The Placer herald., 1862-11-01
THE MYSTERIOUS ROBBERIES.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

While sitting alone in my Office one dull,
dark. drizzly, October afternoon, indulging
in the luxury of quiet smoke, the door
opened in timd, hesitating manner and
an old, wrnkled, grey headed man, poorly
and shabbiy dressed. shuf1-d in, and throw
ing the glance of what was still keen
restless, suspicious black k eye over my person,
said in subdued and what sounded like a
humble tone, that he bad called to see Mr..
George Larkin.
"That is my name sir!" returned |; 'pray,
step forward and take a seat"
The old man seemeI to hesitate MOI
ment, eyed me sharply, glanced wariIy
about the apar'm and then observed as
he walked forward and sat down near me:
81 hope we are alone, Mr.. Larkin, for my
business concerns on our two selves"
1--WE are quite alone sir, AS YOU see"
"Bul sometimes, am tod" he continued
hesi'aingly, "lhese kind of paces-I beg
your pardon! mean no offence to vou-
sometimes, I say, am told, these places are
contrived for secret listeners"
"But have assured YOU sir" | replied
rather coldly, that we are alone here, and
if you doubt my word, perhaps you had
better carry your secret, whatever it is
away with YOU"
"WeIl, well" he rejoined, somewhat has
tilv, "never mind will take your word
| will trust you. And have good author
iy for doing so, .oo," he added, partly solilo
quizng and partly addressing me. you
see Mr.. Larkin, as there is to be confidence
between us it is no more than fair to tell
you that have been to a magistrate, asking
for a secret police agent, of superior cunning
and intelligence, and that Mr.. George Lar
kin was uamed as the individual on whom
| could re y in esery particular"
81 am much obliged to the magistrate,
whoever he is, for his good opinion and rec
ommendation," answered with slight bow.
"And now, sir, if you are satisfied, | am
prepared to hear your communication"
Again the old man besitated and eyed
me keenly. and turned somewhat pale at
lhe thought Of what he was about to di,
vulge; but at last, as if pressed by necessity.
he semed to put his scruples aside, and said:
"Mr. Larkin, | am anad man, as you see
and perhaps rather eccentric one, as you
may discover. Old as am, am alone in
the world, having neither wife nor child,
and only some distant relations, who do not
care for me, nor for them. Poor as look.
and as everybody believes me-" here be
glanced bis keen eyes suspiciously around
him, leaned forward and whispered in my
ear) 81 have gold-much goid-gold enough
to-to-. Well, no matter"
! looked at the old man as he paused, and
| said, while debating in my own mind
whether he was sane or a monomaniar,
"WelI sir, what has this gold to do with me?'
"Let me confess to you," lie pursued,
''since have resolved to trust you, what
have told no mortal ear, that | love gold
adore gol-and that am what the world,
if it knew would call miser."
"Ihen you are to be ptied, said |.
He fastened upon me strange, startled,
searching look, AS if he doubted the sinceril
ty of my words, the sentiment of which was
beyond his comprehension, it Icing impossi
bic for him to understand how a miser-a
man having actual heaps of goId-could be
in any degree subject of pity.
"Yes." he resumed at length, 81 never
saw any human being tba. liked as well as
myself; but gold, silver money, the coin of
tuc iCd''iI, W al IcditIIS, INC IL pCtlci.
"Well," returned |, now really convinced
that the old man was not in his right mind,
81 do not see what this has to do with me-"
"Ay ay, am coming to that Mr.. Larkln-
am coming to that. You see, being alone
in the world, and loving nothing but my
gold, naturally live alone with my gold
Ie"rs ago-a great many years ago you
see-I bought an old tumble down house on
the outskirts lleavens what price had
to pay for it too!-two hundred pounds,
Mr. Larkin-a cualy two hundred poNnds,
all in hard gold, too-ah, me! Well, as |
was saying, bought the house, and then
went to work myself, and with my own
hands, that might not pay out any more
money and have anybody know my secret, |
constructed sate-a firelpr"of safe-and
then had IAN iron door made for it, with a
bank,ock that no one could open without
the key and secret of him who had locked
it. This done, | sold all the property which
had inherited, converted it into gold, put
the gold in leather bags, (ano,her expens
i've IuxuryD and secretly deposited them in
my safe. Since then have dressed like
baggar, and lived alone with my gold, the
sight Of which has given me hours Of rap
ture, and the jingle of which has filled my
ears with delight which cannot express.
Well sir-well sir" continued the old man,
fairly trembling at the thought, II now
come to the painful business which has
brought me here. All me! ah me! wonder
it has not driven me mad! For years, Mr.
Larkin-for years, sir have live alone
with my gold, and kept my own secret, and
poboddy found me out; but of late sir,
heaven be mercifulD have been robbed
robbed, sr-of my gold, Mr.. Larkn."
"Then suppose you are now poor
man?' said |. "How was your house bro
ken intog Give me the most minute partic.
ulars-for it is often by the merest trit1es
that we detectives are able to get the clue
that leads to the greatest results"