The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-10

and was looking at him. but he kept
his position until she rather impa,
tiently demanded:
We'll, you have q name and q
tongue7"
IF they have come to arrest me-
he replied looking up.
Mister man, get to your feet!
That's better. Now get grip on your.
self. Why are you covering here?"
Il have been made a victim of a
base plot" he answered. Il have been
hiding here for two days"
II have read of base plots In novels,
but never encountered one. They
didn't seem to pick out hero to base.
plot against In this case!"
The young man was impressed by
her sarcasm. He blushed and straight.
ened up, and after swallowing hard he
replied: Il do not claim to be hero,
but / am not liar. For three years
I have been employed in the First
National bank at Averne."
Yes. And money has been taken"
"A package Of $4,000 was missing /
had no more to do with the taking of
it than you did"
But you skipped out and left the
world to believe you thief
Yes, fool that am, 1t came upon
me 30 suddenly that / was all confu-
sion. The cashier came to me and
charged me with the theft and put
500 In my hands and advised me to
fee at once to escape arrest. He said
prison awaited me If stayed. / only
waited to put on my haS and coat"
2 "Chump!" scorned Polly.
but If had stayed?"
THAT package would have been
found somewhere as having been
'mislaid.' Was there any particular
reason for the cashier wanting to
drive you out?"
Il can't think of any"
Were you both courting the same
young lady"
"Why-why:"
"Oh, you innocent lamb!" laughed
the girl. TITS no wonder the gold
brick men can afford their steam
yachts. How that cashier must
DO you think-think--..
mo. l don't think. I know. Your
name Is what?"
Porter Phelps"
And l am Polly Andrews, daugh-
ter of the sheriff of this county. Come
out under the plum trees"
When they were out doors and seat
ed she continued "Mr. Porter Phelps
you appear to lack sand and to be
easily ratified and to need a guardian.
You have told me a. straight story,
have you?"
II have"
mo evasions7'
None whatever"
Then you are coming with me
and tell dad-al about 1t. Dads fine
as silk on trail, and they say
know thing or two. I guess we can
straighten this matter out all right"
But your father" protested the
fugitive.
along the line / have, and then turn to
ana help you out.
Polly was prophet. To layman,
the young mans story would have
been pronounced too f1shy for belief,
but Sheriff Andrews had seen Just as
queer cases in his time. He listened
quietly, thought for awhile, and then
said:
IF you and the cashier were both
after the same girl, he would have
motive in wanting to drive you away
IN disgrace. III go over to Averne
and see what l can pick up"
Two days later he returned to say:
mo one but the cashier had heard
hat any money was missing, and it
lid not take me long to convince him
hat even he had not heard of it.
You can go back and take your place
again."
A year later, just after Mr.. Phelps
mad left the sheriff's house one eve
ming. the father remarked to the
laughter:
y thought he was in love with
girl in Averne."
80 did he for awhile"
did she tilt him?"
mo. arrested him!"
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press.)