Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-28
NO.. 70.
Gales ano Skettbes.
TRUST BETRAYED.
BY AUNT PEGGY.


Well, the old fellow was so indignant
that he had Williams arrested on the spot.
and brought before the magistrate. Will
liamS put on bold face. and declared the
order was genuine: there were no wit
nes'es. and Mr.. Colby Swore soemnly it
was forgery. and held him under arrest
until further Developments Every one
was greatly astonished for Williams was
highly honored, and many thought there
was some mistake. Mr.. Colby was we'll
known and honorcd also for his truth and
sterling worth. lie would bring his own
son to Justice if he had done wrong. so of
course there was great excitement about
it.
About this time. II young man living in
our town had gone ont to the little place
in Missouri where Harry was supposed to
be, on visit to relatives, and returned
about the time the forgery was committed.
and upon being questioned by Mrs. Colby
concerning Harry said that he could hear
of no one of that name around there
there were no cattle being fed near there
that 1t was as poor country as ever he
saw.
Here was another surprise and mystery.
Why should Harry want to deceive them
so? They wrote to him about it. but re-
ceived no answer, and again, and still no
reply. Williams. being in Jail during
the time. was waiting for court to con-
vene; 50 Mr.. Colby grew so uneasy that
he hired a detective to 90 ont and hunt
Harry up. His wife was so troubled and
anxious that She could neither eat nor
sleep; the sale did not 90 off as adver-
tised, and the whole family was in grief.
Cora was almost inconsoable at first.
but, putting many little things together
that had not been noticed at the time, she
was forced to believe there was something
wrong with Harry. She believed he had
died, and Williams. in order to keep the
one Thousand dollars, had concealed his
death. All this she kept to herself. and
urged her Father to send some one to hunt
him up; hut vet they had received letters
all the time from him, and surely he must
have been at P, in Missouri, for there
We're letters directly from him. So rea-
>oncd Mr.. Colby.
The detective was II very shrewd man.
and had his own views about the matter:
he called for all the letters received from
Harry. and. after reading them over, took
his departure for p or near there it
was, as had been stated by the other Young
man. very poor country around P;
the town or village, was Il very small
place, and the people were all. with few
exceptions, of the common order
When he could find no trace of Harry
he went To the post-oilice, and the post
master was questioned; he said he remem-
bered Frequently mailing letters addressed
to Frank Colby, and letters came to the
Office addressed To Harry Colby, and they
were always received by young woman,
he remembered her because she always
hesitated when calling for letter. In
small place like that many things and peo-
pie are noticed that would be passed in a
larger place he did pot know who mailed
the letters to Frank Colby, as they were
generally found in the letter box.
The detective then related to the post
master Il, much of IIarry's history as he
thought necessary. and asked his aid in
helping him find the woman who called
for the letters. The postmaster replied
that She would likely come in for the after
noon mail. and he could come inside and
watch for her.
That afternoon he was on hand. and.
sure enough, she came and called for
letter for Harry Colby Receiving IA neg
ative answer. She walked out, and the Off
Ger followed her to small but neat look
ing cottage and boldly knocked on the
door, and when she opened it walked in,
without waiting to be invited. He found
her to be Il really pretty, young looking
lady. with Il child about eighteen months
old playing on the floor. She seemed sur
prised at the intrusion. but he fastened to
tell her he was trying to find young man
by the name of Colby Could she tell
of his whereabouts? She seemed little
startled at first, but soon regained her
compo>ure, and replied that she knew of
no such person.
"lhcn.' asked the officer. why do
You receive letters addressed to him"
''IIow did YOU know that" she asked.
quickly forgetting herself in her surprise.
Il know that YOU do, and that is suffi-
cient. See here" displaying his badge,
II am a detective. and unless YOU desire
to board Il while in the county Jail, You
had better tell all you know concerning
this matter. The Young man is missing,
and it Is believed that he has been foully
dealt with.
The woman was frightened. and said
that she had but little to tell; her name
was Johnson; her husband was carpen-
ter, and had Il friend named Williams, who
lived in Illinois; that he had given her ten
dollars To watch the mail and receive all
letters sent to Harry Colby, which she en-
closed IN other envelopes and returned to
Williams that he would then send a let
ter all ready to be put in the office there,
to 90 back to Illinois The letter to be
rcmailed was always addressed to Frank
Colby, and i'll Il cramped hand. Her hus-
band, She said. had often speculatcd about
these letters, and was afraid there was
something wrong; but she said they had
every confidence in Williams. and he told
them it was 4 joke they We're PLAYING ON
Il young man. But they were suspicious,
and thought he paid rather dear for little
fun; they were very poor, and the money
received did them IA good deal of good, so
they made no fuss about the letters"
This was all she knew about it: the de-
tective had hoped, for Mrs, Colby's sake,
that Harry would be found around there
somewhere but this exchange of letters
was proof positive that he had never been
there. He returned to P as quickly
as possible. and related all that he had dis
covered. Mrs. Colby was almost frantic