Year: 1879

which the third finger was absent. =
There were in the distinct indented i'm
pressions of the thumb, index, and
long second finger, and then there was
space between that finger and the lit
tie one.


She knew Josiah Thomas had lost the
third finger In question down to the sec
ond joint, and that, therefore, the mark
of the hand was not so much circum-
stantial as direct evidence. He had
printed the proofs of his guilt on the sur
face of the box of mignonette growing
in the very windowsill where he had
thrown the button down.


1t was clear to her as daylight : he
had rested his left hand on the box
while his right was engaged in forcing
the window.


But his motive-his motive ?


What should she do


She was still apparently inactive; and
yet her busy brain was planning, and
her only action had been to cover the
mark of the hand with a plate, as she
had seen the policeman do in connection
with the marks in the grounds, when
Josiah Thomas, filled with consterna-
ton, rushed into the house.


" Ruth, Ruth I" he cried, in veritable
terror" they have taken David into
custody for stealing e3OO from the far
mer here He would not do it = he is
too good a fellow L shall go mad if
they put David in prison ~
She neither knew what to do or to
say.


C. L was listening," she said, "when
Mr.. Summers came here, and knowall
until they went away. What has hap
pened since ?"


"No sooner had your father told him
about the robbery, and that he was sus-
pected of it, than-you know how pas
sionate he is j he flung your father
down, whereupon the farmer, in his
rage, gave him into custody, and he has
been taken up before Sir Robert"


She was afraid to answer him then
and there, for there was no one there to
help her. Again, she was so much con-
fused by his evident grief.


" Let us go up to the Hail. she said.


During their walk he never ceased
speaking in praise of his cousin, whom,
apparently, he had ruined remorselessly
by means of an infamous and monstrous
act.


They reached the Hall as Sir Robert
Maddenham, the justice of the peace be-
fore whom David Thomas had been
taken, had decided to remand the case
until next day, he refusing to admit
the accused to bail, but at the same time
declining to send him to prison.


1t was understood that the constable
was not to leave him, and that the in
vestigation was to be resumed on the fol-
lowing morning.


Next morning, the post-mistress found
thick letter for Farmer Hartley, which
had been dropped in the box during the
night.


The lawyer engaged for the farmers
ward, the ward himself, and Ruth (still
silent, but determined to speak before
the JUSTICE, were present when the
servant brought in the unstamped
packet.


The farmer opened it, and found II
contained the packet of notes, still sealed
as he had left it on the Sunday evening
The thief had actually returned them
without opening the wrapper in which
they were enclosed.


"Oh ~ said the lawyer, there il
something more in this than is at first
sight apparent. There has been nc
theft here for the sake of theft; anC
either David Thomas has an aceomplict
or he is victim. If the former, how i:
it this accomplice did not make away
yesterday with the sum ?"


"I'm very sorry 1 gave the lad into
custody and let me tell you, lawyer,
like him all the better for knocking me
down, though 1 am his Ruth's father
when 1 accused him of stealing thu
notes"


81 know who stole the money, faith
er ~ interposed Ruth.


''You, child z"


She pointed to Josiah Thomas, nov
wildly coming towards the house, an'
looking the picture of despair.
Farmer" he said, "you won't say
word against Dave, will you? I'll pa,
double the sum, and here's the money
Dave couldn't do no harm; and if harm