Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-05
THE GIRL DEFECTIVE.

proprietor of the large, flOur;shing cotton
factory talked earnestly with a gentle
manly looking man of middle age, whose
face was as impassive as a wax mask.
Give thousand dollarsn' said the in
dividual. 1T was a large sum to leave
exposed"
Exposed!' said Mr.. Markham. at
was in my private desk, to which no one
has access but myself and my nephew
Fred Tyron."
Would it be possible the young gentle.
man"
Sir" said Mr. Markham, indignant
ly, "my nephew is not thief If he
needed ten times that sum he knows !
would freely give it to him. He will be
my heir, and is as dear to me as a son. II
is simply absurd to connect him in any
way with the robbery"
Just state this matter again, briefly as
you can, and allow me to take notes, will
you, Mr. Markham ~
Certainly. | drew five thousand dol
lars out of the bank yesterday, to meet a
note that was not presented for payment
Retaining it until after the bank was
closed | concluded to lock it in nv desk
until this morning, and cid So At nine
O'Clock this morning the expected note was
presented, and | opened the desk. The
money was gone, and with it a small
memorandum book that was in the same
roll"
The lock was not forced ?"
No, sir; the desk was apparently ex-
actly as | left it.''
And Mr. TyrOn has the only duplicate
key"
The old gentleman frowned. He was
evidently displeased at the turn the de-
tective's suspicious seemed to be taking.
" My nephew certainly has the only
duplicate key
:" HIM! yes. You have the number OF
the notes ?''
!" Yes. The roll consisted of ten five
hundred-d dollar notes"
The list of numbers being taken, the
detective made a searching examination
of the apartment and prepared to take his
departure. AS he stood near the door,
Mr. Markham suddenly said, nervously:
9 think, Mr. Vodges, if you make any
discoveries, you had better report to me
privately before making any arrests"
" Certainly, sir, if you desire it. Will
you grant me one favor? Do not mention
the robbery to Mr.. Tyron, if you have not
done so already"
No one has heard of it but yourself
Every good! | will call again when 1
have any report to make.'
:" Fred Fredp' the old gentleman
said, in low tone. when he was alone
"NOdges evidently thinks it is Fred! Ii
cannot be! 1t is impossible that my
nephew would rob me! | cannot believe
it. Ard yet he knew the money was
there. lie was here when | handed Arm
old the CHECK, and here when he returned
with the money. He knew that Johnson s
note was not presented, and Fred alone
has a duplicate key. oh, if it should be
Annals boy, that l promised to love as my
son. Have [ not kept my promise?
Where have 1 failed? And why should
he steal from me when all | have is his
/ cannot, | will not believe itp'
May | come imp asked bright
pleasant face at the door, and permission
being given, Fred Tyron entered the
room.
Looking into his handsome young face
bright and frank, with well opened brown
eyes, and curls of nut brown hair, 1t was
hard to connect it with any idea of rogue
ry, ingratitude or theft. His manner to
ward the uncle, who had ever filled {
fathers place, was the perfection of re-
spectful affection, and before he had been
an hour in the counting room, Mr. Mark
hams uneasy fears were entirely gone.
They were talking of a certain dark.
eyed little maiden, who was soon to be
Mrs. Tyron, and when Fred left his un.
Gle, it was with the promise that he
would call in the evening upon Miss
Garrison, to finally arrange for the wed
ding day.
The young man, favorite of fortune
apparently, spent the afternoon with his
betrOthed, received his uncle in the even
ing beside her, and accompanied the old
gentleman to his boarding house, receiv.
ing an affectionate farewell, when he took
up his way to his own rooms in another
house. For a week he heard nothing OF
the robbery
1t was just when summer twilight was
fading that, returning from drive with
Maud Clarkson, Fred met his uncle's
confidential clerk waiting for him al
Maud's house.
have note for you, Mr.. Fred, " he
said, land as you were not at home, ]
thought | would wait here for YOU
Something in the mans face anG
manner struck a sudden chill to Maud's
heart.
9 You have bad news ?" she cried.
Perhaps Mr.. Fred had better read the
note, was the evasive answer.
But Maud's terror was only increased
when Fred, after reading the note, broke
into furious exclamation of rage
Who dares say am a midnight bur
glar ?" he shouted
''Oh, Fred, what is il? " asked Maud
turning very white.
My uncle has been robbed of fivt
thousand dollars, and he pays me the com
plImentof supposing me the thief, because
have duplicate key to his private desk
l. great Heaven!' he cried, with a sud
den change in his voice, he cannot NEAR
1t! | rob my uncle? Il"
MIR. Fred, " said the clerk, respectfully
only waited to see how YOU took the
note, to speak a few words of advice
Mr.. Fred, | was with your father wher
he was killed on railway train; | wa.
with your uncle when he brought you
from your mothers funeral to his home
| took you to boarding school, anC
brought you home for the holidays, arc
I've loved you boy and man, since yor
were ten years old, and that's twelve Ions
years. know you never took the money
but things look very ugly for you"
hand the old clerk held out to him, az
cannot understand it. Listen" and ht
read aloud the note from his uncle:
Mr.. FREDERIcK TYRoN: 1 could not believe
without proof -undeniable positive proof-lha
you cor rob me of five thousand dollars. taken
az now from my private desk, on Wednes
da ct You are my sisters son. and never will
be tne one to imprison OIL punish YOU but Won are
no longer nephew of mine. Willingly will nevel
look in your face again Your ill-gotten gains
freely give you TO start in business TRUSTING
you will endeavor TO live honestly in the future
Do not try to see me; will not listen to any ex
plantations know TO be false. Do not write for
will not open your letters, RUFUS MARKHAM.