Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-10-24
''That be is not guilty"
"Then who is ~ said Silas sharply.

THAT be is not guilty."
"Then who is p said Silas sharply.
"You retorted Bunco. planting him.
self before the door. aud displaying 9
badge. at the sight Of which Silas trem.
bled. So,
What proof have you Of such an ac-
cusation?' said Silas recovering his pres
ence of mind with an effort.
Ample replied the other. .'Nu-
merous peeulations in the Office here, in
duced the authorities to place it under
surveillance; and, for month past have
occupied the post OF detective under the
guise ola clerk Tive days ago, unob-
served as you thought. you sbstracted a
letter directed to Earnest Jasper. Next
day you returned it. An earnest exami-
nation which I, as we'll as you. know how
to make. proved that it contained check
the same-for by process of my own
| was able to read its contents-to- day
presented at the bank by Jasper. and
now i'll my possession"
"But all that" argued Silas, "does
not prove that either opened the letter
or altered the check"
las to the question of a letters hav-
ing been opeued,''' said the detective. IAN
expert is not easily deceived As to the
alteration of the check, Mr.. Winter, the
drawer, is ready to swear THAI George
Jasper inclosed it uualtered in his pres
encs, and left the letter with him to mail;
and | can swear that when it came to the
hands of Earnest Jasper, tho check was
in its present state.
'Slas Grimgrin stood mute and sdllep.
"rhere is another charge against you, !"
resumed the detective.
Silas started.
To-day you opened a decoy letter
containing money.
The guilty man made a movement as
if to escape, but the towering form Of the
detective blocked his way. In an in tant
the snap of the handouts on bis wrist was
heard, and brief search brought to light
the identical bill taken from the decoy
letter
The-poor. wretch's courage failed, and
be confessed all.
He had stolen George Jasper's letter.
not MS be had others. for gains sake, bat
to .ubserve another purpose. He too
loved Mildred Heatb, aud had been main
ly instrumental in breeding difficulties be-
tween her and her betrotbed To fix up,
on his rival the stigma Of, an infamous
crime, seemed sure way to secure the
field permanently to himself The fra
,ernal devotion which prompted Ernest
j asper to sacrifice his own reputation,
was something nature Ike Silas GRIM
grin's was alike meal pable Of understand
ing or foreseeng. The widow Jasper,
Edith, and Mildred were all weeping
tears oijoy at once over Ernest, but re-
leased from prison, when George burst 10
among them.
"W hat you here, Ernest p he ex-
claimed, Il saw your arrest announced
in the paper, and hurried back at once"
A word explained all
And then George met Mildred's eyes
looking SO tearfully and lovingly into his
own that, forgetting all, he was about
TO clasp her in his arms.
"But that letterr' he said, drawing
bach with sudden constraint.
"W hat letter 2"
"The one in which you declared all
was over between US.
Mlldred's surprise was sufficient an
sWer.
'.lThen that was another.of Silas Grim
grin's fosgeries !" cried George instinct
lively guessing the truth.
Two happy weddings speedily followed
And we are pleased to be able to add
that, as a husband. George Jasper isn't a
bit jealous.-Ledger.