-10-17
THE LITTLE
SCHOOLMA'AM.

class, ana she was referred to rs that
little schoulma' am" oftener than as
Miss Sutherland. She was hardly above
eighteen years old. and there were
those who thought it curious that such
position. There may have been
pull somewhere, but as she was per
fectly competent to fill the place Nc
one had any right to complain.
The little schoolma'am was one Of
six teachers boarding With good Moth
er Williams. She had kept a boarding
house for schooiteachers for many
long years and had come to be regard
ed as Il mother to that class. She took
Miss Sutherland under her wing ut
once. and no incident of note happened
for the first three months. Then Il dia
mond ring belonging to one of the 9th
er teachers in the house was suddenly
missing. Three more articles We're
missed: then Il detective was called in.
He was not ten minutes making up his
mind about it.
'The three robberies were committed
by the same person, and that person is
Your Susan" he said. The fact that
she has been with YOU for five years
and has nGler stolen anything before
makes no difference. Men live straight
lives for fifty years and then commit
crimes. Let me take her to the station
house and | can make her confess
within half an hour
Mother Williams would not listen to
this She not only refused to make
complaint. but gave the teacher the
her place The robberies We're, Of
course, Il subject of conversation
among the teachers, but that any one
should suspect another was thing
imDoSsihle 1t was Il month before
anything further happened. Then
in G. q rs she had no bank account.
she put the money in her trunk in her
room In just week it was missing.
She couldn't say within three days OF
the time it was taken. 1t was there.
all right of a Monday, but on Thurs
day she looked for it in vain. The
door of her room was never locked,
and on Tuesday afternoon when she
went out to market she remembered
that she left the key in her trunk.
This last robbery made things look
serious indeed. Every one clamorcd
for another detective to be called in.
and the girl Susan, who felt that she
might he under suspicion, declared
that she would not remain another
day unless thorough investigation
was made.
There are detectives and detectives.
The second one called, heard the par
ticulars of all the robberies and did
not lay any one under suspicion. He
said he would think it over and see
what could he done. He talked with
the servants and the teachers and
agreed With them that it was a mys-
FERROUS case. Two weeks had gene
by and he had not been heard of again
when the little schOolma'am took
book in her hand of a Saturday after
noon and went into one of the public
parks. She had been reading for half
an hour when Il man sat down on the
bench beside her. She looked up t"
recosriza the detective. He was {:
middle aged man, Of fatherly look
and. though engaged III detecting and
furnishing evil doers. it was evident
that he had Il llini heart. After Il few
casual renail:; had passed he said:
Miss Sutherland | have been wait
ing for the last three days to see you
had Il private conversation with you il
might have been barfassilg."
But why should You Want Il private
conversation with me-" she asked.
"About those ro5heiies my dear !
have found where the ring and the
watch We're pawned. I have the dates
when you expressed the money to
your sister Mary
Sir" exclaimed the girl. rising.
''Sit down. child. and don't attract at
tention. You can't be vicious by ma
ture. You have not spent q cent of
the money on yourself. 1t has all gone
to some one else. Tell me what actu-
dteu you. am mere 10 lGtN more tllilU
to accuse. l can't believe that YOU
realized the Nervousness of your of
lenses Don't weep and draw atten
ton, but just tell me all about it."
The girl was white as q sheet and
trembling all over, but she fought back
her emotions and after a minute said
at was all for Mary. Mary is ms
sister, and she is a cripple. She hasn't
had the chance that l and other girls
have had, and l have always pitied
her. If you knew her and knew how
good and patient she is you couldn't
help but love her Soon after | came
to teach school young man fell in love
with her. We are very poor but very
proud at home | wanted this young
man to marry Mary-I wanted it, eli,
so bad. and II stole the things and |
money to buy her clothes. That was
it-that's all. You can take me to jail |
now. We are all ruined and Mary |
can't get married now"
The detective sat there with his face |
I,n., El,