, 1881-05-27

tective told him
Re-entering the office. they found
Gerkes still unconscious. and at the
suggestion of Varnoe, he was conveyed
in that condition to the hospital.
Now, Mr.. Purvis." said Narnoe,
you please point ont to me which are
the clothes usually worn by Mr.. Sharon
while on duty at the store.
Certainly, sir" replied the gentle
man; that is readily done, and he went
to closet where the clerks kept their
outer garments and opened it. he took
piece after piece from the hooks, an ex-
clamation as if OF surprise escaping HIM
as he did so.
What is it," asked Varnoe, when
Mr.. Purvis laid the garments on the
| bed.
Why, IFS live, Sharon has not only
! left his coat behind, but also his pants.
! said Mr.. Purvis, with look of bewil-
! derment.
! THAT is singular" remarked the de-
| tective, exchanging significant glances
| with the doctor; the more so when you
remember that Mr.. Yerkes. when found,
had on his coat. vest, pants and boots,
while the robber even left his boots be-
hind him, pointing to pair beneath
the he'd.
you will now please see whether Mr..
Sharon has left any thing of any value IN
his pockets
Every pocket was instantly Invested
of its contents There was found n val
liable gold watch and chain, wallet
containing tritie over 50, a pen-knlfe,
pencil and memorandum book. etc.
Retain the articles, Mr.. Purvis, and
restore the clothes to the closet" said
Yarnoe. Il have another surprise IN
store for you l think"
When this was done Narnoe took off
all the bed clothes and threw them on
the floor, leaving tile mattress bare. An
exclamation of surprise burst from Mr..
Purvis as he pointed to the mattress.
where IA large number of bloody finger
marks stained it along seam about ten
inches in length.
"Now L see what you are driving nj.
cried Mr. Purvis scanning the seam
you mean that the robber has hidden
his booty in the mattress?"
Il think so, at all events, was his
reply, as he took out his knife and opened
the seam.
Then inserting his hand into the open
ing he presently drew forth the package
of greenbacks They were intact, so Mr..
Purvis announced, after examining the
fastenings and seals.
what ami to think of this?" asked
the gentleman in a helpless tone. Il de-
clare that my head aches trying to di-
vine the motives of this most extraordi-
nary robbery.
Think as [ do"
''What Is that?"
Why, hat Pembroke Sharon instead
of being the robber is the victim of the
| ,.Ol,
all his outer garments behind. He evi-
4 IDENTIFY surprised the robber at his work,
and IL the encounter that followed he
murdered poor Shoron, dragged him
across the street as the trail showed me,
and tossed him into the river"
Then you actually suspect August
Yerkes as the robber?" asked the Iner-
chant, greatly agitated.
81 am sure he il not only the robber
but possibly also q murderer" was the
reply.
'Oh, tho wretch?r cried the merchant,
passionately; and in my heart I admired
his bravery, while / pitied him for what
he had endured for endeavoring to pro-
tect my property"
Il am convinced that You have hit
upon the man, said Mr.. Purvis. ''If he
knew of this he might have given us the
slip. The next thing to be done is to
use every means in our power TO recover
the body of poor Sharon"
Poor, indeed, since all the clothes
he has on his back are not his own" said
voice behind them.
All looked at the speaker, who wore
an cid seaman's suit, and looked as
though he had Just recovered from a
severe spell of sickness.
Something in the tone of the voice
struck cord in the breast of the mer-
chant He approached the man and
asked:
WHO are yOu?"
"My name is Pembroke Sharon"
In a moment he was surrounded by
the trio, who congratulated him on his
escape from death. He requested per-
mission to resume his proper dress, after
which he would tell exactly What occur
red during the past night. 4
His story was very similar to the one
told by Yerkes, with this difference: the
positions were changed. 1t was Sharon
who surprised the other before the open
safe, Just in the act of slowing in his poe
ket the package of greenbacks alluded to.
1t was Sharon who denounced the act,
and Yerkes, both angry and frightened
to be thus defeated. picked up paper
weight and hurled it at his fellow clerk,
striking Sharon on the head, iniicting IA
CHASTITY wound, from which he tainted,
and knew no more until he awoker on
board vessel lying near the navy yard.
He was told they. picked him up in the
river.
The Captain and two of his men had
been to the theatre and were return
ing in a boat to the vessel, when white
object floating on the water attracted
their attention and they made for it and
drew the apparently dead man in the
boat and took him on board the vessel.
where his wants were at once attended
| to.
| When Yerkes' version of the affair was
related to him he laugheu derisively, and
was on the point of making a remark
when familiar footsteps were heard as
sending the stairs.
by heaveni l believe it is August
Ierkes" whispered Sharon as he hastily
entered the closet and drew the door to.
He was none too soon, for the next mo.
ment Yerkes walked briskly up to where
the three gentlemen were standing.
! Something in their faces told him that
something was amiss-something to hi,
disadvantage, too.
| You are probably surprised TO see me
here again?" remarked he, for want of