Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-10-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE GIRL DETECTIVE.

Sc,HE E door of Rufus MarkhauIs counting
- room securely closed, and the pro-
prietor of the large, fourishing cotton factory
talked earnestly with a gentlemanly looking
man of middle age, whose face was as i'm
pressive as wax mask.
Give thousand dollars ~ said the inditid-
ual ''lt was large sum to leave exposed"
Exposed !" said Mr.. Markham. at was
in my private desk, to which 70 oue has ac-
cess but myself aud my nephew, Fred
Tryon."
"Would it be possible the young gentle
man
''sir," said Mr Markham, Indignantly,
e'my nephew is not thief. If he needed
ten times that sum he knows l would give it
freely to him. He will be my heir, and is as
dear to me as a son. It is simply absurd to
connect him in any way with this robbery"
''Just state the matter again, briefly, as
you can, and allow me to take notes, will you,
Mr.. Markham ?" ~ ...
Certainly. drew five thousand dollars
out of tho bank yesterday to meet note
that was not presented for payment. Retain.
ing it until after tie bank was closed, l con-
c!uded to lock it in my desk until this morn<
ing. and did so. At nine o'clock this morn
ing the expected note was presented, and |
opened the desk. The money was gone and
with it small memorandum book that was
in the same ROLL"
"The lock was not forced ?''
''No, sir; the desk was apparently exactly
as l left it."
"And Mr.. Tryon has the only duplicate
key 2"
The old gentleman frowned. lie was evil
IDENTIFY lisplcascd at the turn the detectives
suspicious seemed to be taking.
"My nephew certainly has the only dupli
cate key ?? ...-..- -..E
Him yes You have the number of the
notes ?"
eyes. The roll consisted of ten five huns
dred dollar notes"
The list of numbers takc1, the detective
made searching examination of the apart
ment and prepared to take his departure. AS
he stood near the door, Mr.. Markham sud-
denly said, nervously:
81 think, Mr.. Nodges, if you make any
discoveries, you had better report to me pri-
vately before making any arrests"
"Certainly, sir, if you desire it. Will
: you grant me one favor? Do not mention
the robbery to MIR. Tryon, if you have not
done so already" ...
''No one has heard of it but yourself'
every good 1 will call again when 1
have any report to make"
''Fred Fred ~ the old gentleman said, in
low tone, when he was alone "Vodges
evidently thinks it is Fred 1t cannot be
1t is impossible that my nephew would rob
me I cannot believe it. And yet he knew
the money was there. He was here when |
handed Arnold the check, and here when he
returned with the money. He knew that
Johnson's note was not presented. aud Fred
alone has duplicate key. Oh, if it should
l.. H. IJ.A
my own son. Have I not kept my promise
Where have failed ? And why should he
steal from mc, when all 1 have is his? 1
cannot, will not believe it!
''May come in ?" asked bright, pleas
ant face at the door, and permission being
given, Fred Tryon entered the room. Look
ing into bis handsome young face, bright
and frank, with well opened brown eyes, and
curls of nut brown hair, it was hard to con~
meet it with any idea of roguery, iugratitude
and :heFt. His manner toward his uncle,
who had ever filed a fathers place, was the
perfection of respectful affection, and before
he had been an hour in the counting groom, Mr..
Mark hams uneasy fears were entirely gone.
They were taking of certain dark-eJed
little maiden, who was soon 10 be Mrs. Tryoo,
and when Fred left his uncle, it was with
promise that he would call in the evening
upon Miss Clarksou to finally arrange for the
wedding day.
The young man, favorite of fortune ap-
parently, spent the afternoon with his be-
trothed, received his uncle in the evening
beside her, and accompanied the old gentle>
man to his boarding house, received an af-
fectionate farewell, when he took up his way
to his own rooms in another house For a
week he heard nothing of the robbery.
It was just when summer twilight was
fading, that, returning from drive with
Maud Clarkson, Fred met his uncle's confiden-
tial clerk waiting for him at Maud's house.
81 have note for you, Mr.. Fred" he