Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-07

unusually KIM ana deTerentlaL lie
listened to what she had TO say. then
said to her:
ut gives me great pleasure to assure
you that Mr.. Stanford is not n thief,
though he has confessed himself one.
The bills he admitted be had stolen
were returned by the real thief"
A great joy welled up in Bessie's
breast.
DO you mean it? No: you are too
kind to me. You are trying to shield
me-"
Listen. left the bills on roy desk
and went out OF my office Stanford
came in while l was gone. Thinking
that ne had been the only one In my
office during my absence. l accused
him of the theft. At first he denied it,
but later confessed. Before his con-
fession the real thief returned the
bills, admitting that he had taken
them"
Bessie was astonished She sat look
ing at Mr.. Douglas fixedly for some
time, then asked:
do you suppose Arthur confessed
to shield the real thief"
II don't know his motive 1t is a
mystery to me-"
81 shall send for him at once and
renew my engagement with him"
Mr.. Douglas was silent
Should 1 not do SOP she asked
eagerly.
THAT is for you to decide. I would
suggest, however, that you first dis
cover his motive in this matter"
II shall ask him at once"
VIII he tell your"
Bessie was silent. Arthur had not
given her his confidence in the first
place,-and he was not likely to do It
now.
Il feel 1t incumbent on me-" contin-
ued Mr.. Douglas, ito endeavor to un-
ravel the mystery because it has oc-
Cured in this concern. II you like I
can give you the solution when have
learned It."
Thank you very much, Mr. Doug
las. shall leave the matter entirely
in your hands. remaining myself in
active. When you solve the problem
kindly drop me line, and will call
for it,
Rather permit me to bring It to
you. Your visits here might defeat
the purpose"
Bessie left him relieved of one anx-
iety to be confronted by another Her
lover was not thief. but there was a
question whether his confession was
caused by a noble or an lgnoble mo-
| tive.
She waited impatiently for Mr.. Doug
| las report, but he did not make any
| report
Then she wrote him asking what
| progress he had made, and he answer
ed her in person. He said that he had
learned something that had led him to
| form an opinion of Stanford's motive
| in confessing himself a thief, but since
J 1t was only an opinion he would pre-
! fer not to make it known to her. She
asked him II what he considered to be
! the solution reflected In any way upon
| Arthur Stanford. His reply was that
| since 1t was merely matter OF opin-
| ion he would be as ineXcusable If he
answered the second as the first ques-
ton
1t was evident from this that what
/ Mr.. Douglas suspected was detrimental
! TO Mr.. Stanford. Bessie had herself
heard a report that had set her to
! thinking. 1t was that Arthur had
been seen several times recently in
company with the daughter of a
| wealthy man-indeed, millionaire She
suspected that Mr.. Douglas opinion
was based on this report She could
! not but contrast his sense of honor,
/ his delicacy. with what she suspected
Arthur to have been guilty of. But
with her. as with Douglas, 1t was only
a suspicion.
/ 81 will state an inference Of my own"
! she said to Douglas. and leave it to
| you whether you shall tell me if It CO.
/ incides with the opinion you have form
! ed. suspect Mr. Stanford of con
Tossing a deed he did not commit to
/ induce me to break my engagement
with him that he might be free TO
marry into "A wealthy family"
We have both arrived at the same
suspicion" was the reply.
you mean conclusion"
We'll. be it conclusion. II You like
! that word better
When Mr.. Douglas rose to 90 he
asked that the acquaintance might be
continued and received permission t.
call again without reference to the mat
ter that had brought the two together.
Stanford continued In the employ Of
Douglas * Son. In time his engage
ment with the young lady TO whom he
had been paying attention was an
nounced one day Bessie Ellison met
him on the street and cut him.
Il Then It was announced that his en-
eagement was broken. He appeared
one evening ut Bcssie's home. claimed
that his object IN cOnfessing a theft
!, he had not committed had been with
view TO testing her love for him and
confessed That be had discovered th9t
he was 20 completely wrapped up IN
her that ne could not live without her
~ am sorry" she said coldiy. Your
confession comes too late. am en-
| gagged to Mr. Douglas"
i Nov. z in American