Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
TIE GIRL DETECTIVE.

TIE GIRL DETECTIVE.
The door of Rufus Markham's count
ing room was securely closed, and the
proprietor Of the large, fourishing cot
ton factory talked earnestly with a gen.
$ tlemanly looking man Of middle age,
. whose face was as impressive as a wax
mask.
Give thousand dollars !" SAID the
individual. SIT was large sum to leave
exposed"
/. "Exposed!" said Mr.. Markham. SIT
was in my private desk, to which no
one has access but myselfan my neph-
}, EN-. Fred. Tryon."
"Would it be possible the young gen.
. tleman"-
"Sir," sale. Mr.. Markham, indignant
ly, ''my nephew is not thief. Ifhe
needed ten times that sum he knows
would give it freely to him. He will be
. nay heir, and is as son. 1t 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. I drew five thousand
. dollars out the bank yesterday, to meet
note that was not presented for pay
ment. Retaining it until after the bank
was closed, concluded to lock it in my
desk until this morning, and did so.-
At nine O'Clock t his morning the expec-
ted note was presented, and 1 opened
the desk. The money was gone, and
with it small memorandum book that
was inthe same roll"
1.-THE lock was not forced ~
mo, sir; the desk was apparently
exactly as 1 left it,"
''And Mr.. Tryon has the only dupli-
cate 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 ?"
"H'm! yes. You have the number
Of the notes ~
Eyes. The roll consisted Of ten five
hundred-dollar notes."
The list of numbers taken, the detec-
tive made searching examination Of
the apartment and prepared to take his
departure. AS he stood near the door,
Mr.. Markham suddenly said, nervous
ly.:
Il think, Mr.. Vodges, if you make
any discoveries, you had better report
to me privately before making any ar
rests"
"Certainly, sir, If you desire it. Will
you grant me enc favor? Do not men
ton the robbery to Mr.. Tryon, if you
have not done so already
mo one has heard of it but your
SELF"
Every good! 1 will call again when
l have any report to make"
erred! 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 4! I cannot be-
leave it. And yet he knew the money
was there. He was here when 1 hand
ed Arnold the check, and here when
he returned with the money. He knew
that Johnson's note was mot presented,
and Fred alone has a duplicate key
Oh, if it should be Annals boy, that 1
promised to love as my own son. Have
! not kept my promise? Where have
1 failed? And why should he steal
, from me, when all I have is his /? l
cannot, will not, believe it ~
MAY 1 come in 2" asked bright,
;; pleasant face at the door, and promis-
sion being given, Fred Tryon entered
the room. Looking INTO his handsome
young face, bright and frank, with we'll
opened brown eyes, and curls of nut
brown hair, it was hard to connect it
with any idea OF roguery, ingratitude
and theft. His manner toward his un-
Gle, who had ever filled fathers place,
was the perfection of respectful affec-
ton, and before he had been an hour
in the counting-room, Mr.. Markham's
= uneasy fears were entirely gone.
They were talking of certain dark
eyed little maiden, who was soon to be
Mrs. Tryon, and when Fred left his I'M
Gle, it was with a promise that he would
call in the evening upon Miss Clarkson
to finally arrange for the wedding
day.
The young man, favorite of fortune
apparently, spent the afternoon with
his betrothed, received his uncle in the
evening beside her and accompanied
the old gentleman to his boarding
house, received an afiectionate farewell,
when he took up his way to his own
rooms in another house. For week
he heard nothing of the ROBBERY.
1t was just when summer twilight
was fading, that, returning from drive
v with Maud Clarkson, Fred met his I'm.
!, cle's confidential clerk waiting for him
!, at Maud's house.
It II have note for you, Mr.. Fred, ,
e he said land, as you were not a
/" lho1ne, thought would wait here fo
Iyou."
Something in the mans face an,
y manner struck sudden chill to Maud
heart