The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-25
still unconscious and at the suggestion Of Var


the store"
"Certalny, sur" replied the gentleman
"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 exclamation as if of surprise es'
Gaping him ~ he did SO.
What is IT." asked Varnoe when Mr.. Pur
Wis laid the garments on the bed.
"Why, as / live, Sharon has not only left his
coat and vest behind but also his pants" SAID
Mr.. Purvls with look of bewilderment.
THAT Is singular" remarked the detective
exchanging glances with the doctor: the
more so when you bear IN mind that lerks
when found, had on his coat, vest, pants and
boots, while the robber even left his boots be
hind him." and pointing to pair beneath the
bed
you will now please see whether Mr.. Shar'
on left anything OF value IN his pockets"
Every pocket was instantly Invested of its
contents There was found valuable gold
watch and cham, wallet containing a trhle
over S., a penknife, pencil and memorandum
book, etc.
"Retaln the articles, Mr.. Purvls, and restore
the clothes to the closet" said Narnoe. ~
have another surprise IN store for you, think. v
When this was done Narnoe took oil all the
bedclothes and threw them on the floor leav
ing the mattress bare. An exclamation of sur
prise burst from Mr.. Purvis as he pointed to
the mattress where a number of bloody finger
marks stained 1t along seam about ten inches
III length.
Now see what you are driving at cried
| Mr.. Purvls, scanning the seam. You mean
to say that the robber has hidden his booty in
the mattress?"
II think so at all events" taking out his
knife and opening the seam
| Than ipgprtinp his hand INTO the ODpDlup,
he presently drew forth the packages of green
backs. They were intact SO Mr.. PurvIs an
nounced after examining the fastenngs and
seals.
what am | to think of this?" asked the
gentleman in helpless tone. 81 declare that
my head aches trying to divine the motive OF
this most extraordinary robbery"
Think as | do"
"What is that!'
"Why, that Pembroke Sharon, instead OF
being the robber is the victim of the robber,
which accounts for his leaving all his outer
garments behind He evidently surprised the
took place he murdered poor Sharon, dragging
hun across the street us the trail showed to me,
and tossed him into the river"
Then you really suspect August Ierks rs
the robbery asked the merchant, greatly agl-
tated
II am sure he is not only the robber, but
possibly also the murderer" was the reply,
ooh, the wretchr' cried the merchant pas
sionately; "and IN my heart | admired his
bravery, while ! pitled him for what he had
endured for endeavoring to protect my proper
ty am convinced" continued Mr.. Purvs,
"that you have hit on the right man. If he
knew OF this he might give us the slip. The
next thing to be done is to use every means in
nnr wv IN rho hnIV Df bppr sharon
who has been so foully dealt with"
"POOr, indeed, since all the clothes he has
on his back are not his own" spoke voice
behind them.
All looked at the speaker, who wore an old
seaman's suit, and looked as if he had recov.
cred from severe spell Of sickness
Something in the tone of the voice struck q
chord in the breast of the merchant. lie ap-
preached the man and asked eagerly:
"Who are you?"
"My name is Pembroke Sharon"
In moment he was surrounded by the trio,
who congratulated him on his escape from
death. He requested permission to assume
his proper dress, after which he would tell ex'
actly what had occurred during the previous
night
His story was very similar to the one told
by Yerks, with this dfierence--the positions
were changed. 1t was Sharon who surprised
the other before the opened safe just in the act
of slowing in his pocket the package OF green.
backs alluded to. 1t was Sharon who denounc
ed the act, and Yerks both angry and fright
ened to be thus detected, picked up paper
weight and hurled it at his fellow clerk, strik-
ing Sharon on the head, intlcting a CHASTITY
wound, from which he tainted, and knew no
more until he awoke on board vessel near
the navy yard. He was told that they picked
him up in the river.
The captain and two of his men had been
to the theatre and were returning in a boat to
the vessel when white object floating on the
water attracted their attention, and they made
their way for it, and drew the apparently dead
man into the boat taking him on board the
vessel, where his wants were attended to.
When Yerks's version OF the affair was re
lated to him he laughed derisively, and was
on the point of making a remark, when ia
miliar footsteps were heard ascending the
STAIRS
"By heaven, | believe 1t is August Yerksn'
whispered Sharon, as he hastily entered the
closet and drew the door to. He was none toe
soon, tor the next moment Ycrks walked
briskly up to where the three men were stand
ing. Something in their faces told him that
something was s-somethmg to his disad
vantage, too.
You are probably surprised to see me here
again ?" remarked he, for want of anything
else To say.
1--WE are indeed" SAID Mr.. Purvls regard
ing HIM with an ominous trown.
you all appear anything but glad to sec
me-" next remarked the robber and would be
assassin.
"On the contrary, we are very glad to see
YOU" here spoke Varnoe, with an ambiguous
smile.
CHANGING at the detective with skeptica
air, YeIks walked to the closet and opened the
door, and the next moment he uttered fear
full shrek and started back with hair standing
on end, and his face the color of ashes
He had seen (as his guilty conscience told
HIM the ghost of his victim, for Sharon re
manned standing in the closet perfectly i'm
movable, his eyes fixed reproachfully on the
| guilty wretch