Gratia's Trials — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 37 red strap that slips over; but there ain’t no harm in lookin’, You haint swep’ up, nor nothin’, have you, ma’am ?” he added, with a ‘glance toward Mrs. Kempfield. ‘‘I’d know the bill anywhere, for I’d drawed a cross in red ink at the back on’t, That’s what I do with all my big bills,” ‘Well, no, I haven't, by sheer good luck,” said she. ‘*I don’t know that a soul has been in the room since you left it, I was calculating to whitewash and do the spring cleaning there to-morrow, so I haven’t even made the bed.” ‘* All the better for me,” said the peddler. And the whole family proceeded up to assist in the search, with the exception of Gratia, who remained at the table below, quietly finishing her dinner. But no amount of search could produce a missing treasure which most assuredly was not there, and presently Joe Johnson desisted in despair. ‘*Well I do declare!” he ejaculated again, scrubbing at his _.- wet forehead. ‘‘It’s enough to make a feller believe in witch- ‘craft, The bill hadn’t legs, and it couldn’t run away.” _**No, but other people’s legs might have run away with it,” said Mrs. Kempfield, in a voice purposely lowered. ‘‘Eh ?” said the peddler. ‘I’m blamed if I don’t believe Almira’s got an idee Ira, admiringly. . ‘¢T am not one that likes to suggest, or even believe, evil of any one else,” began Mrs. Kempfield, with well-dissembled re- luctance, ‘‘ but you all heard what Gratia said last night.” ‘¢Gratia !” echoed the farmer. ! ‘‘Gratia !” uttered old Joe Johnson, in the same breath, and then there was a second or two of silence, in which you could have heard a pin drop. “‘You—you don’t think she took it?” said Joe, hesitatingly, and then Ira Kempfield swore a deep oath. ‘‘Man, take care what you are saying!’ he thundered, 3? said Gomicboo (e(0) 3