The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-04

sir, al audacious robbery here.n h
said, in low voice.
I started.
"And poor little Mrs. Leigh. VIII
alone Witnessed it, as L gather.n wen
on the doctor, "has received q sever
Shock TO nerves naturally weak" g.
| nave done my best, but L am sure he
cure"
Again, with some trouble, DR.. Bland
ford contrived to administer restora
tlves, and then left his patient in m,
charge.
Sitting down beside my wife.
gently took her hand in mine, and will
much loving talk tried to draw from
her what had thus alarmed her.
But when spoke Indignantly Of the
scoundrel who had frightened her, and
talked OF sending at once for the police
olanche started up, and clasped her
hands imploringly.
"Ch, no, no never!" she shrieketl
out. edwin, dear Edwin, say moth.
ing to- the police. He must not he
pursued. Let him go-pray, pray
let him 60 free!''
This, felt, was most extraordinary
Why should l let Il thief 90, if he could
be caught3 And what could NV Door
Blanche meanp
began. for the first time, to wonder
oI wnaC the stolen property could have
consisted. That there had been a real
robbery l could not doubt.
But, unless some impudent snatcher
had sllpped IN to abscOnd with Il few
spoons, or burglars had been busy, I
coold not guess the meaning of the
Mocha 1ically glanced around the
room, ana missed from it's accustomed
place my big dressing -case-new and
handsome, with it's silver mountings
ana patent lock-the very case in which.
before starting for Manchester, | had
secured Herman Krantz's money.
Where was the case now?
blanche, love-" said l, anxiouslv
ana IN quivering voice, "surely, tie
Yes, yes," she cried out. again
Wrlnglng her hands, with long wall
OF agony; "cruel, cruel-yes, it is that
But spare him-pray do not set any one
10 hunt him down-not if you love me
-Edwin' pray, prayl''
And then her hysterical attack be.
came a paroXysm of so violent nature
mat DR.. Blandfoad had again to be
sent for, and he had trouble enough to
'alm, ny skill and care, the violent
agitation under which poor Blanche
low suffered.
Ihere must be no more talk of an
character tonight. My pa
lent must have absolute reposo,i saii,., ,,
ha ip,ge geoa dSftar when he
led lire in the lonely drawing-room, to
ell me that Blanche had sunk into an
Uneasy slnmber, and that Sarah was
With her.
What a night l spentl No sleep
'isited me, after the fatigue of my
Quincy, so profound was my wretched-
less. L was Il ruined man, 1 felt;
uined and disgraced, for 1 could no
more replace the six thousand dollars
eft in my care by the German-himself
lot rich-than could give any reason
ble explanation of the robbery.
Ny !"ife's behavior was go singular,
nd her anxiety lest the VILLAIN who
lad made off with this large sum-the
oss of which meant rum to our pros-
'ects-should be captured, was so incx-
'licable, that the suspicious Of the world
t large would cling to us both. felt
myself miserable and perturbed.
What could Blanche's evident sympa-
ny with the robber imply, unless indeed
he sudden shock had disordered her
)rainp
The early post brought me letter
rom Paris. My friend, KrantZ, in
ormed me cheerfully hat he found a
engthened tour III France would be
in the interests of his firm,
md that he was writing by the same
,ost to our banking house in Crutehed
Friars, to request that the letter of
credit Oh Rouen Il Lyons, might be
'ent out to him for the amount Of six
thousand dollars.
1.-The sum you paid in for me will
20 handy, now" said the UNCONSCIOUS
ierman.
J. groancd aloud as read the words.
"Y our mistress IS asleep?" l asked
Of Sarah.
The answer was in the Affirmative;
lor, until had the doctors approval,
could l venture to disturb my sick wife
~ approaching her.
My task was clear before me, and it
vas no pleasant one.
l must be at our Office at the usual
ime, more as a self-accused culprit
han aS q colleague.
Certainly, 1 had been guilty of moth
ng worse than carelessness. But then
! banker has no right to be careless.
And much Of the affair could not be
explained.
Blanche's behavior presented a riddle
not to be guessed.
My object was to insure Herr Krantz
against loss, and to entreat that the
irm would advance the money due to
him, deductmg the amount from my
annual share i'll the profits.
Still, six thousand dollars.
I'VE will take time to think Of it,
Mr.. Leigh" said tho principal.
And, good-naturedly, he advised me
20 go home, since, in the present condi-
Jon Of my mind and spirits, l was unfit
for the routine of my daily duties.
I reached home, and met DR.. Bland
ford at the garden gate.
"You will find Mrs. Leigh better
now," he said.
And, indeed, found my dear wife
,almer, though pale and trembling.
Clearly, it would be rash to allude, for
the present, to the robbery. l spoke
'oothingly to her, and could not have
been half an hour in the room before a
telegram was brought to me.
1t was addressed to Blanche, and