Middletown transcript., 1908-03-07
LOY'S SILENCE
BIZ ADA III FERRIS

counter couldn't begin to keep
things straight, and some Of the
ladies pulled laces all around and
got them into such a tangle! ! do
believe one of them was the shop
| litter that is making US all so
muchtrouble. I didn't dare take
my eyes off her,and I just showed
the whole tangle back in o
drawer, out Of sight, til. ! had
| time to straighten them out And
my head ached so that | forgot
them entirely. O Floy, would you
go and put them away for me-
like an angel? 7 don't feel as #
/ could stand it to go back my
self to night.
When did Floy Irving ever re-
fuse to do a favor? The jolly old
night watchman would ad NIT her
readily enough. she knew, even
If the bookeepers had finished
land gone and often one or an
other Of the clerks was detained.
So d few moments later she
re-entered the store by the rear
door. How ghoslly and empty
it looked in the dim light! There
was no sign of life save the watch
mans whistle away up in one of
the galleries. She hurried to-
ward Annie's counter, and turn
ing corner, came sharply upon
Robert Murdoch!
How often she had wished for
q chance to question him! Here
it was-if she only knew how to-
use it.
Did | frighten you ? he asked,
for she had given q startled cry.
! merely stepped out to see who
was coming in. Mr.. Hale asked
me to stay and help unpack
some new goods tonight.
Floy briefly explained her own
presence in turn. Nooneat Vane
& Hunts wanted any suspicion
attaching to their movements
just now. Then-for she dared |
not let this golden opportunity |
pass she added hurriedly, II
want to ask you one question. |
1nvoluntarily she caught his arm
and turned his face toward the
light.
Well !?
IS Robert Murdock your true
name?
My true name. It was myl
fathers before me. Jameson
was only my stepfather. Is that
all2 For she had dropped her
hand and turned away with a
gesture of hopelessness.
Yes-no! That is, what's the
use? know what you would say
either way! There's no use vast
ing time.
And you wouldn't believe any
thing I said either way! No,
it's not much use talking, he said, L
bitterly.
II don't understand! gasped
Floy, startled.
You think, Oncea thief, always
a thief. Well, you won't believe
me. don't know why you have h
kept my secret so long, unless
you liked to play with me as a
cat does with a mouse. Never
] will say this-as Heaven
hears me, know nothing what
ever about the thefts in this j
store,I am as innocent of them
rs you are.
believe you! Floy exclaimed.
extending her hand eagerly. And .
don't believe that horrible old :
saying. Don't be angry with /
ne, please. ! didn't mean to
% hard or cruel. / meyer J
hought you cared to have me d
peak to you. ] wasn't playing :
With you. / kept still because / Y
bought it was right-and now
know it VAS. You may trust
ne. ID
He controlled his voice by an .
fort. Forgive me, ! should j
Iot have spoken so. You have a ],
ight to choose your acquaint- q
noes. q
The watchman is coming; / 1
aust go atAnnie' s laces. ButtI !,
now what to believe now, and v
he hurried on breathlessly. A y
loment later she was hastily =
ringing order out of chaos, even
7hile explaining her return to her B,
riend, the watchman. @
She's q careless one. the old
ian growled. I'd let her do her Y
wn Strengthening. Tisn't your !
usiness. q
She was sick, you know, Floy n
MD, excusingly ! don't mind 9
elping her little. She glanced g
nconsciously over where MUIR !,