Ruby's Reward — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

seas! “Perhaps you even put it in there yourself, Mr. Carpenter t” ‘It was not all my doing,” he confessed, hia glance wavering before her clear, steady look. “It was partly by accident. It slipped down a crack while I was examining some of my father’s papers, and I simply allowed it to remain there.” “That was very honorable!” Ruby said, with a curl of her red lips. ’ “There never ought to have been a will made,” the man retorted, sullenly, "and when fate slipped it down that hole, I could not get at it without breaking the desk to pieces.” “Would you have given it to the public if the aeci- dent had not occurred?’ Ruby questioned, sternly, A lurid flush shot over her Companion’s face, and he shifted his position uneasily, “No, you world not,” she went on, in the same tone. “You would have found some other hiding- place for it; or, perhaps, you might even have de- stroyed it, In order to have kept one, whom your father loved, out of the portion which you feared he had bequeathed to hin. Yes," Ruby continued, ina clear, ringing tone, ‘I did find Mr. Ralph Carpen- ter’s will last night, and my tirst impulse was to give it directly to you; but, remembering how much Thad heard said about it—that some believed a great wrong had been done—which belief I confess to hav- ing shared myself, since knowing olf your implaca- ble hatred toward Mr. Richardsou—I resolved that I would try you first. Ireasoned that it might possi- vdly have been an accident whieh mighthave occurred during your father’s life, ond of which you would thus he entirely ignorant. I felt sure that [ could tell whether this was so by your manner when you should learn how Il had broken your desk. If you betrayed no anxiety or aig a if you cid not look for anything, I should have been convinced of your innocence, and would have given you the docu- Ment atonce, But when you betrayed that you knew, I felt that such a course would be unwise, aud I re- solved to retain it until Tcould be sure that justice would: be done. I am afraid I have made a great mistake, however. I think I ought to have told Mr. oo when be was here in spite of Yur pres: