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

ill-gotten gains so generously presented t.
me. But | will not ask you to starve Will
me, Maud. You were betrothed to the
milliOnaire's nephew and heir; the disin
herited beggar frees you from your prom
iSe."
Fred" she cried, bursting into tears
how can you be so cruel ~ Then, I'm
needing the clerk, who was discreetly
looking from the window, she came close
10 Fred's side. Darling" she said
fixing her large black eyes upon his face
if all the world believes you guilty,
do not. If all the world casts you off,
will keep my promise"
The young lover had been bewildered
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, Potter, sit down and tell me what
you know of this wretched business"
Well, Mr.. Fred, / never heard oil
the robbery myself until this morning
when Wedges, the detective your uncle
employed to work it up, came to make
his report. They did not notice me al
first, and when your uncle remembered
| was in the room, | had heard aboul
all Wedges knew. You remember there
was note coming due last Wednesday 81
"To Johnson?''
Yes; we'll thought at the time it was
curious your uncle gave him a check,
when | knew the money was drawn out
of the bank the day before TO meet that
very note. But | never knew till this
morning that the money was stolen from
Mr.. Markham's private desk by false
lyar roid +In a1I
estly. 1t was all in five hundred dollar
notes, and your uncle had the numbers. u
"Well?''
"1his morning Wedges brought back
one of the notes which you gave to T
yesterday in payment for pearl locket 81
" Stop, Potter let me think Where
did | get that note? | have it! Arnold
gave it to me to take out hundred dol
lars | lent him some time ago. And
Arnold-POtter, Arnold borrowed my
keys last Wednesday night to open his
trunk Potter, huzza! We know the
thiefr'
Not so fast, Mr.. Fred-not so fast. 1t
will not be an easy matter to prove this.
Were there any witnesses present when
Arnold borrowed the keys?''
g No; was alone in my room, half I'M
dressed. when he knocked at my door and
said he had lost the keys to his trunk.
| lent him a 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 | do, Potter, that a
note for $500 is not a dal..y visitor in
ArnOld's pocket"
. He is a 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 it to me for few
days-onlv few days ?-and if | do not
catch the thief, you may tryp'
" But my uncle?"
" Wait till you can prove your innocence
before you see him. Only a week. Give
me only one week to catch Arnold. And,
by-the-way, you will give me an addition
al chance if you will leave the city. Throw
him off his guard by letting him suppose
you are banished for his crime"
Run away" flashed Fred, "like a
coward ?"
"Only for a 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
putting any more in circulation; but he
has probably hidden it very securely.
You he will watch but you are willing,
| 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 con-
sent to POtter's plan, but, Maud's per
suasions being added to the old mans,
he finally consented to leave the city for a
70 n
his own innocence in case of POtter's fail
ure.
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
old clerk called upon Miss Clarkson to re.
port progress.
l am completely baffied,'' he said, in
answer to her inquiries. You see, Ar.
mold knows me, and evidently suspects
me. He is so affectionately DESTROYS OF
keeping me in sight that | cannot get q
peep in his room; and whenever he is out
he locks the door and gives the KEY to the
l&ndlady. | cannot force his door yet
and by the time Fred returns | am afraid
the money will be smuggied away. [ am
sure it is in his possession now, he is SO
careful about his room. Nobody gets in
there but the landlady. | did think OF
bribing the Chambermaid to lie. me in
when she was at work there, but unfOrtu-
nately she left today"
A flash of light seemed to pass across
Maud's face, but she only said, demuely
Your landlady is a German, is she
not?"
Yes; her English is very imperfect
Have you ever seen her?"
No: but have heard Fred speak OF
her. My mother, you know, wss Ger.
man"
but what has that to do with Fred's
case?
q will tell you. Wedges has tried to
find the thief and failed. You have
tried and failed. mean to try and sac
ceedh'
You! What can you do?'
"Come tomorrow, and will tell YOU
Punctual at the appointed time, Pot
ter made his appearance. With dane
ing eyes and flushed cheeks, Maud met
him.
Well ?'' he asked, certain from her
looks that she had good news.
q told you | would succeedr'
And you did Huzza! | feel as young
as Fred himself!'
ITO whom have telegraphed to re-
turn. He will be here this evening, and
you must bring Mr.. Markham, Mr..
Nodges, and the proper police authori-
ties, to meet in his room. Then go to
Mr.. Arnold's room, and remove the
pipe of the stove to the elbow. In the
joint you will find Mr. Markham's mem.
orandum-bo and the missing notes."
g You are sure ~
''Llstenl This morning, in calico
dress, sunbonnet and pair of coarse
shoes, Tor disguise, l applied for the place
of chambermaid at the boarding-house
where Mr.. Arnold has a room. | braided
my hair in two long plaits, and convinced