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Show t THE' SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. SUNDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 14, 1920: 1 wouldnt believe It if an angel said she'd etole our things. Bhe couldnt shes not hnllt to do iy Theres a Wicked plot hatched' against her, for she couldnt tell a lie, or act apart. I never knew such a downright truth- ful girl In all my life." Then, if not ber, who?" asked Mr. Turtle. " Who under this roof would seek to ruin her Being the Tragical Tale of Proper Beauty Who Had One Too Many Admirers. TOMS came of very respectable and was the top flower of the JOANNA her mother always said. She had and four brothers, so It was A tidy sired bunch; but when Jack Toms fell off bis boss and died of it, his children, that were not already out to work, had quickly to set about It. Because, with such a family, Jack never bad much chance to put by a penny, though he made good money as hunts-Jnato the Dart Vale Harriers for twenty seasons. But there it. was: the pitcher went once too often to the well and in his middle age a bit over 40 he came a bad purler, and two of bis ribs pierced the poor mans lungs, and be languished from January till April and then went home. j , But Susan couldnt tell. ru never believe it Weve got her word, sbe answered. "And her word's her bond; And God will right her," she declared. But Farmer was impatient at this, and who shall blaml him? He thought hed been uncommon Christian about it and gave it as his opinion that few would have acted so kindly as he bad. TTjey talked to no purpose and was just going to their beds, when old Ket LucaS, head man at Four Ways, come running in to em front his tallet, where he slept over the stables. Ho was clad in his trousers and shirt and no more. " Us be artns! God's goodness! " he said. Tls the new rlcke in the corner of Jacob's , Held, or else Tls tho cow byro down under. They ran to the door and there, sure enough, they see red fire biasing not half a mile off and lighting halt tbe sky. The farm sloped down to Dart vale, and on the edge of the hill, where eras Jacobs field a five acre croft under wheat that year rose up a great! glare with flame flickering through it. The night was still and starless and the blaze arose steady out of the dark. Farmer got Into his boots" io quick as he could, and Susan ran and roused her brother, whod gone to bed, and Lucas called np another man tha dwelt bard by. Then they went down to "find tbe two brave wheat stacks, only piled a fortnight before, was both alight and burning to the heart. They could do naught, for the fire had got a start of em and their buckets of water only turned to a puff of steam afore they reached the trouble. Indeed none durst go very near, for the boat was tremeadouaand, even so, young Tom got his .mustache Wry near burned off and Kat Lucas "was singed, from his scant thatch to his knee, ail down on n Most of hia children were earning their living by then, save the younger ones; and Joanna by rights did ought to have been out to work, for she was 18; but she was ever Jack's pet, and he contrived to have his will and kept her to home. I think it was because she was so pretty and favored him. For a man than her father never handsomer crossed a hoss. Clean cut, clean shaved, clean limbed, and clean every way, with dark curly hair, gray quick eyes, and a gracious way with him that won all hearts, high and low. In fact, the folk at his funeral surprised ven his wife, and it was no small consolation to Mary Toms to see who wgs there, and the proper flower show of beautiful hot house stuff the quality sent. But a man who showed good spot for twenty years deserved -- ' such a funeral, and also the brave tombstone the Hunt put up over his grave. Joanna favored her father a bowerly maid with a gentle temper like him; and much in bis pattern modest and quiet and seemingly cot alive to her good looks. Sbe faced her first great sorrow pretty brave; but the world was a mighty different place for her when Jack died, and she werent sorry to leave home and get away from a place haunted by her father. that. And Susan likes her and tells me that There was one bright thing in her life, howshe don't seem particular Intel ested in the sailor to a boy anJ ever, for she was tokened males. She's hadn offer or two, but turned loved him very dear; but that was a secret, em down. and Joanna bad promised him faithfully not " Then youve no call to fret, he answered; back home came till It he to tell about again and Mrs. Turtle, who thought well of her and could make a home for her. husbands Judgment, ceased to trouble about Tbe Toms family lived at the lodge gates Joanna's good looks. For shs worked as of Holne Chase, and when Farmer Turtle's well as the plainest. lady offered to take Joanna, to be maid of ail work at Four Wajs, near Buckiand, Mary Thlnge went on very easy for a good bjt Toms wag glad, because the Turtles were and Joanna was content and happy, as her mother soon found. She liked tbe place and godly, prosperous- people and well thought on; and it also meant that Joanna would althe people, and her aplrits rose presently, for the most loving young creature cant ways get home for a bit on her day out. mourn a good father forever. But then Bo she went both glad and sorry and Mary Toms marked 'a gradual change and about five months after fell out this very felt that a cloud came over Joanna now and tragical tale. Thf Turtles were a small fam-Uthen. She asked If anything was amiss and Just Thomas Turtle and Alice his wife; her girl declared there was not. and one daughter, tokened to the Re. Blades, a Baptist minister at Asburton; ani Theyre all kindness alive, she said, one son, young Tom Turtle. His father and I'd do anything in my power for any of em. All the same lifes life, and It can be being called Thomas, he was always called Tom a very sharp young fellow and thought a bit difficult seemingly. Miss Susan has bit stiff necked by his own generation, asked me to be bridesmaid when ehe's marthough held to be an example for It by hla ried next October, and shell pay for the mother, who loved him better than anything dress, she says; but I won't have that. Tie in the world. a great honor for me, and If her mother Toung Tom helped his father, and Four agrees, I must have a flame new hat and dress for certain. Ways being A freehold, he meant to follow " Theyll miss her." in his parents footsteps. He was held a bit for such a young man; but Yes, they will especially her fathgr. She's to him same as I was to dear father nobody ever found a fault against him, and them as admired his father and mother myself. He puts her first Hes a thought afraid of his son; and not the only one. A doubted not that, with years and experience, hed grow so large mlndedas them. He was terrible strong will Master Tom have got. ' I should have a fair, freckled man, very obstinate in opinthought he'd be proud of ion and a terror to the evil doer; but his such a son. sister. Susan, had a gentler sort og mind and So he is; but you can be proud of a thing more charity. They was all Primitive Bapand a thought feared of it, too. Look at tists and the only thing as ever made them bosses. doubt about Joanna was that she belonged Tou hant feared of him I should hope? to tbs Church of England. No child of your father's was ever feared of However, they hoped that with time and anything on two legs, or four either.- and shed their Join No I hant feared of him Im sorry for persuasion, example him. very Uke she might have, for the sake of " Why then? I'm sure hs ain't sorry for pleasing them, for she took to them from the Turof Mrs. kindness and the himself. first, praised tle smd was proud of the friendship of Susan. You never know. Hes a curious young For the girls were near of an age and the man and keeps himself out of sight of everyfarmers daughter found Joanna just such a body but himself. Hes got his secrets." on as sbe could care about. Joanna was Her mother regard'd Joanna very keenly. quick minded and cleverer than Susan, and Dyou like him, or dont you? she asked. in a month the girls wore grown to bo great Tea, I like him. He likes me, too. friends; and though, in a manner of speak".You be terrible careful, Joanna." ing Mrs. Turtle felt her daughter was taking I shall be. more to Joanna than might be seemly " Id be glad, In a way. If you was engaged the future wife of a Baptist minister to a good man. Youm wife old and very and a maid of all work, yet she couldnt say near so handsome for a woman as your anything, for she liked Joanna a lot herself father was for a man. and admired her good sense and her steady Dont you feel no fear about me, mother, Work and the way she looked at life. Mrs. 1 want to bh married to the right one some Turtle was put about a little, however, beday. cause when she found the girl such a proper When Joanna went back to Four Way beauty, she had fears. In her experience that night, Mrs. Turtle was in tribulation. them right down amazing pretty girls be , Ive lost my brooch," she said. " The gold troublesome, because the men wont leave one with a lock of my mother heir let In 'em alone, and epoll em and turn their heads behind If. Look around sharp tomorrow, and give em wrong Ideas. But Farmer TurJoanna. Tls a very great treaaure.", tle didn't worry, because he said it werent So I wllTthen. Where was you today fair to doom a young creature for a beautiful In the garden or in the village? face, and' he'd known a properly lovely creaNeither. Ive been making Jam and ture turn out very well moren once. ecarce out of the house." " She's no glglet wench," he said. " She's But a great hunt failed to find the brooch elf respecting, so far as X can see, and and Mr. Turtle grew melancholy. Then, though she's got a bit up her sleeve and hid not a week later, if she didnt from the elder generation, as' all' young trlnkrum a little silver chain that ahe wore tilings have, I wouldnt call her sly or up to Sundays and a little locket as hung oh it. no games. And as for Tom, if youre thinkwith a tiny photograph of her children when ing of him, he havent got do use for, the they was babide. She made a greal outcry, females yet. Hes too busy. In fact, he's a and, slowly but surety, began to fasten on bit down on women so far as I can tee, and Joanna not to her face, but behind her back. Ive nevqr known btm to say muck in favor Because there wasnt another soul Indoore . Of am at Four Ways barring an old woman, up them Tie that think they stand, be surest home near seventy, whod been In the family to fall,, however, argued Mrs. Turtle, " and for more than half a century and was like If she was the glad eye sort Id end her on of themselves. Farmer Turtle wo.uldnt 2 solas lot future DsacaUuiiabasi ic X mnt t at fleet, and more would Susan, and ' side. I don't think in the full flush of tbe fight, nor yet after, that anybody ever connected Joanna with their great disaster. Certainly if any heart harbored the thought. It was on no Up till other things happened; but at cockfight Farmer Turtle went down to his burned out corn ricks, and Nat Lucas with him, and it was Nat, poking about In the char, as found what threw a cruel, ugly fight on the job. For he come across a piece of paper half burned with writing upon it, and he also picked np a handkercher, and he gave them to Thomas Turtle. Fames iooked at em, then put em in his pocket and stood like a stone man staring at the rising sun; He could hardly believe his own eyes; hut there weren't a( shadow of doubt, and, after hed sent Nat off to Lower Town for the police, he went In his house place and called his wife and put the handkercher In her hand. Who's he that?" he asked. She looked at It and answered. " One belonging to Joanna Toms. There's J. T.' worked In the corner. Susan gave her six for her birthday last July. And read what be on this scrap of paper, mother, please. Mrs. Turtle took the burned sheet and read so much as was left to read. "'My darling Jo: I may get home a bit ' " after Christmas and then with luck its Turn over, said Mr. Turtle. wrtSS Hla Fife don so and readfi. ' No more sea for me then, hut farming and a cottage and Mrs. Joanna TruscotL " Then well where the stacks was, aid Fanner. " Thats how I've been paid for toy mercy. But now Tls ail over and shell go where she belongs wicked, young devil." And that night Joanna slept in clink at Ashburton lockup. A1A0DE Cuts -- J is going to spare yea, Joanna. Co nou). Be out of my Aoase in five minute." . y 1 n - miss-anoth- , more would young Tom Turtle. But then a thing happened to the young man himself, and he had to confess that hed lost a very fine breast pin made pf gold with a carbuncle set in it a gift uijder his grandfather's will and an heirloom In the family. It was gone out of his room and, along with It, he'd also loet a silver clgaret case a prize he'd took in a vegetable show for the best early potatoes two gears back. Joanna fretted as jnuch as anybody under these disasters, and presently she began Jto see that with all the will to do otherwise, the family was beginning to feel uncomfortable about her, Nobody can say how she felt about it; bnt Susan warned her before the crash came that her parents were terrible uneasy In their minds; and when she did warn her, Susan said after, Joanna didn't flare tip or nothing like that, but kept very quiet and only said that afore God ehe knew nothing about the lost treasures. And Susan most steadfastly believed her. The sequel came all In a hurry on a September evening when the family was together and Mr. Turtle axed his son what was amiss; because that was another trouble and the young man had been glum and queer and unlike himself for q day or two. For the minute theyd' put by their losses and, as Susan was going to be married next month, her wedding filled the air. But now young Tom told em bluntly that hed missed two pounds In gold and two half crowns. If you must know thats what Im fretting for not for the money, but what it means. Twas on my table along of my watch three morning ago, I will swear, he said; " but I was in a hurry and a thought late for breakfast. So I pitched on my clothes, and came down, and left my watch and chain and money on my table. And when I went np later, my watch' was there and the money was not; and the mischief be that nobody but Joanna Toms went in the room between the time I left It and the time I went back. She always does my room when Im to breakfast" Then that brings things to a crisis," deWe cant have no more of clared farmer, tills, and m face her so soon as she comes In the house tonight Nobody wants 'to find ber guilty, God He knows; but tls time she sag the pesitlon that weve been too soft hearted to put before her. She must clear herself, because things cant go without hands, and what hands are there but hers?" They didnt make no suggestions and presently Mr. Turtle said he knew what hed do. But before he had time to tell them, Joanna came back from her afternoon out Then Thomas Turtle called her Into the kitchen before tbe family and spoke straight as to what had happened. t "Things have been getting a long sight too hot In this house, Joanna," he said, "and as a clever creature with plenty of wits, you know that as well as I do. Now theres only six souls In this house, and people's don't leal from themselves, so yov can leave out Mra Turtle and me and Tom and 8usan. And that leave Jen Blocorab and you. Well, Jans' one of ue worked for m.par- ent before me and her good'e cure end our good here. She. wouldnt take nothing. So we he all clear hut you, my dear,' and 'you've got to clear yourself, If you please, because nobody els can do It for you. We've all marked you woe a good bit troubled of lata with aoinhi--.voi viHwy wandered w- e She sat scrunched np. Shem gone pele as now; and farmer said afterwards that guilt was on her face If ever he seed It. Then he mentioned his son's money. Joanna Changed color and gave a bit or a gasp fronted like that afore 'em ail But ehe a dogs tooth by soon come to herself. I see 'tls terrible difficult, master," she said. Ive feared moren once you was looking at me doubtful, so I'd best to go, I reckon. In fact me and mother talked It over today, and she thinks .the same. And if Master Tom have lost money but there 'tls. Id best to go. In fact I was going to say the word to mist. is tomorrow." "That's for ou to decide," answered the You swear afore God youve not farmer. took nothing, Joanna?" Young Tom went away then and out of doors. Hed got restless about It, and lie confessed to Susan later that he feared for Joanna and couldn't stand and see her worsted. But 8usan eat by her and took her hand and spoke kind words and told her not to cry. Though she was feared, too, because for all their confidences, Joanna had never said nothing to her about a lover. Mrs. Turtle wasnt away ten minutes. Then she came down,' blew out her candle, with never a word, went to the table, and eet upon It her golden brooch, her silver chain and locket, youpg Tom's breast pin, and his I do. Very well then. We want to believe you. But If you're innocent, then youll be wishful to prove It. " I cant prove It I can only take my oath. I didnt touch anything. Im my . money. Good God! cried ont Mr, Turtle, end he glared at the things as if they was a live fathers daughter, and that ought to be 1 enough. serpent. Altogether at the bottom, of her box her shifts, said his wife. ' She was deathly pale, too, and breathing so deep as a cow. SuBan give a gasp and Jumped up. Joanna screamed once and then went off in a faint and fell off her chair on the ground. If thunder could have brought her to. It would have done so, for Farmer Turtle was fiery man, though a Just one, and now, at this dreadful discovery, he let himself go and roared out what he thought about it. Susan ministered to Joanna and fetched her round; and then young Tom cam in again to hear the fatal news, and bis father, spoke Uke the trump of doom to the sinner. He thanked heaven as the poorfox hunter was took from tbs vil to com and hadnt lived to see bis daughter a thief; and then, after a lot of fierce justice that fell Uke hall on the ears.of the frantic woman, he Inclined to mercy as his way always was. . Youre young ye!, and for your take, he aald, " and for your mothers saka. and your fathers memory, I be going to spar you. Joanna. I aay this In tho solemn words of the Savior of us all I. say, Go an' sin no more.' Go noW this lnstant mjnute, Joanna Toms. Be out of my house In five minutes, and I wont proceed against you. The awful wickedness you've done shall be hid in your heart and ours, and I pray God to have mercy up$ou and turn your soul to righteousness before It's too late. And you can send for your box In the morning. Then ahe spoke, " Ill go, she said. But I eay here afore you all, and Ill swear to It In the name of my dead father, that I never touched one of them things and I dont know more than you how j I they got in my box. " I could wish for your peace and hope of heaven you'd take another fine," replied her master, hut she only shook her head. She , was calm now and steadfast as a rock. Then ahe went up to her room, under tbe roof of , Four Ways, took her packet of letters, and went straight away out of tbe farm without another word to any of em. , But the night work wasnt don with, for while the girl tramped home, with death In her heart, no doubt, Thomas Turtle debated on the matter. , To ber parents' great astonishment, Susan stuck up for her ruined friend, and deepit the glaring facts, vowed that Joanna never could have dfne it. Tls beyond her natnre," she eaM. And un-(d- er So It ought All the world knew him. But the little jou can do, Joanna, you did ought to do. "And thankfully. But what can I do, Mr. Turtle? she asked. "You can do this, he answered. "You can let Mrs. Turtle search your pockets this minute: and then you can do one more thing. I Joanna flushed so red as a rose. Her lips shook and her eje flashed. For reply she went to her missis, put her little handbag Into her hands, and spoke. Search me, ma'am, she said. And Alice Turtle done so. There was nothing in her bag but a f, a key, and a small bottle of laven-do- r water ahed Just brought home from her mother; and there was nothing In her pockets but a bit from a newspaper a bit of a rhyme she'd cut out, because she liked It It was a hunting rhyme' and minded her of her father. ' All very good so far as It goes, Joanna, said Mr. Turtle. And now what might that key ber " The key of my box, master. " Then youll let my wife look In your box. If you please. You can trust hA." Again Joanna grew pretty hot O my God! Ui fathers daughter, to he hand-kerchie- thought" Her knees , " quivered under her; but whether "twas shame of being suspected, or fear of being found out, none watching her could , Susan stood up for her and protested against such a harsh deed, but Thomas Turtle told her io shut her mouth, for he was getyng angered now. He sold what was true enough, that If Joanna was Innocent he needn't mind the search, and It Would be no dishonor'to her lathers memory . " I dont mind the search, master," she an Fared very quiet; but theres a packet of letters in my box and they be private letter and I dont think you ought to look at em. Thtt depends, Joanna." replied Mrs. Tur-tl"Be very sure I shant read nothing. Your letters are your own; but, at a fearful time Uk this, you didnt ought to make no difficulties, in my opinion. If theres litters,-third party shall read em not us, Usll take em to parson, or anybody you Uk to name above suspicion." "They letters be from my lover," said Joanna quietly. A Take the key, maam, Ill ' sm fcer s. a J Found-alongsi- de Eh stood her trial at the Assises and the case went against ber from the first. Everything cam out, of course, and to them skilled In such affairs, who only look at tbo facts and donT taka no count of human character, there could be but on end te It She said, ee far as the things in her box were concerned, that she knew naught about 'em and bad never put em there; while, as to th stacks, she could only swear that she knew naught about 'em neither. 8h said that ' when she com to look at her lovers letters one, the last, was missing from her parcel, and, as for th handkercher, she said sherd never used any of em, but kept em stored among ber treasures aa being too good to use, and for that matter th other five was found in her box, and they had not been used. Her mother took her oath that Joanna eamo home, on tho night eh was sent off from Four Waye, by 11 o'clock, and Nat Lucae swore hed first caught sight of the fire through the little window in his sleeping place at a bit after 10, so th time fitted exactly right, and nobody In hla tenses ever doubled that ehe'd gone off In her rag and eet fire to th rloks on her way home. It was 4 simple, gveryday sort of arson, according to tho law, with everything in Its place, all very orderly and according to human nature and no mystery anywhere. But arson Is a very serious business, as th cut prlt found, for she got three years aa, m sympathy from anybody parth hut her mother and Busan Turtle. - , JTi poor girl vanished accordingly, and when Bob Truscott cam home from oea after tbo New Year and went first thing to tho lodge where Mrs. Toma still dwelt, he didnt surprise her by no means to much as bins Twas a very erne! shock for V - . '(Centlnoed m following page.1 . . 1 t |