Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-01

of the sum were sent to the Bank of En-
gland in the regular course of business,
and were there cancelled. | ascertained
at the Bank of England the name and adj
dress of the firm To whom the notes had
been first issued, and then traced them
through the several hands in which they
bad passed. Following up the clue, dis
covered that some of them bad been sent
to a bank al Paris. / wrote to this bank,
enduring TO whom they had been paid,
and was informed that they had been sent
to the very firm in London a few days be-
fore they had handed them over to Thomp-
son, Here then was the missing link,
and had no longer any doubt in my mind
that the money paid to us was the same
as that which had been lost by Messrs.
Smith and Jones.
Honest Sergeant Copp was overjoved,
and wished to 90 at once to Mrs.
Thompson and give her the good news.
This, however | would not permit, as
thought it would be best to ascertain the
fate OF the poor foreman. | therefore
called upon Messrs. Smith and Jones
and informed them that | had obtained
certain information, which led me to be-
lieve that a sum of seven hurried and fifty
pounds paid into the bank was identical
with that lost by them, but that the only
person who could satisfactorily prove the
fact was Thompson. and that he must
therefore be found. Tney promised to
do their best to aid my inquiries, and en-
ployed detective for the purpose. la
the course OF a lew weeks they were able
to iulorm me that Thompson had been
discovered in Paris, working under an
assumed name. and that, on being in
formed OF the discovery, he had at once
come over to his family. who were over
o;ed at his return.
On the following day Thompson called
at the bank, and was recognized by Scr
geant COBB as the very individual who
had left the money with him.
The explanation given by Thompson
of the transaction was. that his coffee
had been drugged at the house where be
slept, aud his watch stolen from him
He had, however. nerved himself by
a violent effort the following morning to
be at his post on the lighter, and although
half Supplied, had with some di llicuty,
received and counted over the money;
that ON going ashore he had repaired to
public house near the docks, in order
to get some soda water that, after taking
IL, u6 u6u IduDicu tHtOuSh ttit otlttbs Oii
his way to the workshop.
His mind, however, was complete
blank as to everything which occurred al
forwards, until he had found himself ~
ing in narrow alley, surrounded by i'll
looking people. When he came TO him
self he was paralyzed with tear on finding,
as he thought. that he bad been robbed
of his bag. His brain was dazed with
the thought of the fearful accusations
which would be certainly brought against
him. Who would believe that he was
guiltless of any crime when appearances
were so much against him. How could
he explain away his seeming state OF in
toxication when he went on board the
ship in the morningP And, above all,
how could he explain the loss o! the bag
He could remember that up TO certain
time. after leaving the public house. he
still had the bag safe in the breast-pocket
Of his coat, for be had distinct recollec-
ton Of keeping his arm tightly pressed
against it. He had dim recollection of
finding himset amid streets of tall stone
houses, and OF Keeling against several
people on the pavement; but after that
his memory was altogether blolted out.
All was darkness and vacancy until he
awoke.
Then feeling of blank despair took
possession of his mind. How could he
ever again show himself among his
friends-he who had held his head so
high, and had been so forward in de-
nouncing vice and drink ? He would be
a laughing stock to all the world then
the stain upon his honesty Messrs. Smith
and Jones he knew to be very hard peo-
Pile; they never had spared anybody in
their business dealings, and they would
certainly bring criminal charge against
him. The idea was horrible. He would
rather die than to submit to such indig-
nifty. iartHF
Poudering these things over in his mind,
he had wandered heedlessly through the
streets without remarking whittier he was
going. Fate or instinct seemed to lead
him TO the riverside again, aud he found
himself al last at ST. Katherine's Dock
Exactly facing where he stood was liam
ing placard, announcing the departure
that day of boat direct for Calais at a
very low rate OF passage. The thought
darted into his mind, Why not cut the
difficulties at once, and put the sea be-
tween himself and the scene of his dis
grace ?
1t was cowardly temptation which il
his intellect had been in Il clearer state.
would have been instantly rejected with
scorn but the poisonous drug which he
had imbibed seemed to have paralyzed
his energy, and 10 have utterly unnamed
him and deprived him OF the courage nee
rssary to face his trouble. He yielded t.
the temptation, and made his way through
TO Paris, where under an assumed name
he succeeded in getting work, for he was
very expert in his business.
Nothing could exceed the delight Of the
worthy commissionaire at having been the
means of clearing up the mystery, except
indeed. his price in retelling the ott-told
tale. Nor was his honesty unrewarded in
more substantial manner, for Messrs.
Smith and Jones presented him with
hundred pounds as recognition of his
integrity and intelligence.