Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-29

accustomed plDee. With feeling Of joyous
seIf-eongratulation that no i'll effects had fol-
urely way to open my safe. To assure myself Of
the safety Of the deposit. Judge OF nv horror
and dismay when found that the notes were
g0ne-clean gone.
CHAPTER 1.-THE DEAD LETTER.
IOthe first stupefaction OF despair at the loss
OF my uncle's money followed an eager desire
to be doing something. must go to the police
Office at once; the notes must be stopped I had
taken the numbers-where was the fist? In my
portfolio: that. too, had placed in the safe;
that also was gone. Nothing else was touched,
the loose silver kept there was intact
Here was blow that almost overpOwered
me. In addition to the loss of money. loss of
reputation wOul.i follow. What pretty sort
OF tale should have to tell, of a robbery in
which the thieves had not left the slightest
trace of their operations, where the objects
stolen were notes of which had retained none
OF the PARTICULAR. Those who knew me best
might believe me, but certainly no one else
would. Ten thousand pounds distracted from
an unlocked safe, the numbers not known, and
no signs whatever OF any unauthofized person
having entered the premises, Should believe
such story myself told of any third person?
One opening for hope occurred to me. 1t was
possible that Bob Hargreaves had kept the
numbers of the notes he had handed over to
me. HOwbent was only six miles away; might
be there and back before the hours of business
commenced, in ample time, too, to telegraph
the numbers to the leading banks. After some
difficulty i found a cab, and started to drive
there. A miserable. anxious drive It was.
Bob lived in a rough little stone cottage, on
Of the village Of Eowbent. Early as it was. he
was already astiT; could see him through the
window. crOss-legged on his board busily at
work, stitching away at a cOw-skin waiStcOat ::
even IN the OyerpOwering anxiety of the mo-
ment, could not help feeling of wonder at
his employment, the rest of his apparel stood
so much more in need of his labor. The ground
was too soft TO give warning OF my approach,
but my shadow falling across the window made
him look up suddenly. Catching my eye, a
deadly palor came over his face: the corners of
his mouth began to twitch, he jumped off his
board and came to the door. Bob stood i'm the
doorway regarding ne with an air of covert
mistrust, then his eyes glanced eagerly around
as If he doubted whether were not accompa-
MED: Seeing only the empty caband its driver
waiting in the road, hundred yards off, he
recovered his self possession and inquired my
business; j asked him, eagerly if he had kept
the numbers of the notes he had paid me on
the previous day. why, what's amiss :;
haven't your parted Robert with instructive
caution. Something at this moment prompted
greaves would be more ready to give infOrma-
ton if he thought was already possessed of
II. "Oh. have the numbers" | replied. but
What you've got a list then" cried Robert,
then what do you want mOre?" The
notes have been stolen,'' l said, and then
went on to describe the circumstances of the
robbery; Robert listened with sarcastic,
incredulous smile that was very provoking
especially as 1 felt that this mental attitude
toward rad the story WAS that which the whole
advice" he said, go home and frame a like
lier tale than that. Same time, if your uncle's
in with We, I'm not one to spoil sport. There's
one lee TO begin With; if they took my ease
with the numbers in it. how do you come to
know 'em nOw?'' Il took a copy, of course"
replied, scarcely noticing the insnuaton. or
broad assertion, rather, contained in Roberts
speech; i was too br0ken-spirited. But
must compare it with yours. Oh, do give me
the numbers. Mr.. Hargreaves." Nay, / have
gotten no numbers" he replied suenly
work enow to gather 'em together, bit by
Dit and one by one, without bOthering about
numbers. I'm no scholar either, for that
matter.
and went back to his board but saw no sign
OF the cOwskin waiStcOat as passed his win
dow. detected and crestfallen. Bob was sit
tng with his needle in his hand, gazing at its
point in kind of sullen reverie. In him was
the last CLEAN of hope i possessed and
could not give it up without another trial.
" L m sure you could tell me something about
them, Mr.. Hargreaves, . cried to him through
the window, where you got them from, some
of them"
Il tell thee what" said Bob from his board.
!" | swear my Bible oath know naught more
about thy notes, SO go thy ways"
There was nothing to be gained by wasting
more time over Robert, and l drove away
BY the time We reached Middleton, business
had commenced at my uncle's warehouse.
and, always, early at hi|work, he was there
the worst part of the business, but he uttered
not word OF reprOach, and evidently fully
believed my account of the matter. Still as he
paced up and down the room with gloomy,
aShy face, saw that the disaster was one that
affected him bitterly. Have you told the pO-
ice?" he asked, sharply. at last. No. re-
Rls ha;t am now on the way have only seen
you have not. The thing is bad enough let us
make the best of it. Not a word to anybody
OF the loss, except Kate; you may trust her;
but not another living SOUL"
My uncle was right; could see; hard as it
was to keep quiet. The tale of such a loss
under these suspicious circumstances, at this
especial juncture, would be fatal to his credit.
difficulties. He would go to London at once,
and try to get the bills held over. And If cot,
ton would only spring little!
Already Uncle Henry was over his misfOr-
tune, and going about his business alert and
composed. But for me, how could bear the
thought OF the probable ruin, disgrace even,
factor kept up tin had Seem f him S of on Ue the
London train. Then hurried off to Kate to
tell Of the irretrieyable misfortune, and to get
a. little comfort, where only comfort was pos
sible. from wOman's sympathy.
Kate, when / first told her my news was
overcome with grief and diSmay. But she soon
recovered presence of mind and courage. and
tried to re.establish mine 1t was possible to
do something In the matter. If We could take
no other measures to find out the thieves we
might try secret negotiations.
Those who had stolen the notes would likely
enough be afraid to cash them at once ; per-
haps they would be open to an offer, and ap-
preciate the advantages of good round sum-
and safety Herewith. Without loss of time
inserted an advertisement i'm all the local
papers and the London dailies, Offering a re-
ward OF fl.OOO for the recovery of the missing
notes. But no result followed. Whoever was
in possession Of the treasure made 10 sign.
Next day came back Uncle Henry from Lon
don. having succeeded in renewing his bills for
another fourteen days 1t was now the middle
of June: on the Sd OF July the delay would eX-
pire. There could be no further credit given,
for things were getting worse and worse in
town. Gillies 4 Co.'S failure had caused uni
yersal mstrust and want of confidence. But
II cotton only sprang an eighth per pound all
would be we'll.
Cotton did not spring, however, but fell
title instead. Failures were rife at Middleton,
as well as i'm London. The strongest firms
were talked about, and Uncle Henry did not
escape. Still, he carried on matters bravely !;
but when the fourteen days had elapsed, if
there should happen no favorable change i'm
the markets, things would be bad with him. 4
now bitterly regretted that the loss of the notes
had not been made public. 1t would be a
pretty story for my uncle's creditors, il he had
to call them tOgether-all the more improbable
too, as this would be the first time that any
IT,. 4. Ix1n~