Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-10-28

case ?"
" l will tell you. Vodges has tried to
find the thief, and failed. You have
tried, and failed. l mean to try, and
succeed 2"
You |! What can you do ?"
Come to- morrow and l will tell you. :"
Punctual to the appointed time, Potter
made his appearance. With dancing eyes
and flushed cheeks, Maud met him.
"Well ?" he asked, certain from her
looks that she had good tidings.
I" / told you l would succeed !"
"And you did ? Huzza ! l feel as
young as Fred himself |"
"To whom have telegraphed. to re-
turn. He will be here this evening, you
must bring Mr.. Markham, Mr.. Vodges,
and the proper police authorities, to meet
in his room. Then, Mr.. Potter, go to Mr..
Arnold's room and remove the pipe of
the stove at the elbow. In this joint you
will find Mr.. Markham's memorandum
book and the missing notes."
" You are sure ?"
" Listen. This morning in calico
dress, sun n-bonnet, and pair of coarse
shoes, for disguise, l applied for the place
of chambermaid at the boarding house
where Mr.. Arnold has room. | braided
my hair in two long plaits, and convinced
your landlady that was recent impor-
taton from Germany, unable to speak a
word of English. She agreed to take me
one week on trial, and before | had been
two hours in the house | was sent to tidy
Mr.. Arnold's room. Never was a room
tdied so quickly seeing my mistress on
her way to market, | shot the bolt and
took survey of the premises. The
trunk was locked, the bureau drawers wide
open, and the closet door ajar. | felt II
reluctance to overhaul any private depos-
itores, though l should have done it,"
she added resolutely, " if | had been
driven to it rummaged little, when,
on the closet floor, espied shirt, appa-
renty scarcely soiled, except one sleeve,
and that was black with SCOT. What is
he doing at the fire place in Summer p |
thought, and went to examine. A few
minutes sutiiced to convince me that the
stove had been moved out and the elbow
of the pipe removed. | repeated the pro-
cess to find a roll of $500 notes and small
memorandum book with the name Rufus
Markham on the first page. l replaced
everything carefully and came home
Now, Mr.. Potter, he must be taken by
surprise, or he may say Fred put the
notes there"
" You are brave girl !" cried the old
man, looking with admiration on the
beautiful, animated face, land Fred will
owe you more than his life."
" He can repay me by coming to tell
me the good news when he is clear"
Eight was striking by the city clocks
when Mr.. Graham Arnold, dressed in the
latest fashion and with fragrant Havana
between his lips, stroled leisuroly into
his own room.
He had been in the parlor of his board
ing house for an hour, watching Mr.. Pot
ter with some anxiety, but wholly una
ware Of the little party of four who, in
Mr.. Potter's temporary apartment, await
ed his return to his own room.
Once inside the door, the nonchaIant
look left the face Of the handsome young
man, and he muttered fercely
. must get out of this ! Potter sus-
poets me and may yet communicate his
suspicious to Mr.. Markham. l. will be off
tonight as soon as quiet"
He opened small travelling satchel as
he spoke and was rapidly filing it with
necessaries for a journey, when he was
interrupted by knock at the door.
Tossing the satche into the closet, he
cried
Come in ~
But his face turned livid as his call was
obeyed and party of five entered the
room.
Two policemen stationed them selves on
his right and left, while Mr.. Markham,
Mr.. Potter and Mr.. Fred Tryon followed
them.
"Now, Mr.. Arnold" said one of the
policemen, with the face and voice of the
detective Vodges, will you tell US where
To find thoca pniccinor ,oIa,
" What notes ?" cried Arnold. " What
does this outrage mean ?"
1T MEANS" said NJ otter " that
your plan to throw the rC berry of Mr..
Markham's private desk upon his nephew
has failed. 1t means that the five thuus-
and dollars stolen from that gentleman is
now in your possession, excepting only
one note given to Mr.. Tryon in payment
of debt !"
at is lie !" cried the prisoner, but
his white face, falterng voice and sLak-
ing limbs were no proof Of innocence
" Search my trunk, everything | have"
" No, gentlemen" said Mr.. Potter
" Draw out the stove, IT you please, and
look in the elbow Of the pipe"
With cry Arnold fell senseless to the
floor, as Vodges put his hands upon the
stove.
Mr.. Markham turned to Fred. There
was no word spoken, but their hands
clasped, and each read forgiveness in the
others eyes.
Mr.. Graham Arnold spent some weeks
in jail ere his trial and conviction but
before his sentence was pronounced, Mr..
and Mrs. Frederick Tryon were crossing
the ocean on IL wedding tour to Europe,
and only Mr.. Potter and Fred ever knew
of Maud's first appearance as The Girl
Detective.