Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-07
"You ~ retorted Bunce. nlan,;na n

You" retorted Bunce, planting himself
before the door. and displaying badge. at
the sight of which Silas trembled. r.
What proof have you Of such an accusa-
stion! = said Silas, recovering his presence of
mind with an effort.
+ t..Ample, - replied the other. .Numerous
peculations in the Office here, induced the au>
thorities to place it under Surveillance; an d. !.
for month, past thave occupied the pos, Of
detective under the guise of clerk. Two
days ago, unobserved as you thought, YOU ab-
stracted letter directed to Earnest Jasper.
Next day you returned it. An exsmination
which [, as we'll as you. know how to make,
proved that it contained check-the same
for by process ofsmy own was able to
read, its contents to-day presented at the
bank by Jasper and now in my possession -
But all that, = argued Silas. sd oes not
prove that g either opened The letter, Of al-
tered the check"
Gas to the question of letters having
been opened" said the detective, "au expert
is not easily deceived. As to the alteration
of the chick. Mr.. Winter, the drawer, is ready =
to swear that George Jasper ihclosed it un>
altered in his presence. and lett the letter
with him to mail; aud can swear that W n
it came to the hands of Ernest Jasper, the
SteSN was III us present. state.
''Slas Grimgrin stood mute and sulleu
"Ihere is another charge against you" re-
sunied the detective.
Silas started
"To>day you opened decoy letter contain
ing money.
The guilty man made movement as if to
escape, but the towering form of the de,ec>
tive blocked his way. In au instant the spap
of the handouts on his wrists Was heard, and
brief search brought to light the identical
bill taken from the decoy letter.
The poor wretch's courage failed and he
confessed ALL. He had stolen George Jasper's
letter, not as he had others, for gains sake.
but to suhserve another purpose. He too
loved Mildred Heath, and had been mainly
instrumental in breeding difficulties between
her and her betrothed. To fix upon his rival
the stigma of an Infamous crime, seemed a
sure way to secure the field permanently to
himself. The fraternal devotion which
prompted Ernest Jasper to sacrifice his own
to his brothers reputation, .was something, a
nature like Silas Grimgrin's was alike iuca-
pable of understanding or foreseeine. The
widow Jasper, Edith, aud Mildred we're all
weeping tears of JOY at once over Ernest lust
released from prison, when George burst in
among them.
The widow Jasper, Edith and Mildred
were all weeping tears of joy at once over
Ernest, just released from prison, when Georpe
burst in among them.
What you here, Ernest ?" he exclaimed
81 saw your arrest announced in the papers,
and hurried back at once"
A word explained all.
r. And then George met Mildred's ewes look
ing so tearfnlly aud lovingly into his owp,
that forgetting all, he was about to clasp her
in his arms
But that letter." he said, drawing back
with sudden constraint.
"What le,ter?''
''The one in which you declared all was
over between U.S."
Mildred's surprise was sufficient answer,
"Then that was another of Slas Grimsrin's
iorgerles !" cried George, iustinc.ivsly guess
ing the truth.
Two happy weddings speedily followed
And we are pleased to be able TO add that,
as husband, George Jasper ism. a bit jeal,
ous-Lcdycr.