Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-05-03


intrusion, You are, | believe, return
Ing to town tomorrow! !!
Yes
The cause Of your return Is, be-
lieve, connected with the forgery OF q
certain check In your name
Sir, how can you possibly know
thati'
That check was brought to you for
your inspection three days ago by one
of the clerks from the bank, q Mr.,
Smith, and il Is now in your possess
sion.
Ny uncle was speechlcss.
Hear me further, The accuracy OF
my statements hitherto may claim cree
dencc for what | am about to affirm.
Unless | am greatly mistaken, there
are now in this establishment two per-
sons who have been employed to regain
possession at all costs Of that forged
paper, They suspect that you have it,
aud already your room and your daush'
ter and niecc's room have been searched
and it only remains to search your per-
SON.
My uncle turned pale.
1T is known that you are leaving to-
morrow morning, aud the attempt will
be made between now and then. Will
you allow me to offer you my adviccF
/ will not attempt to describe my re-
spected unclc's condition Of body and
mind at this part Of the interview, SUI
fec it to say that the profered advice
was ultimately adopted.
On that evening my uncle declined
to accompany us when, an hour after
dinner, the house cmptied on to the
promenade. Mr.. Gregory was also
missing, and had not appeared at dim
ncr. The Rev. Mr.. Briggs took us
under his care. My uncle was already
nodding in his chair as we went out
Twenty minutes afterward two of the
company softly re-entered the room.
This I had from an eyewitness. Their
names were Mr.. and Mrs. Grice. Mrs.
Grice stood at the door, and her hus-
band advanced gently across the floor
to where my uncle lay back in his
chair, snoring audibly, his handker-
chief over his head, his coat thrown
open, and pocketbook just showing in
his breast pocket.
Mr.. Grice crept up to him, abstract
ed the book with practiced hand, put
it into his own pocket, and turned to
60. Now, as he recrossed the room
he had to pass before a large lounge,
with long hangings in front, and he
was, perhaps, somewhat surprised to
find his ankles seized in the firm grip OF
a pair of hands thrust out suddenly
from under the lounge. AS he fell, his
amiablc partner turned round-into.the
arms of a detective officer. At the
same moment Mr.. Grsgory entered
through the window from the balcony.
This is your pocketbook, sir said
one of the detectives.
Thank you,' said my uncle. lit
has nothing in it, but am glad to
have it back again.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grice were removed
at once to another public establishment
in the neighborhood, where the COM
pany was very select, the hours very
regular, and the maintenance very
cheap-a style of establishment which
it was subsequently proved they had
frequented in more than one part of the
country.
Amid considerable excitement we
promenaded late that night. My uncle
said;
you have rendered me a service,
sir, which lays me under the deepest
obligation to you. I have no doubts
that the original delinquents, Of whom
these creature are only the tools, will
be brought to justice. Finding that we
are on their track, they have made this
effort to destroy the proof Of their
guilt, and prevent us from submitting
it to experts. Thanks to you, they
have failed. 1 can only say how well
come will be any opportunity of max
ing any returns to you, however
slight
Il shall certainly take you at your
word, SIR was the answer.
And now, Mr.. Gregory continued
my uncle, will you pardon our curios-
ity if we beg you to tell us the means
by which you were able to divine the
of our departed friends?'
'Oh, Mr.: Gregory, cried Lily, you
must tell us. We are on thorns to