The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-07

smets Immediately the Amen was uttered fell to-
When the first ardor of his appetite was appeased the
conversation resumed. go
asked the lady
Nom" was the reply.
"Well, even atheists have to be fed suppose, re-
turned Miss Cordelia, somewhat grudgingly:
amt exactly an atheist ca As tar as that goes De
assumption my part just say don't know any
thing about it."
Have you ever read the Bible?"
Then wonder you don't know anything about it"
Just So ma am" assented Mr. Smets deprecatngly.
"1f you were to read the Bible, I'm sure you would
read the Bible intelligenty and dsbeieve it. will
give you little Testament when you to- night
W" you @ TO etuTne g0 M And
I'll remembrance of of the kindest
ladies ever CHANGED to meet And now suppose I've
got to 60"
She rose with her guest and they both stepped to the
have rained harder if cloud had burst the
contemplated the blast Miss Cordelia looked from
the warm light room to the shverg little s man land and
h cough se s% ha hs heard
said determned1y 7oal have to stay here all night
I'll / can stand it. returned Miss Penley grimly
YOU e ea go in there and slee
I'm not fit to lie in decent bed" said the tramp
"and I'm not accustomed to it, any way If you'll let
me take some Of these rugs I'll just go in there and lay
VERY well" replied Miss Penley, who began to be
"And I'll get up, ma'arn. and build the fires for you
kitchen"
Then he bowed deeply to her again and turned away
ley awoke. She rose her feet and laid the horse
pistol back in the drawer with prayer of thanksgiving
that there had been need for its
Then after some hesitation she stepped to the door
of the spare chamber and keeping well out of view
louder knocked again, and third time, and then sum
moning all her courage she peered into the 1t
was empty. She went into the kitchen. There
Her glance fell upon the dresser: The doors Of it
s
SO her empty her s poor Jew gs He
There was one thing he had left behind-the little
Testament she had given him. He had laid it across
the top of the coffee-cup.
She sank down in the Boston rocker, hid her face in
her hands and cried bitterly The only man who had
paid her compliment the only man who had ever
looked at her with adiring was thief an IN
grate Her heart was broken.
Again the wind, again the rain, again Miss Penley
alone in her little cottage, again knock the door,
Just hours had elapsed since the first knock
's in o
wildly beating heart she strobe to the door and threw
smiling and bowling deprecatingly, but with shame
Miss Cordelia stood like statue of Fate, towering
'' sW Tii, sir" she began.
Mr. smets stepped inside and with gesture at
of his coat miscellaneous bundle of small silver in
Guiding several pieces Of swsry and laid the articles
damp roll of bills added to the little pile thrust his
hand inside his waistcoat and bowed with some OF his
"Hum!" said Miss cordeiia, " so you brought them
bask I'd did you9" returned Mr. smets ~As Won See
amt regular thief, mann, not but what amt done
things that I'm ashamed of before now, but l don't
away this rornin after took your silver and then
have eonsciences, ma ann" ~ 0''0 S'''
Miss Cordelia nodded
hand on his breast-"it wouldn't let go further.
The idea to late in the afternoon that I'd got
brought the whole thing Back to me- how you'd been
kind to me and treated me like gentleman and how
fore. An, in short ma'am here 1 am Here's your
silver, your jewelry and your money. I'm shamed to
me go with the memory of the kndest woman and the
finest woman ma am if you'll allow me to say it. that
ever met with"
This was too much for Miss Cordelia. In her
she sank down in chair trembling
What she would have said, or what she would have
done, will never be known for at this most nopporune
moment there came another knock upon the door. Mr.
Smets started nervousy for the rap vigorous and
Neither of them had time or opportunity do any
thing, however for the door was flung rather rudey
grim deputy and, in the background the bishop Miss
Penley had been compelled absolutely to conhde in
and that naturally her spiritual
adviser who by great good fortune happened be at
home. She had described. with minute accuracy. her
visitor of the night before She had begged the bishop
say nothing about the affair
But happened that the bishop returning from late
call had passed Mr. George smets under the lights Of
description and had observed that he heading in
the direction of Miss Cordeas lonely cottage Fearful
lest she might be in danger, he had summoned
Bill Sadler the sheriff. and his deputy and had fol-
lowed Mr.. Smets. Hence the dramatic entrance of
the trio