River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-20
THE GIRL DETECTIVE.


whose face was as impressive as wax
mask.
Five thousand dollars !" said the in
dividual at was large sum to leave
exposed" ,o.
Exposed p' said Mr.. Markham. at
was in my private desk, to which no
one has access but myself and my
nephew, Fred Tryon."
"Would it be possible for the young
gentleman"
''Sir," said Mr.. Markham, indignant
ly, "my nephew is not thief. If he
needed ten times that sum he knows
would freely give it to him. He will
he my heir, and he is as dear to me as
son. 1t is absurd to connect him In
any way with this robbery"
"Just state the matter again as brief
ly as you can, and allow me to take
notes will you, Mr.. Markham
Certainly. 1 drew five thousand
dollars out of the bank yesterday to
meet a note that was not presented for
payment. Retaining it until the bank
was closed, | concluded to lock it in
my desk until this morning, and did so.
At nine O'Clock this morning the ex-
pected note was presented, and l I'M
locked the desk The money was gone
and with it a small memorandum book
that was in the same roll"
The lock was not forced ?"
"No, sir; the desk was apparently
exactly as left it."
"And Mr.. Tyron has the only dupli-
cate key?'
The old gentleman frowned. Hewas
evidently displeasedat the turn the de-
tectives suspicious seemed to be taking.
eyes, my nephew certainly had the
only duplicate key"
'Humphl yes. Have you the num-
Der of all the notes?'
eyes. The roll consisted of ten five
hundred dollar notes."
The list. of numbers being taken, the
detective made a sweeping examina
ton of the department., and prepared
to take his departure. AS he stood
near the door, Mr.: Markham suddenly
said nervously:
81 think, Mr.. Vogdes, If you make
any discoveries you had better report
to me privately, before making any ar
rests"
Certainly, sir, if you desire it. Will
you grant me one favor? Do not men,
ton the robbery to Mr.. Tyron, if you
have not done so already"
mo one has heard of it but your
self"
every good. will call again when
havean report to make"
Erred Fred :" the old gentleman
said in troubled tone, when he was
alone. "Vogdes evidently thinks it is
Fred 1t cannot be. 1t is impossible
that my nephew would rob me. And
yet he knew the money was there. He
was here when | handed Arnold the
check, and here when he returned
with the money. He knew that John
sons note was not presented, and Fred
alone had duplicate key. Obi if it
should be. Annals boy, that l prom
ised to love rs my son. Have | not kept
my promise? Where have | failed
And why should he steal from me when
all l have is his 1 cannot, l will not
believe it."
May l come in ?" asked a pleasant
voice at the door, and, permission being
given, Fred Tyron entered the room.
Looking into his hansome young
face, bright and frank, with we'll opened
brown eyes and curls of nut-brown
hair, it was hard to connect it with any
idea of roguery, ingratitude and theft.
His manner towards his uncle, who
had ever filed q fathers place, was
the perfection of respectful affection,
and before he had been an hour in the
counting-room Mr.. Markham's fears
was entirely gone.
They were talking of certain dark
eyed little maiden who was seon to be
Mrs. Tryon, and when Fred left his
uncle it was with a promise that he
would call in the evening upon Miss
Clarkson to arrange for the wedding
day.
The young man, favoEite of fortune
apparently, spent the afternoon with
his betrothed, received his uncle in the
evening beside her, and accompanied
the old gentleman to his boarding
house, receiving an affectionate fare
well when he took his way to his own
rooms in another house. For week
he heard nothing of the robbery.
1t was Just when summer twilight
was fading that, returning home from
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 a week. You see, 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 you are gone and dc
a little detective business on my part.
1t was not easy to persuade Fred to
consent to Potter's plan, but Maud's
persuasions being added to the old
mans, he finally consented to leave
the city for week and return in that
time to vindicate his innocence in case
of Potter's failure.
a drive with Maud GARRISON, Fred me-
his uncle's confidential clerk waiting
for him st Maud's house.
90 have note for you, Mr.. Fred,
he said, and as you were not at home
l thought l would wait for you here.
Something in the young mans face
struck sudden chill to Maud's heart
"You have bad news :" she cried.
Perhaps Mr.. Fred had better reaC
the note" was the evasive answer.
But Maud's terror was only increased
when Fred, after reading the note
broke into a furious exclamation o
age.
"Who dares say that l am midnigh
burglar? ?" he shouted.
80 Fred what is it?" asked Maud
turning very white.
'My uncle has been robbed of fiv,
thousand dollars, and he pays me tn,
compliment of supposing me to be the
thief because have duplicate key Il