Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-04-14


as she heard the stern edict.
30 Fred !" she cried, "what can yeu
do p
"Starve, I suppose" was the bitter
answer, .'as do not happen to possess
the ill-gotten gains he SO generously
presents me. But will not ask you to
starve with me, Maud You were be-
trothed to the millionairie's nephew and
heir; the disinherited beggar frees you
from your promise.
Fred" she cried, bursting into tears,
'how can you he so cruel?' Then, un-
needing the clerk, who YVES discreetly
looking from the window, she came
close to Freds side. Darling" she said,
fixing her large black eyes upon his
face, ''if all the world believes you
guilty do not. If all the world casts
you off l will keep my promise"
The young lover had been bewilder-
ed, indignant, desperate, but he folded
the gentle comforter fast IN his arms
and great tears fell on her upturned
face.
"God bless you, Maud Y he cried
81 can defy the world if you are true
to me. Now, Potter, sit down and tell
me what you know Of this wretched
business"
"Well, Mr.. Fred, never heard of
the robbery myself until this morning,
when Wedges, the detective your uncle
employed to work it UP, came to make
his report. They did not notice me at
first, and when your uncle remember
ed ! was in the room had heard about
all NC1rra1 b. NC,, /,
was g note coming due last Wednes-
day."
10 Johnson ?"
Yes; well, / thought at the time it
was curious that your uncle gave him a
check when L knew the money was
drawn out Of the bank the day before,
to meet that very note. But never
knew till this morning that the money
was stolen from Mr.. Markham's private
desk by means of false keys. Mr..
Fred, said the old man earnestly, " it
was all in five hundred dollar notes, and
your uncle had the numbers"
Well ?"
!" This morning Vodges brought back
one Of the notes which you gave to
T, yesterday, in payment for a
pearl locket"
Stop, Potter, let me think. Where
did l get that note? | have it. Arnold
gave it to me TO take out hundred
dollars | lent him some time ago. And
Arnold otter-Arnold borrowed my
keys, last Wednesday night, to open
his trunk. Potter, huzza we known
the thief."
{ Not 50 fast, Mr.. Fred; not 20 fast.
1t will not be an easy matter to prove
this. Were there any witnesses pres
ent when Arnold borrowed the KEYS? p
No; ! was alone in my room, half
undressed, when he knocked Ut my
door and said he had loet the KEY of
his trunk. | lent him my bunch of
keys, which lie returned before | was
out of bed the next day"
And you were also alone when lie
paid you the money ?"
Yes: | thought he was very flush,
for you know rs well rs / do, Potter:
that a note for five hundred dollars is
not daily visitor in Arnold's pocket"
He is q cunning scoundrel. He
wants To ascertain if the notes can be
identified before he tries to get rid of
them himself. Mr. Fred, will you leaee
it TO me few days only few days
and, if do not catch the thief you
may try"
But my uncle ?"
wait till you can prove your inno-
cence before you see him. Only il
week-give me only week to watch
Arnold. And, by the way, you will
give me an additional chance if you
will leave the city. Throw him off his
guard by letting him suppose you are
banished for his crime.
Run away like coward !" flashed
Fred
@Only for week. You sec. the
probability is that Arnold has the
money in his possession yet. He will
wait to see the fate Of what he has
given you before putting any more
into circulation; but he has probably
hidden it very securely. He will
watch, but if you are willing | Will take
your room while Won are gone and do
49, AssNUUINC U1Iaj---- ,s..
IL was not easy to persuaue rIed 10
consent to Potter's plan, but Maud's
D rsnas sians being added to tha CO
mans, ne finally consented to leave
the cl'y for week and return in that
time 90 vindicate his innocence in case
Of Potter's failure.
Before night Fred was on his way
To visit another city, and his landlady |
had agreed to allow Mr. Potter to oceu.
~ MS place during his absence.
Fred had been gone two days when |
The old clerk called upon Miss Clark
'on TO report progress.
II am completely banled." he said,
n answer to her inquiries. "Gou see, |
Arnold knows me and evidently sus-
oects me. He is SO atlectionately de- |
iTous Of keeping mo III sight that |
,annot get peep into his room; and
whenever he is out he locks the door
md gives the key to the landlady. |
'annot force The door yet, and by the
inc Fred returns | am afraid the
money will be smuggled away. am
ure the money Is in his possession
low, lie is SO careful about his room.
Nobody gets i'll there but the landlady.
did think of bribing the chamber
Maid to let me i'll when she was at
york there. but unfortunately she left
o-day."
A flash of light seemed to pass across
Iand's face, but she only said de-
nurely.
Your landlady is a German, is size
ot?"
"les; her English is very imperfect.
lave you ever seen her r"
No; ! have heard Fred speak of
er. My mother, you know, was Ger
IAN.
But what has that to do with Fred's
ase ~
Il will tell you Wedges has tried to
atch the thief and failed You have
led and failed. mean to try, and
l"ceed."
You What can you do2"
Come tomorrow and | will tell
on"
Punctual Is the appointed time
otter made his appearance. With ,
ancing eyes and flushed checks Maud
let him.
Well liz asked, certain from her
'oks that she had good tidings.
Il told You | would succeed" /
And you did 1? Huzza | feel rs
Dung rs Fred himself"
TO whom | have telegraphed to re- !
I'm. He will be here this evening. and J
OH must bring Mr.. Markham, Wedges, !
nd the proper police authorities is /
teet in his room. Then, Mr.. Potter. I
, TO Mr.. Arnold's room and remove {