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

has a room. / braided my hair in
two long plaits, and convinced your land
lady that was recent importation from
Germany, unable to speak a word of
English. She agreed to take me, for tn
week, on trial, and before had been two
hours in the house was sent to tidy Mr..
Arnold's room. Never was room
tidied so quickly; then seeing my
mistress on her way to market, /
shot the bolt and took survey
of the premises The trunk was
locked, the bureau drawers wide open,
the closet door ajar. felt a
reluctance TO overhaul any private
repositories, though Ishould have done
it" she added, resolutely, eff / had
been driven to it. / rummaged little,
when on the closet floor espied shirt,
unsoiled except one sleeve, and that
was black with scot. l wondered Whist
he would be doing at the fireplace in
summer, and went to examine. A few
minutes sufficed to convince me that
the stove had been moved out and the
elbow of the pipe removed. / repeat
ed the process--to find roll of FIVE
hundred dollar notes and a note book
with the name of Rufus Markham on
the first page. carefully replaced
everything, and came home. Now,
Mr.. Potter, he must be taken by sur
prise, or he may say Fred put the notes
there"
"You are brave girl p cried the
old man looking with admiration at the
beautiful, animated face, "and Fred
will owe you more than his hfe."
He can repay me by coming to tell
the good news when he is clear"
Eight was struck by the city clocks
when DR.. Graham Arnold, dressed in
the latest fashion, and with fragent
Havana between his lips, strolled
leisurely into his own room.
He had been in the parlor of his
boarding house for an hour watching
Mr.. Potter with some anxiety, but
wholly unaware of the little party of
four who, in Mr.. Potter's temporary
apartment, awaited his return to his
own room.
Once inside the door the nonchalent
look left the handsome face of the
young man, aud he muttered fiercely ::
must get out of this. Potter sus-
poets me, and may yet communicate
his suspicious to Mr.. Markham.
will be off to-uight as soon as the house
is quiet"
He opened small travelling satchel
as he spoke, and was rapidly filling it
with necessaries for journey when he
was interrupted by a knock at the
door.
Tossing the satchel into the closet,
he cried" Come in"
But his face turned livid as his call
was obeyed and party of five entered
the room.
Two policemen stationed themselves |
ON his right and left, while Mr.. Mark |
ham, Mr.. Potter and Fred Tyron fol-
lowed them
"Now, Mr.. Arnold" said one of the |
police, with the face and voice of the
detective Wedges, twill YOU tell us
where to find those missing notes p
What notes % cried Arnold "Wnat
does this outrage mean?"
cit MEANS" said Mr.. Potter. that
your plan to throw the robbery of Mr..
Markham's private desk upon his
nephew has failed. 1t means that the
HYe thousand dollars stolen from tnat
gentleman are pow in your possession,
exce.t only one note given to Mr.
Tryon in payment of debt"
''It's lie" cried the prisoner; but
his white face, faltering voice, and
shaking voice were no proof of inno-
cence. SEARCH my trunks; search
everything have !"
mo, gentlemen" said Mr.. Potter.
DRAW out the stove, ifyou please, and,
look in the elbow of the pipe"
With cry Graham Arnold fell sense
less to the floor as Wedges put his hand
upon the stove.
Mr.. Markham turned to Fred. There
was no word spoken. Hand clasped
hand. and each read forgiveness in the
others eyes.
Mr.. Graham Arnold spent some
weeks in jail ere his trial and convic-
ton; but before his sentence was pro-
nounced Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Tryon
were crossing the ocean on wedding
tour to Europe.