Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-05-18

DAMAGING EVIDENCE
By LESLIE CONNER.

One by one the men in the bank re- turned from their vacations with tales of prowess and skill which varied ac- cording to age and circumstances, from MT. Witherspoon, the president, to Johnny Doubleday, who ran errands.
 Barrymore was last But not least" thought Virginia Dale with amuse- ment.
 Dick departed to the Canadian woods, and returned, as Virginia had predicted, with a story of two wonder full bucks and moose. The heads were at a taxidermist's and when they were ready the moose was to hang in the bank.
 In due time the head arrived. It really was wonderful, with antlers like the boughs of an old oak.
 Virginia stopped her work a minute to watch the hanging. Dick turned at the same instant and their eyes met. Something in the girls expression made Dick flush. After that, she was doubly sure she was right, for Dick had all the appearance of guilt.
 A few weeks later, she went into a hardware store to buy a pair of scis- sors. As she entered, the window dis play held her, for as background for lot of firearms, cartridges and hunting knives, were hung the heads of all kinds of animals. :. That is fine collection of ami mals," she said to the salesman.
 The old man scratched his head. "Yes-'tis. MT. Mooney's been heap O years collectin' them things. An 1t was dern sight finer before he sold the moose. I didn't want him to do it."
 Could you-do you know who bought it?"
 After rummage in the safe. "Yes, here 'tis. November twenty ninth. One hundred and seventy-hve dollars. Rich ard D. Barrymore" ;. The next day Virginia went to shop in city sixty miles away. She board ed an interurban car to return in the afternoon when she saw Dick Barry more just ahead. The only vacant seat was right behind him and she took it. Dick occupied a seat alone and Virginia knew that the buckled bag beside him contained twenty thou sand dollars.
 By twos and threes along the road, gers. Dick slept.
 Hardly anyone was left but them. selves. Virginia discovered that even the conductor had disappeared some where up front. F I were dishonest, could easily appropriate that bag and get off at the next stop" Y Then little imp of mischief perched on curl just over her ear. Do it anyway" he whispered, land give him a scare" And another imp moved her arm over the seat and closed her fingers around the handle of the, bag. Shaking, she lifted it over the back and when the car stopped at Truesdale Virginia got off with Dicks satchel and twenty thou sand dollars
 Early the next day she set out for the bank, arriving before any of the men. She locked the bag in her own closet and waited. But, to her perplex- ity, there was no commotion.
 Virginia felt that she must be los ing her mind. But, determined to car ry her point, she took the bag home again that night.
 The bell rang at eight, and she fair ly gasped with relief when Dick Bar rymore came in.
 Good evening, Miss Dale. I've come, if you don't mind, for my bag
 She started.
 q was only pretending sleep. There was a rumor I was to be robbed. There wasn't anything in the bag but 8 few stones."
 Dick became very serious and look ed at her oddly. Are you sure you meant to be honest?"
 "Why, MT Barrymore!"
 Well have no way of knowing"
 But; surely you know me better than that I-oh. you must know am honest"
 But you don't think am?"
 She flushed and looked away quick: iy. q never thought you'd steal, no! But Just had an idea that-oh, that old moose head had worried me so. You just bought it, so there!"
 q killed that moose with my own hands,"
 She looked her scorn.
 lie laughed. You poor little soul! It was mean revenge of mine to tor ment you so Why, dear, I love the very ground you, walk on. Virginia, can you ever forgive me enough to care for me just a little?"
 "Per-perhaps! If you promise not to play any more jokes" Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa. per Syndicate.)