The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-02-20

the suspense no longer. Telling tht
bank porter that, if Mr.. Th1apstoN
came, helwas to be admitted at The
private door and was to be detained
in my room till I returned, I wen
out and made my way to his office
which was only a few yards distant
He wasn't there. The clerk, a you'll
of fifteen, knew nothing about him
He was in Chapel court, perhaps
anywhere he didn't know Had he
been in within the last half hour,
Well, no; the clerk did not think he
had. His story then, OF the custo
mer waiting at his office was lie.
With O heavy heart, 1 went bach
to the bank. No; Mr.. Thrapstov
hadn't been in, the porter said. ]
took o cab and went off to the
Office Of Mr.. Gedgemount, the solic-
itor to the bank. l told him in con,
fidence what had happened, and
asked his advice. "Could l get 8
warrant against this Thrapstow fol
stealing the bonds?"
"Upon my word" said Gedge.
mount, 81 don't think you can make
a criminal matter Of it. 1t isn't lar
ceny, because you abandoned the
possession Of the bonds voluntarily
No; 1 don't see how you can touch
him. Yon must make bankrupt Of
him, and then you can pursue him
as having fraudulently carried OF his
assets. D
But that advice was no good to me
I think 1 was wrong in taking it. ]
ought to have gone straight off tc
the police office, and put the affaii
into the hands Of the detectives. Dig
nifed men of law, like Gedgemount
always find a dozen reasons for mac
ton, except in matters that bring
grist to their own mill,
went home completely disheart-
ened and detected. How could l
face my Directors with such story
as that had to tell? The only OK
cuse that l could urge, of private
friendship and confidence in the man
who had robbed us, would make the
matter only the worse. Clearly, at
the same time that told the circum-
stances to the Directors, I should be
bound to place my resignation in
their hands, to be put into force if
they thought fit. And there would
be little doubt but that they would
accept it, How, damaging, too, the
story would be to me when 1 tried to
obtain another appointment,
had promised to take my wife
and children for an excursion down
the river as soon as the bank closed,
and the youngsters eagerly reminded
me of my promise. L replied SO
savagely and sternly that the children
made off in tears; my wife, coming
to see what was the matter, Jared lit
tie better. Tmust have hadasunstroke
OF something, she told me, and
brought bandages and eau de CO.
logne. / flung them away in a
rage and went out of the house.
I must be doing something, 1 felt,
and I hailed cab and drove to
Thrapstow's lodgings.
Mr.. Thrapstow wasn't coming
home that night, his landlady told
me; she thought he was away for a
little jaunt; but she didn't know.
He occupied the ground floor of q
small house in Eecleford street, PIN
lico, two rooms opening into each
other. [ told the woman that l
would sit down and write a letter. f.
She knew me well enough, as I had
frequently visited Thrapstow, and
she left me to myself. Then l began
to overhaul everything, to try to find
out some clew to his whereabouts. =
A few letters were on the chimney
piece; they We're only circulars for
tradesmen. In the fireplace was a
considerable quantity Of charred tin
der. He had evidently been burning
papers recently, and a quantity Of
them. I turned the tinder carefully
over, spreading it out upon news
paper. I found nothing legible OK
cept one little scrap of paper, which
the fire had not altogether reduced
to powder, on which [ saw the name
Isabel shining with metallic luster.--
Then / went to the bedroom and
searched that. Here, too, were eyi-
dent preparations for fight; coats
and other garments thrown hastily
into cupboards, boxes turned out, an
odd glove or two lying upon the
drossing-table. I carefully searched
all the pockets for letters or other
documents, but [ found nothing.
The keys were left in all the receipt
Gals, an instance of Charley's thought
fulness for others III the midst of his
rascality.
Lying upon the wash8tand was a
card, which was blank upon one side,
but on the other had the name of a
photographer printed upon it. The
card was wet, as if it had been soaked
in water, and near the upper end Of
it was q round, irregular cut, which
did not penetrate the card. 1t had
evidently once had a photograph
fastened on it; accordingly, the card
had been wetted, to facilitate the re-
moval of the Photograph and had eyi-
IDENTIFY been cut out, in order to put
it in locket, or something similar.
1t struck me at once that the pho
tograph about which man on the
eve Of flight would take 50 much
trouble must be Of q person very dear
to him probably his sweetheart.
Although / had been intimate with
Thrapstow, he had always been very
reserved as to his own friend and
associates, and had no clue to
guide me to any Of them, except the
photographers card.
Ro-entering my cab / drove off to
the photographers. There was no
number or distinguishing mark upon
the card, and the chances seemed