Ruby's Reward — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

CNAPTER XXXTII. “T WILL NOT BELIEVE ONE WORD AGAINST HIM,” In order to understand more fully the events of the preceding chapter, we must go back to the morning that Walter lett Edmund Carpenter's house after hay- ing ence more passed a night in his old room, He had slept very soundly; not even the fierce conflict of the elements had. served to disturb him, wud no thought of treachery or foul play had entered hia mind as,in the dim light of the early dawn, he hurriedly dressed himself and then crept quietly down stairs, letting himself out by a back entrance 80 that he need disturb no one in the house. He had noticed one thing, however, while, dress- ing. It was a trivial circumstance in itself, but it re- turned to his mind afterward when his trouble came y.pon him. : It was his custom, and had been taught him by his mother in his early boyhood, to arrange his clothing in an orderly way overa chair before going to bed, so that everything would be couvenient when he arose. But on this morning he had found his coat lying on the floor, instead of hanging upon the back of the chair. where he was ste he had placed it. Still he attributed it to hig own haste or careless- ness, if he gavethe matter any thought at all, and went on his way all unsuspicious of the vile scheme that was soon to bring Lim into the direst strait that he had ever known. At eight o’clock on Monday morning, and just be- fore breakfast was served to Mrs, Coxon’s boarders, Mrs. Gordon came hurriedly down etairs, looking startled and anxious. She encountered Ruby upon the veranda, and asked, excitedly : “Ruby, have you been to cither my jewel-box or my purse?” “Of course not, Estelle,’ the young girl returned, ee astonished and a trifle indignant at the ques- tion. “But some one has been there, for my solitaire dia- mond ear-rings are gone from the box, and it hundred: dollar bill from my purse.” comicboo eae