The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03

| be did nof forget ~ said " ] have the
money here to cash the draft; thous and is the
amount, bee7ey'
"Yes.v
And you wanted 1t in two FIVE hundred dollar
| notes ~
Yes, If convenient"
!" There they are. captain"
He folded them up, put them IN bis vest pocket
| looked ct his watch again. Jupieri" said be
I've but five minutes time; tell Joe Warren
left my regards for him; good bye we"
Joe was just then coming out of Weathersford's
| he saw the captain and called to him 10 stop.
Z" Good bye, Joe, old fellow" said the captain,
as he ran havn't got time TO stop; see you next
trip"
And Joe, giving mp the chase, came in. threw
down The duplicate check, and said, There we
aTe.n
"Did you tell weathersford ?" asked.
No, he didn't ask, only supposed we had lost
GOOD COED ~ said /; " now the gold is paid,
| Capt. A. is paid-here is the check-yOu have
enough cash of your own TO make good the bal
| ance, haynt you 2"
About enough"
"Then," said /, {" you'd better open the safe. ~
| know not which of us was the happier alb 0ut
that time. Joe and had known each other too
| long and well 10 stop for any Of those conven-
| tional words of thanks which would have been
| expected from the lips Of stranger. confess
| too. we were both Of Us little bewildered with
| our heavy mornings work.
| Go ahead with business Just as il nothing had
| happened, Joe," ] said, land come around to
! supper with me this EVENING"
I'm come" he said, mechanically, with his
head bent over the safe lock, inspecting it closely
| "Ill be there, George, at O'Clock"
why, Mr.. Cotton, you didn't half eat your
breakfast this morning." said the CHEEKY voice of
my lsndlady, as mounted 10 my lodgings again
| No, I've been getting up an appetite though,
| Mrs. Snugley," answered, closing the door.
CHAPTER SECOND.
| ! lit my pipe, and taking a seat by the open
1 window | cOnl1 nd fha
psssersby. fell to thinking of what had done
that morning. Now and then a momentary re-
Election stole over me. and whispered. you're
/ fool TO send your wits and your money wool
| gathering this way on the impulse of a single
| thought. Who would have done, or ever has
done, as much for your Now here this morning
you have disbursed, nay perhaps thrown away
the nest little sum of sixteen hundred and ninety
| one dollars and eighiy-elght cents, with very
meager prospect OF getting it back for sometime
| to come, at least
Now this thought | dismissed as often as il
came. Il only nerved my determination. Z" There
has been theft committed" | said, "a somebody
committed ii. That somebody can be found must
be found, and now, having gone far as have
ID The matter, i am evidently the man to find him.
or lose my money"
just then heard the clock strike nine in the
neighboKing bell tower Cant idle this way all
day, Mr.. George" said l. aloud, srisng and taking
q final survey of the street below. My eye fell
on cab that was driving rapidly up the street.
Within i was a peajacket, and within that the
same individual to whom the two bags of nv
gold had that morning been paid. he has missed
the train, thought to myself, and then / went
10 studying. g..
Joe came at the appointed time that evening.
but looked very chopfalien and downcast.
why, you take on terribly about this affair.""
said ], after he had entered, and drawn up his
chair TO the table.
Cant help it,n he said, resting his elbows on
the table, his chin on his hands, and looking at
me as if imPloring me to help him unrayel the
mystery. every thing went wrong o.day, Travis
came Gown cross a bear, because his pet New.
foundland was killed yesterday. There was q
heavy fall 10 -four too, coming Just after we or.
deTed heavy shipment. Look, l broke my
riment."
"Whst killed the Newfoundland ?"
Poisoned, Travis says."
Don't know who did it, suppose"
mo; the servants say they saw a rough look
ing man lowering around the premises on Satur.
day night and they set the dog on him. In the
morning they found the poor brute lying dead on
" Tell me. Joe, said, ''who keeps the keys to
your Office ~
I" dO.n
"And you took them with you after locking up
on Saturday nghtg"
Yes, aud had them until this morning"
:" What kind Of a lock is there on the safe ~
Patent combination lock-"
=" No one, then, can open IL unless he knows the
combination of letters with which it was last
closeup
'Of course not. That's what makes the mat.
ter mysterious. | closed il on Saturday to the |
word Beware" IL opened to that same word |
ms T morning; and yet the cash box was gone"
never forget the word with which you have
al once did, answered Joe, "and had lock-
smitn that lives around the corner working there
Tor twenty four hours to get it open again. Since
that have kept written list of words to be used
on each day Of the month";
" And that list is"
Z" In my pocket book"
=" Be perfectly sure of IT,"
He pulled out his pocket-book hurredly. His
cheeks turned ashen pale as he opened il. leone
by Joye," said be- 81 had il last on Saturday even
ing. | remember getting out nv pocket hook
taking the word from the list, laying both book
and paper down while / locked uD. The mate
came in just then with his gold, and unlocked
again on bis account. | must have failed to
replace the list in the pocket book when | re-
turned the letter to my pocket.n
" And the mate, did he come out with you ~
Yes. he appeared little 10 liquor thought.
Every one else had gone, So locked up and left
him standing on the sidewalk before the store
Were there any marks by which You could
IDENTIFY the stolen bills asked.
\ one but stay, recollect one of the five
hundred dollar bills was slit about an inch and
pasted it together with bit of tissue paper"
For few moments both of Us looked up at the
ceiling, uttering not word. "Joe," said finally,
you're tired out, you're miserable. Lie down on
he sofa and take nap. Make yourself perfectly
'asy in this matter | think I've got our man
picked out"
He was yawning even then. swell" he said.
I've let you manage this matter so far, and you
nsy as well go on after your own fashion. When
on need assistance call on me-" and lying down,
8 had hidden him, was soon asleep.
Suspicion pointed Enthusiastically toward
he seafariDg man, the mate of the Good
Iope, l thought. The disappearance Of
be list of keywords, his presence in the Office
I the time, his willingness to accept the two new
sgs OF gold that morning in place of the two he .
ad deposited, and his not having taken the train
iter ALL though in such apparent haste to take IT,
u looked unfavorable to him. But, then, the
are lock! Even knowing the Key word - Be- :
are how could this man have opeueditg how
ould he, moreover, who had not been an hour in ,
oTt, have prepared false key to admit him to
'e building? Then again, the Newfoundland had
sen poisoned at Traviss house. Might it not ,
we been part, though misdirected one Of the
me plot' Evidently, if this sailor committed .
e theft, be had confederate. aud one skilled in
cks and keys. Now. would it not be well TO see :.
o locksmith whom Joe had mentioned, and get !,
opinion, without, of course. giving hin !.