Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-10-28

l know you never took the money, but
things look very ugly for you"
But" said Fred, grasping hard the
hand the old clerk held out to him, II
cannot understand it. Listen" and he
read aloud the note from his uncle:
Mr.. FREDERICK TRYoN Il could not
believe without DrOof-undeniabl posi-
tive proof-that you could rob me of five
thousand dollars, taken, as you know,
from my private desk on Wednesday last.
You are my sisters son, and | will never
be the one to imprison or punish you, but
YOU are no longer nephew of mime
Willingly, will never look in your face
again. Your ill-gotten gains freely give
you to start in some business, trusting you
will live honestly in the future. Do not
try to see me ; | will not listen to any ex-
planation | know TO be false. Do not
write, for Twill not open your letters.
RUFUS MARKHAM.
Maud Clarkson grew white as death as
she heard the stern edict.
"Oh, Fred I" she cried, "what can
you do ?"
" "Starve, l suppose" was the bitter an
swer, " as l do not happen to possess the
ill-gotten gains so generously presented to
me. Maid, you were betrothed to the
millionaire's nephew and heir the dsin-
terestcd beggar frees you from the prom
ise."
Fred" she cried, bursting into tears,
3" how can you be so cruel ?" Then, un-
needing the clerk who was discreetly look
ing from the window, she came close to
Fred's side. Darling" she said, fixing
her large black eyes upon his face, /" if
all the world believe you guilty, do not.
If all the world cast you off, l Will keep
my promise"
The young lover had been bewidered,
indignant, desperate. but he folded the
gentle comforter fast in his arms, and
great tears fell on her upturned face.
" God bless you, Maud !" he cried, 81
can defy the world if you are true to me.
Now, Mr.. Potter, sit down and tell me
what you know of this wretched bus:-
ness"
Well, Mr.. Fred, never heard of the
robbery myself until this morning, when
Vodges, the detective your uncle employ
ed to work itup, came to make his report.
They did not notice me at first, and when
your uncle remem bered | was in the room
| had heard about all Vodges knew. You
remember there was a note coming due
last Wednesday ?"
To johnson %
" Yes; well, thought at the time it
was curious your uncle gave him check
when knew the money was drawn out
of bank the day before to meet that very
note. But l never knew till this morning
that the money was stolen from Mr.. Mark
hams private desk by false keys, Mr..
Fred" said the old man earnestly. at
was all in $500 notes, and your uncle had
the numbers"
Well %
This morning Vodges brought back
one of the notes, which you gave to T
yesterday in payment for pearl locket." :"
Stop. Potter let me think. Where
did | get that note ? | have it.. Arnold
gave it to me to take out 500 lent him
some time ago. And Arnold Potter.
Arnold borrowed my keys last Wednesday
night to open his trunk Potter, huzza 1!
We know the thief I"
Not so fast, Mr.. FreG-nOt so fast. 1t
will not be an easy matter to prove this.
Were there any witnesses present when
Arnold borrowed the keys 2"
"No, was alone in my room, half un-
dressed, when he knocked at my door
and said he had lost the key of his trunk.
lent him my bunch of keys, which he
returned before | was out of bed the next
day"
And you were alone when he paid you
the money ?"
" Yes / thought he was very flush, for
you know as well as l do, Potter, that a
note for $500 is not a daily visitor in Ar
nold's pocket"
" He is cunning scoundrel. He wants
to ascertain if the notes can be identified
before he tries to get rid of them himself.
Mr.. Fred will you leave il to me for. a few
days-only few days ? and if do not
catch the thief, you may try"
"But my uncle ?"
" Wait till you can prove your inno-
cence before you see him. Only week.
Give me only week to watch Arnold.
And, by the way, you will give me an
additional chance if you will leave the
city. Throw him off his guard by letting
him suppose that you are banished for his
crime"
run away I" flashed Fred, "like
coward 2"
"Only for week. You see, the prob
ability is that Arnold has the money in his
possession yet. He will wait to see the
fate of what he has given you before put
ting any more into circulation but he
has probably hidden it very securely
You he will watch but ii you are willing
l will take your room while you are gone
and do little private detective business
on my part"
1t was not easy to persuade Fred to
consent to Potter's plan, but Maud's per-
suasions being added to the old mans, he
finally consented to leave the city for
week, and return in that time to vind-
cate his own innocence in case of Potter's
failure.
Before night Fred was on his way to
visit another city, and his landlady had
agreed to allow Mr.. Potter to occupy his
place during his absence.
Fred had been gone two days when the