The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-25
THE EVENING STORY
Last Hundred-DoIlar Bill.
(By Frances Cowles.l

edge as she graphically expressed it. |
me loss of hundred-dollar bill was |
not such a tremendously important af- |
TAR in itself, for Miss Lavinia was
quite wealthy, but there were some as
poets OF the matter which made the |
loss quite serious.
There is no reason why you should |
look at me so angrily," she said to her |
niece, who was regarding her aunt |
with. very indignant eyes; .sthe bill van
ished, and some one has taken it,
1T may have blown away
be foolish. Myra''
"Or you may have mislaid it. A doz-
en- things may have happened, but |
don't believe that it was stolen at all. |
Even if it were,'' she added inconsis- |
tently, "Dick never took it,
How could possibly have misaid |
It when I have not left this room or |
even that chair since the money was |
paid to me? I haven't read thing the |
entire morning but novel and YOU
have looked that through and through. |
Anyway, I tell you that / just put the !
bill on the table here. 1t was lying
right on this spot, I tell you, Myra,
care of it the thing was gone-actually
gone. never. was SO stupefied in my
life. It is awful
Aunt Lavinia's absolute certainty
made Myra desperate.
ST don't believe that the money was
stolen at ALL she said, obstinateIy;
perhaps you only dreamed that it was
paid" Miss Lavinia gave a contemp
tuous sniff.
"But even granted that it was paid,
and that you placed it on the table
just where you said that you did, Dick
was not the only person that came into
the room while it was there
''He was the only person except
that YOU took it, scornfully, "and I
know that Jane did not
Just because she has been in your
family for twenty years.
''Twenty-two, my DEAR
you are ready to accuse Dick
instead of a servant"
you would never accuse Jane your
self, Myra, if you had not lost both
'4f this thing lies between Dick and
Jane, I shall certainly doubt Jane"
yet Mr.. Ainslie was the only one
of you three who came to the table.
remember that distinctly. He sat
down and leaned his arms on it while
he was talking to me. Besides, Myra,
have known this young man less than
year, and I have known Jane twenty
two years. There isn't a dishonest hair
in her head. You needn't talk to me in
that way.
"But there's one thing that I must
say now continued the irate Miss La
vinia, "and that you must agree to.
Unless this thing is cleared up salts
factoriIy you don't marry Richard
Ainslie''
Myra's eyes flashed lightning.
"Aunt Lavinia. shall make no such
promise.' she cried indignantly. eve
that detestable bill. Do you suppose
that I am going to let a small trifle
like that spoil my life ?''
Honor and dishonor are no trifles,
Myra.''
Myra sighed. ST shall ask Dick if he
noticed the money lying on the table.
If he says that he did not shall know
that you dreamed the whole thing"
Young Ainslie, summoned to the
house by an imperative telephone call.
stated promptly that he had seen the
bill on the table, exactly where Miss
Lavinia had said she had placed it. 81
remember thinking that it was care
less proceedings he explained. and
rather wondered that as businesslike
person as you. Miss Lavinia. should
have placed it there.
ct didn't see any carelessness about
| the matter" Miss Lavinia retorted
own home, and that don't harbor
| thieves"
sfWell," AinsIie said lightly, sit be-
hooves me to find that bill. seem to
have been the last person who saw it
If don't unearth it I may be accused
of the theft myself"
Don't joke, Dick Myfa implored
with such an odd information that Aims
| lie made swift guess at the truth.
He had real motive now for Solv-
| ing the vexatious problem, but he met
with no success, although he devoted
the greater part of his time to it.
| 1t came to a point at last where it
got con his nerves." and 1t took all OF
| his will power to treat the subject
lightly, and to act as If he were ignor-
ant of Miss Lavinia's attitude toward
him.
He had made another exhaustive
1 ~. N.,a dou full fvxyn
weeks after the bill had disappeared.
He subsidized into an easy chair with
1 a groan of disappointment This Is
| the four hundredth time by actual
1t isn't here. and I don't believe that
| 1t ever was here.
"You saw it yourself" Miss Lavinfa
| returned, grimly.
Ainslie sighed. II. tell you, Miss La
vinia, that you must get some pockets
| in your dresses and then
He stopped to stare at his hostess.
She had turned several rich colors and
some words seemed to gurgle In her
throat.
"Are you ill., Miss Lavinia? Let me
get YOU some water. You look dread
| full Can't T.
| At feel dreadfully," she gasped. ''I
never thought of it beforei Will you
| ever forgive me?" she walled piteous-
ly. -
| Miss Lavinia was fumbling along the
| folds of her gown Her hands witch
| ed nervously here and there. then one
of them dived far out of sight, only
| to emerge a second later holding aloft
/ the missing BILL
sIt-it--' she stammered family.
| "T have not had a pocket before for
| twenty-five years-and-and I forgot
III must have put the bill in it just
| after Richard left. I'm very, very
| sorry-'
Her voice faltered. To think that
she. who prided herself upon her bust
nesslike methods, should have COM
mitted such an objectionable deed. She
looked helplessly from one to the 9TH
/ err of her auditors.
| Young Ainslie stared at her for
some moments in silent perplexity.
| When at length the full truth dawned
[ Ii h hila r-irI1s Shnl1t