The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-03-15
Mss LAWsONs MONEY.

for "a G--strest, which I found to 81
an unpretentious looking little cottaee
standing in the midst Of quite a lafg,
and well cultivated garden. wa.
shown into the parlor, and q minute
later was joined by a short, stout elderly
lady, who introduced herself as follows
Mr. Clark, the detective, presume
l am Miss Harriet Lawson, the owner
Of the house, and the person who sent
for you. Suppose we proceed to business
at once
kignifed that such was my desire,
and the cid lady continuedin her brusque,
abrupt fashion
.s0f course you want 10 know all
can tell ron abeut the robbery. Well,
It isn't much that know about tits
all mystery to me Yesterday after.
noon / drew the sum of SIX thousand
dellais from the savings bank. locked
it up IN my safe, and when went to
get it this morning, for the purpose Of
paying note which fell due to day. it
was gone. That's all / know about il.
What sort Of q safe have you got r
l asked.
Yeu can see for yourself replied
the lady, "step this way"
l followed her to an apartment on the
doer above.
"That's my room, she Ild, as she
opened the door, sand there IS the safe
in that corner.
It has q patent combination lock,
said, sand bears no mark Of violence. .
E Just so, interposed Miss lawson,
s'and that's what puzzles nae. Last
night / set the lock at a new combine
tion, and slept in that bed, right in
sight of the safe all night, with the key
under my pillow. I am very light
sleeper, and l don't see how any one
could have possibly removed the key
and opened the safe without awakening
me.
Did amy one beside yourself know
the eombinationP esked.
aNe; but well, I hate to confess that
was such foel; but the truth is /
was afraid | might forget the cembina-
ton, and SO | wrete it on slip of paper
which l put In my top bureau drawer"
Unfortunate. Well, Miss Lawson,
who lives in the house beside yourself r
The old lady looked me steadily in
The eye.
Nobody in the house took the mon
ey," she said, II will not allow such an
idea to enter my head. )"
That is not an answer to nv ques-
ten, Miss Lawson" added
sMr. Clark, said the old lady, abut
two persons beside myself slept in this
house last night. They are my servant,
Barbara, and my companion, Miss Alice
Trafton. Neither of them knows any
thing eff the matter.
s.Still, | would like to exarnine beth. y
81 will not allow it" exclaimed the
old lady, angrily. Barbara Heath Is
an old, trusted servant, whom I have
had for aany years, and Alice Trsfton
is the daughter of dear, deceased
friend, has been my companion for two
years past. and will be my heiresz=
They are both above Suspicion. / will
not permit you to question either Of
them
s.Then, madame" l sails, ,s..I throw up
the case. bid you good morning. "
Stop she cried, as / was leaving
the room. What do you meant
81 mean that l must conduct the cas-
IN my own way, or not at ALL
Miss Lawson reflected moment.
81 suppose you must have your way" !"
she said; shut do not let either of them
think that they are suspected for an in
slant. If you will step down to the
paTlor again / viii call them,
Two minutes later Miss Alice Traften
and the servant, Barbara, stood IN my
presence. The former was, without ex-
ception, the most beautiful girl I had
ever seen-a blonde, with wealth of
shining, golden hair, and a pair of
glorious blue eyes, that sent an electric
thrill through my frame as I looked into
them. Her coApaniOn was a tall, an
oular, middle aged woman, who stared
At me with manifest aispleasure.
| first questioned the servant. who
answered my inquiries with great
prcmptness. She heard no noise during
the night, and knew nothing regarding
the robbery, except what Miss Lawson
had told. her that morning This was
her testimony, after hearing which ]
dismissed her, and turned my attention
to Miss Trafton, who seemed to be
laboring under great embarrassment.
The color came and went. IN her beauti-
ful face as 1 questioned her. and several
times she seemed to be on the point Of
bursting into tears. Presently 7 asked
her:
od were in the house all night,
were you not, Hiss Trafton7'
After moments. hesitation, she an
swerea, in an almest inaudible tone:
q was not, sir."
Why, Alice, ;" exclaimed Miss Law
son, starting to her feet, what do you
meant
L; viii not attempt to deceive YOU. y
said the young girl Il was absent from
the house between the hours Of eleven
and twelve o'clock last night.
After I supposed you to be abed and
asleep! After / was abed and asleep
myself, exclaimed the old lady. 4where
was your
That" said Miss TrafsOn, Il cannot
tell you, aunt. .
eoAnnOt tell me9' gasped Miss Law
son.
'sAud you viii not tell meT Iasked.
No, sir. was the gentle, but firm
reply.
THAT win do, Miss Trafton,e / said.
s.You may leave the room"
When she was gene, I turned to Mis-,