The diamond drill., 1919-03-01
CHAPTER xI.
The Spirit Of Michael Henry and
Others.

At the examination OF Amos Grim
shaw my knowledge was committed to
the records and ceased 10 be source
OF danger 60 me. Grlmshaw came TO
the village that day. On my way TO
the courtroom / saw him walking
slowly, with bent head as / had seen
him before, followed by old Kate She
carried her staff In her left hand while
the forehnger OF her right hand was
pointing him out. Silent as a ghost
and as unheeded--one would say-she
followed his steps.
observed that old Kate sat on a
front seat with her hand to her ear
and GrImshaw beside his lawyer at a
big table and that when she looked at
him her lips moved In n strange un-
uttered whisper of her spirit. Her
face filled with Joy as one damning
detail after another came out in the
evidence.
The facts hereinbefore alleged, and
others, were proved. for the tracks fit-
ted the shoes OF Amos. The young
man was held and presently indicted.
The time of his trial was not deter
mined.
i wrote n good hand those days and
the leading merchant of the village
engaged me TO post his books every
Saturday at ten cents an hour. Thence
forward until Christmas / gave my
free days TO that task. / estimated
the sum that / should earn and
planned TO divide II in equal parts and
proudly present II 10 my aunt and
uncle on Christmas day.
One Saturday while l was at work
on the big ledger OF the merchant /
ran upon this Item:
October as. wright-To one suit
or clothes for Michael Henry from
measures furnished by :. Robin
Shirts 10 match ......................... l7O
/ knew then the history Of the suit
OF clothes which had worn since that
rainy October night. for ! remembered
that Sam Robinson, the tailor, had
measured me at our house and made
up the cloth of Aunt Deels weaving.
observed also. that numerous ar
ticles--a load OF wood, two sncks Of
-four, three pairs OF boots, one coat,
ten pounds OF salt pork and four
bushels OF potatoes-all for michael
Henry"-had been charged TO Silas
Wright.
SO by the merest chance l learned
that the invisible Michael Henry" was
the almoner OF the modest statesman
and really the spirit OF Silas Wright
feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked and warming the cold house,
I'm the absence OF its owner. II was
the heart OF Wright Joined TO that OF
the schoolmaster, which sat In the
green chair.
/ fear that my work suffered n mo-
rnent's interruption, for just then
began TO know the great heart OF the
senator. It's warmth was In the cloth
ing that covered my back. It's delicacy
In the ignorance OF those who had
shared It's benefactions.
I count this one OF the great events
OF my youth. But there was a greater
one, although II seemed not so at the
time OF II. traveller on the road to
Bnllybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing a large amount Of money
| $2,700 was the sum, II | remember
rightly. He was man who. being
Justly suspicious OF the banks. had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
nounced the loss and the offer OF a
large reward. The village was pro-
foundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went mp the road stirring Its
dust and cropping in its grass and bril-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed 10 be lying there. II was said.
however. that the quest had been un-
successful. So the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery Of the
village and OF oil the hills and val
leys toward Ballybeen--a topic OF old
wives and gabbllng husbands at the
freside for unnumbered years.
BY and. by the fall term Of school