The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-01-03

fore them, as the last persons In the
store the preceding night. 1t seemed
that matters we're to be thoroughly
sifted at last.
They'd better ask who else was
here last night. Katie Mcguire whig-
pereds venomousIy. Mr.. Hale wasn't
the only one.
You don't mean Mr.. Murdoch? Why
you might ais well accuse parson!'
cried two or three at once.
No, ! don't mean Mr.. Murdock
Somebody else was here after hours,
with mighty poor excuse somebody
that holds herself quite too high and
mighty to go with ordinary folks
| "Floy Irving? O bosh! She came to
oblige Annie. Floy's one Of the incest
girls in the store"
Maybe, but If | was Mr.. Hunt I'd
look into her obligingness little"
OF course this was not before Floy's
face, but she caught enough side
glances and incautious words to make
her very uncomfortable. tits only
Katie's spite, she told herself, but she
went to her work flushed and nervous,
| not forgetting, however, to give Rob
ert Murdoch a nod and a smiling
Good morning."
How gravely he returned it! But Of
course this suspense was even harder
for him than for the other. A little
later she saw him entering the private
Office
particularly exasperating customer
taxed her attention to the utmost for
/ the next quarter of an hour, but her
long breath Of relief as the woman de-
i parted was cut short by the ominous
words:
you are wanted in the private of
fee Miss Irving"
II? What for?" Floy gasped, in
dismay.
Il do not know. No doubt they will
tel you, Was it only her fancy, or
was the tone frosty with suspicion?
She saw the girls around exchange
startled glances, heard Katie's exult-
ant whisper, You see! Didn't tell
i
Hush! That doesn't mean anything.
Of course it did not, Floy told her
self. 1t was only their excitement
which gave significance to such q
trife. To be sure, girls were not sum-
moned to the private Office often. But
why should she be nervous? What if
she had seen Robert Murdoch enter
ing that private room just little
| while ago? The villain in story
book might make a false accusation to
rid himself of troublesome witness,
but in real life If only her cheeks
would not burn so! was enough to
MAKE any one suspect her, and the
very thought made them burn hotter.
All this flashed through Floy's mind
as she walked quickly from her coun-
ter to the door of the private Office;
but if her heart beat so fast that it
seemed to choke her, she carried her
head brayely.
Inside the dreaded portal she passed,
outwardly calm, inwardly fighting
down panic. The partners and head
bookkeeper were in close consultation.
Kindly Mr.. Hunt nodded to her, bid
ding her sit down, but nervous Mr..
Vane snapped out shortly:
We hear that you were here after
hours last night, Miss Irving. How is
that? And how did you get in?D
Floy explained briefly why and how
she had returned, forcing herself to
speak steadily, although all the time
something seemed whispering in her
cir. How should they know that UNI
less he has forestalled you by throw
ing suspicion on you? Why did YOU
let yourself be convinced so easily?
Didn't you know that man who
would steal would lie? Why didn't
you speak out at first? After he has
once accused you, your story will
sound like weak attempt at self-de-
fence.
And she could only tell herself, des-
perately, Il told him he might trust
me. can't break my word unless
am sure
How long were you here? What
did you do? Be exact, now" Mr.. Vane
demanded, while Mr. Hunt leaned
hack, watching her with an odd,
amused air that bewildered and
alarmed her, as If he were expecting
-shc did not know what. Certainly
not the matter-of-fact answer she
save.
Not over 20 minutes, | think. /
stepped 10 exchange few words with
Mr.. Murdoch maybe five minutes. I
put the counter and drawers in order
as quickly as possible, and went out
as | cape in. The Waterman spoke to