Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-05-04
Miss LawsOn's Money.

CLARK, there's been a robbery at 81
c., street, said my chief, one morning
June, 1872 as l entered the Office. 81
want YOU to 20 there and see about it at
once. There's reward of $1,000 offered.
Of course / lost time in starting for 81 g
-. street, which | found to be an un-
pretentious- looking little cottage, standing
in the midst of quite large and unculti
waited garden. was shown into the par
lor, and minute later was joined by a
short, stout elderly lady, who introduced
herself as follows:
MIR Clarke, the detective, presume.
| am Miss Harriet Lawson, the owner of
the house, and the person who sent for
you. Suppose we proceed to business at
once
signifed that such was my desire, and
the old lady proceeded in her abrupt man
ner:
OF course you want to know all l can
tell you about the robbery. Well, it Is not
much that | know-it's all a mystery to
me. Yesterday afternoon drew the sum
of SIX thousand dollars from the savings
bank. locked ii up in my safe, and when
/ went to get 1t this morning, for the pur-
pose of paying note which fell due to-day,
1t was gone. That's all / know about
it,
What sort of safe have you got?' l
asked.
You can see for yourself replied the
lady. Step this way
| followed her TO an apartment on the
floor above.
That is my room,' she said, as she
openened the door, and there is my safe
in the corner.
1t has patent combination lock, L
said, and bears no marks of violence
Just so, interposed Miss Lawson, and
that's what puzzles me. Last nigh: set
the lock at a Hew combination, and l
slept inthat bed, right in sight of these all
all night, with the key under my pillow.
l am a very light sleeper, and 1 don't see
how any one could have possibly removed
the key and opened the safe without
wakenlng me-
Did any one beside yourself know the
combInationf =
No: but-well, hate tc confess l was
such a fool-but the truth is, / was afraid
l might forget the combination, and SO l
wrote it on slip of paper, which put In
my top bureau drawer.
Unfortunate. Well, Miss Lawson, who
lives in the house besides yourselfT /
asked.
The old lady looked me steadily in the
eye.
Nobody in the house took the money.
| will rot allow such an idea to enter my
head.
That is not an answer to my question,
Miss Lawson
Mr.. Clark said the old lady, ''but two
persons besides myself slept in the house
last night They are my servant Bar
bara, ald my companion, Miss Alice
Trafton. Neither of them knows anything
of the matter.
Still 1 would like to examine both,
persisted.
Il will not allow ii y exclaimed the old
lady, angrily. Barbara Heath is an old,
trusted servant, whom l have had for
many years, and Alice Trafton is the
daughter of a dear, deceased friend, has
been my companion for two years past, and
will be my heiress. They are both above
suspicion. will not permit you to ques,
ton either of them
'Ihen, madame, / throw up the case.
will bid you good morning.
'Stopl' she cried, as was leaving the
room, what do you meanP
Il must conduct the case in my OWL
way, or not at all.
Miss Lawson reflected.
Il suppose YOU must have your way,
she said, but do not let either of them
think they are suspected for a moment. II
you will step down to the parlor will cal
them
Two minutes later Miss Alice Traitor
and the servant, Barbara, stood In my pre-.
sence The former was without exception
the most beautiful girl had ever seen-s
blonde, with wealth of shining, golden
hair and pair of glorious blue eyes thai
sent an electric thrill through my frame a
looked into them, Her companion wa'
tall angular, middle-aged woman, who
stared at me with manifest displeasure.
first questioned the servant, who an
swered my inquiries with great promptEess.
She heard no noise during the night, anc
knew nothing of the affair except whal
Miss Lawson told her that morning. Thii
was ner testimony, after hearing which
dismissed her, aud turned my attention te
Miss Trafton. who seemed 10 be laborlne
under great embarrassment. The colo
came and went on her beautiful face as
questioned her, and several times sh'
seemed on the point of bursting into tears
Presently asked her:
You were in the house all night, wer'
You not, Miss TraftonF
After moments hesitation, she an
swered in an almost inaudible tone
voice:
4 was not, sirP
why, Alice, exclaimed Miss Lawson
starting to her feet, what do you mean =
Il will not attempt to deceive you, sal
the young Girl: 4 was absent from tn
house between the hours of ten and twelv
o'clock
After supposed you were abed an
asleep myself ! exclaimed the old lady
Where were you2'
That, sald Miss Trafton, 4 cannot te
you, aunt
Cannot tell mel gasped Miss Lawson.
And you wlllnot tell mer asked