Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-17

our place found it in great commotion.
Clerks running hithcr and thither, the
heads of the firm standing about in the
most unbusiness-like manner, and three
constables on the premises.
"What is the matter, sir ?" I said, ad-
dressing Mr.. Grinby.
Matter enough" said he. "We've
been heavily robbed"
I fancied that couldn't happen here"
said I. "I really believed it would be
impossible for burglars to break into Morris,
Grinby & Sons, sir"
"Ah," said he, i" they did not break in.
The door has been quietly opened from
the inside"
"And I believe" began Mr.. Morris.
"Sir." cried young Mr.. Grinby, out of
breath, 81 beg, as a gentleman, as a man
of principle, you will not give utterance to
your unfouuded suspicious-totally un-
founded and unworthy Of you"
"Prove them so, sir" said Morris, cool
ly, "and III apologize"
l looked an inquiry.
"Don't ask explanations, I beg. Mr..
HUMPHREYS" said Mr.. Grinby. "Some-
thing has been said which the speaker
will regret. All, there comes my messen-
ger"
And in ran one of our boys.
"Well, Tom," said Mr.. Grinby.
"Mr. Wade amt been home all night,
sir" said Tom.
81 told you so," said Mr. Morris.
"And l tell you even yet 1 will not
hear my dear friend's-yes, my very dear
friend's-character aspersed," said young
Grinby. Humphrics, I know you love
young Ben Wade as I do. Fancy him
connected with this robbery. As we'll
suspect my father, or myself, or you"
He's missing" said Mr.. Morris, shut
ting the Office door upon us three. d" He
was seen to return late in the evening.
He was one of the band Of housebreakers
when we took him in, and many declare
the character to be formed at six years old.
He was nine. l believe he has been won
back to his old ways"
" You will not express your believe to
others Z" said Mr.. Grinby.
Not as yet, most certainly" said Mr..
Morris.
Well, sir, that was bitter cold day to
me-a bitter day. We could learn moth.
ing Of young Wade after eight o'clock on
the previous night Then several had
seen him. He had takep tea at little
coffee house, as he sometimes did when he
did not intend to return home until quite
late, and had said to some one there, &C.
must go back to the Office. l have forgotten
something"
Half an hour afterward, Mike, the por-
ter, had passed him in the street, and
young Wade had said:
What's the time Nike"
The porter told him.
Il shall be too late," he said. "I have
an engagement, and must 60 back to our
place for parcel I've forgotten"
An apple woman on the corner had seen
him enter. He often bought fruit from
her for lunch, and she knew him BY sight.
There the news ended, until Nike, going
in to light the fires, found the place q
scene Of confusion-desks and safes rifcd
papers strcwed about, and every mark Of
systematic burglary.
Late in the day Lucy Evans came down.
Her brother had sent her word of what
occurred She believed some accident had
happened to Ben, and begged the firm to
spare no efforts to discover him. She was
almost distracted, and who can wonder
They had been going together, it seemed
to see some play the night before, and she
had been sufficiently alarmed by his failing
to keep the appointment to be in a meas
ure prepared for the worst. She knew he
intended to bring her q book. He had
spoken of it. That must have been the
parcel he went back for. OF course, she
never doubted him, and no one dared t.
hint at what had been whispered, in hel
presence.
For weeks, sir, the authorities were al
work. Immense rewards were offered fol-
the burglars, and the recovery, alive ol
dead, of young Benjamin Wade, but with
out the least effect.
We were notified of everybody washed
ashore, and of every unknown man fount
| dead for months, and at last there were few
who did not laugh at poor Bcn's friends
for their credulity.
1t seemed plain to them-and ma,
Heaven not judge them as they judget
their brother-Ben Wade was guilty.
Poor Lucy never looked up. 1t wa
easy enough to see that her heart was bro
ken, and in a year she died, just weel
too soon to hear what shall tell you.
One morning l was very busy at my
desk in the Office when gentleman cam,
in and asked for Mr.. Morris or Mr.
Grinby. Old NJ. Grinby was at hom,
with the gout, but Mr.. Morris and th,
young gentleman were in saw the gen
tleman was clergyman, and fancied h
had called to solicit subscription for somt
mission TO the heather, or Sunday schoo
or new church. But his first words mad,
me start. They were these:
"You remember, of course, burglar,
committed here year ago or more"
l could not keep my seat then, bu
went forward, trembling like leaf