West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-09-21
4 "HERALD" Personal.
lKookuk Constitution.
EN \ DETECTIVE.

lkookuk constitutional
" Osib-Necy uU h-qf0,b mrtsy ~ l27
Irir hgirry.
There IL was, in italics, half way down
the personal column of the Herald.
conspicuous only for its singular and
most aggravating combination of letters
and figures the sole clue TO the where.
abouts of the game ! had been after for
over week, scarcely resting, eating or
sleeping in my anxiety 10 secure the re-
ward offered in heavy burglary case
and some thing else
That " something else" All NV
heart sank within me as ! flung aside
the enigmatical puzzle before me, and
leaning back in my chair gave myself
up to the gloomy reveries of the past.
Edna Daytou-bOw loved her! How
fair and beautiful rs summers idyl
had been the week in which had met
her, had loved her, and had been told
that my affection was returned How
well | remember the bitter parting-a
hopeless one, it seemed to me-when
learned my fate from her fathers lips.
and passed down the brown stone steps
of the Dayton mansion, wondering if
the inclination of moneyed men toward
stone residences was not caused by the
existence of q similar hard material in
that part of the human anatomy known
as the heart.
was poor man, he said and the
professionof Adjective was a precarious
one. His daughter loved me-he could
not deny that--but she was his only
child, and her wealth and position de-
manded a match with some social equal
he would not break her heart by abso-
lutely refusing TO sanction our engage
ment; but if within a year / could Sc
cure a fortune Of twenty-five thousand
dollars and a lucrative business, and
Edna was still of the same mind-well,
he would consider IT,
twenty-five thousand dollarsi grew
sick at the thought of the condition i'm
posed, upon which i was to purchase nv
future happiness. Friendless, the re-
ceptisn OF q meagre salary, and utterly
unknown, where was j 10 raise this
amount, and what business capacity had
/, the son of parents who had given me
every luxury, and neglected practical
education, until a crash came that left
MS homeless and in penury.
Day and night for over a month I
brOoded over my soTrOws, and then one
day J was aroused into renewed life by
the reception of formal but courteous
note from Mr.. Dayton requesting
my immediate attendance az the
mansion.
Ny feet winged as ] hastened IN the
house of my loved Edna. What did IL
mean? Had he relented2 Was Edna
sick, or did business await me at the
pleasure Of my hard-hearted censor? 7
WAS ushered into the library. where I
found the old gentleman in an intense
state OF excitement pacing the floor, the
window broken in, papers and boxes
scattered about the apartment, and n safe
m the corner broken open.
] stared az him in amazement
You seem agitated Mr. Dayton" I
ventured 10 suggest
Agitated sgitated, sir ] am wild
Late last night, or early this morning
burglars entered this apartment bv
means Of yonder window and broke oper
the safe. When I came down this morn.
ing ] found affairs az they are now. and
nearly one hundred thousand dollars I'M
money bonds and lewelry goneW
stared mutely. The immensitv Oi
the robbery petrified me.
You have informed the police |' /
asked when could find my voice
No, he thundefed, coming to a full
stop have no confidence in p police
force which fails 70 protect house from
such an audacious burglary and expects
One-hall Of the booty for its return Her,
BE- the room, and yonder is a iist of tn,
stolen property. J believe You are hon
est, and leave the entire affair i'm voui
own hands Call upon me for whatevet
money YOU require iu an attempt to ro
cover the property Or 90 detect On,
thieves If you succeed within n month
VIII pay you thirty thousand dollars
IT you fail ! will pay your expenses fol
the month and place the case in you
hands Are you satisfied T
gasped spasmodically. Thirt.
Thousand dollarsl a fortune NOR
iHan the price of NV happiness An,