The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-11
A THOUSAND DOLLAR Bill.

MarKery loved the xardeninr-nhs
knew it meant so much to Phil. Work
made him DO healthtly tired he slept
instead OF brooding half the night
over the stain on his name. II gave
MN an appetite. too, helping thus
to normal mind. She knew he WA
under constant surveillance--tt was
JOY to know the spying saw only a
man doing a mans work
When people came to soc har sha
accepted them As II sure the motive
were pure Kindness. But she made
no Visits herself. neither accepted
Invitations to join In church afrairs.
nor the dances at the courthouse.
where formerly she had been n leads
ing spirit. Phil wanted her to GO
ne was willing to endure martyrdom
FOR her sake. But she smiled and
shook her head--she meant never to
go out among their own people until
their own people saw and acknowi>
edged their mistake.
Time went swiftly: almost before
she realized it came the anniversary
of their wedding. The garden had
I been modest gold mine. but she
would not let Phil buy her anything
| save fluffy Pomeranian puppy,
agreeing. however. to his proposition
that they should show themselves
that night at the courthouse.
1t was not dance, but an enter-
tatnment by so-called psychic lee.
turer, He was said to have mar
velous powers Phil had a sort OF
feeling that the villagers would thinks
he dreaded to face the seer. THAI
was untrue--he had even a wild idea
OF going forward II subjects for ex<
pertinent were called. Second thought
showed him he had better stay be.
side AArEery-people had been corA
dial to them. offering Fluctuations
with no apparent reserves. He would
do nothing to bring up the old story.
in twenty years perhaps he could live
1t down
He heard little Of the lecture,
which was . string Of plautudes-
But he was somehow aware Of q
strange MISUNDERSTANDING which
In spite OF himself. He was on tho
point Of asking Aargery II she also
felt 1t. when he saw Jim Franklin
moving toward the rostrum, his face
family troubled. He spoke low, but
earnestly, to the lecturer. too low for
the audience to catch a word. IL
watched with bated breath As he
sat down and fell under influence.
For = moment he was silent.
motionless. inert. as one In deep
and refreshing sleep, Then no stirred
zee. The lecturer spoke to him.
What did you do that night" he
asked.
Franklin stood up. not uncertainty.
but like = man with q purpose. He
had taken or his coat--it hung
neatly folded on the back Of . chair.
He picked 1t up. took n knife from
his pocket and ripped a short length
Of the stitches that held down the
collar. Through the rip be thrust
his fingers and drew out = creased
and crumpled paper. narrowly folded,
spread It out. folded It again, tucked
It back In place and said a. he re-
placed the coat:
Darn thousand dollar bills; this
one goes In bank Tomorrow
Phil dArted toward the stage. his
face white and working. flushed
cheering followed him: the hypnotise
making swift passes over Jim. A.
Jim opened his eyes they rested on
Phil and Margery-in their faces he
read something momentouA He
sprang up. holding onx both hands
and saying huskily:
II know you didn't do It, Phil
though don't know how know"
but We do" the hypnotist saia
kindly.
Then for the first and only time
Phil fell forward in . dead faint.
ITO think ! seNed down thae
ripped DOLLAR without ever dreaEulno
It meant anything" Jim's mother
explained when she came to under-
stand.
The mystery was plain enough,
Jim. worried in sleep over the biz
bill. had hidden It with the cunning
OF somnambulism. and forgotten all
about the hiding. It might uevap
have been found except by q rag
picker but for the hypnotic expAri-
ment. BE sure, though. Jim meant
what he said--namely. that getting
back the money was nothing COM
pared to getting back Phil. his close
friend.