Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-06-06
The Girl DeiectlYe.

give thousand dollars 2" said the indi-
vidual. 1t was large sum to leave ex
posed"
Exposed !" said Mr.. Markham. at
was in my private desk, TO which no one
has access but myself and my nephew, Fred
Tyron."
"would it be possible for the young
gentleman
/" Sir" said Mr.. Markham Indignantly,
"my nephew is not thief If he needed
ten times that sum he knows | would freely
give it to him. lie will be my heir, and he
is as dear to me as a son. 1t is simply alb.
surd to connect him in any way with this
robbery"
"Just state this matter again as briefly
as you can, and allow me to take notes
will you, MIR. Markham ?"
Certainly. | drew five thousand dollars
out of the bank yesterday to meet note
that was not presented for payment. Re
tanning it until after the bank was closed,
concluded to lock it in my desk until this
morning, and did so. At nine o'clock this
morning the expected note was presented
and | unlocked the desk. The money was
gone, and with it 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 Tryon has the only duplicate key ?"
The old gentleman frowned. lie was
evidently displeased at the turn the detec-
tive's suspicious seemed to be taking.
ssYes, my nephew certainly had the only
duplicate key"
aHumph yes. Have you the numbers
of all these notes r
uyag Tho pO+ao oOnoiStaJ of ton five
hundred dollar notes"
The list of numbers being taken, the de-
tective made searching examination of the
apartment and prepared to take his depart
ure. As he stood near the door Mr.. Mark
ham suddenly said nervously;
al think, Mr.. Vogdes, if you make any
discoveries, you had better report to me pri-
vately before making any arrests"
Certainly, sir, if you desire it. VIII
you grant me one favorP DO not mention
the robbery to Mr.. Tryon, if you have not
done so already"
"No one has heard of it but yourself"
"Very good | will call again when l
have any report to make"
"Fred Fred !" the old gentleman said in
a troubled tone, when he was alone. "Vog-
des evidently thinks it is Fred 1t cannot
be. 1t is impossible that my nephew would
rob me. | cannot believe it. 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 Johnson's note was not presented, and
Fred alone had duplicate key. oh ! if it
should be- Anna's boy, that promised to
love as my son. Have not kept my prom
ise? Where have ! failed ? Aud why
should he steal from me when all have is
his l cannot, will not, believe it."
"May / come in :" asked pleasant voice
at the door, and permission being given,
Fred Tryon entered the room.
Looking into his handsome young face,
bright and frank, with well-opened brown
eyes and curls of nut-brown hair, it was
hard to connect it with any idea of roguery,
ingratitude and theft.
They were talking of certain dark-eyed
| little maiden who was soon to be Mrs.
Tryon, and when Fred left his uncle it was
with promise that he would call in the
evening upon Miss Clarkson to arrange for
the wedding-day.
The young man, a favorite of fortune ap.
parently, spent the afternoon with his be-
trothed, received his uncle in the evening
beside her, and accompanied the old gentle.
man to his boarding-house, receiving an
atfectionate farewell when he took his way
to his own rooms in another house. For a
week he heard nothing of the robbery.
1t was JUS. when summer twilight was
fading that, returning home from drive
with Maud Clarkson, Fred met his unclet
confidential clerk waiting for him at Maud
house.
al have note for you, Mr.. Fred" h,
said, "and as you were not at home
thought would wait for you here"
Something in the young mans face strucl
a sudden chill to Maud's heart.
"You have had bad news " she cried.
Perhaps Mr.. Fred had better read tn,
note" was the evasive answer.
But Maud's terror was only increased
when Fred, after reading the note, brok,
into furious exclamation of rage.
"Who dares say that / am a midnigh
burglar 2" he shouted.
30 Fred what is it :" asked Maud
turning very white.
"My uncle has been robbed of five thou
sand dollars, and he pays me the compli
ment of supposing me to be the thief be
cause have duplicate key to his privat,
desk. I-great heavens t. he cried, with {
sudden change in his voice; she canno
mean it. told my uncle-I -
"Mr. Fred" said the clerk, respectfully
al only waited to see how you took thu
note to speak few words of advice. Mr.
Fred, was with your father when he wa.
killed on railway train was with you
uncle when he brought you home for the
holidays; and I've loved you, boy and man
since you were ten years old-and that
twelve long years. | know you never neve
took the money but things look very ugl,
for you"
"But," said Fred, grasping hard TIN
hand the old clerk held out to him, :"
cannot understand it. Listen" And h,
read aloud the note from his uncle
"Nr. Frederick IFyon IL could not believ
without Of-undeniable, positive prOof-tha
you could rob me of five thousand dollars, taken
as you know, from my private desk on Wednes
day last. You are my sisters son, and | vii
never be the one to mprison or punish you bu
you are no longer a nephew of mine. Willingly
will never look in your face again. lonr III
gotten gains freely give you to start in som
business, trusting that you will endeavor to liv
honestly in the future. DO not try to see me-
will not listen to any explanations | know to b
false. Do not write, for will not open you
letters. RUFUS MARKHAM
Maud Clarkson grew white as death a
she heard the stern edict.
80 Fred !" she cried " what can you do !?
Starve, | suppose" was the bitter ans
wer, "as do not happen to possess the i'll
gotten gains he so generously presents me
But will not ask you to stsrve with me
Maud. You were betrothed to the million
aires nephew and heir; the disinheriteC
beggar frees you from your promise"
Fred" she cried, bursting into tears
"how can you be so cruel ?" Then, unheed
ing the clerk, who was discreetly looking
from the window, she came close TO Fred
side. "Darling," she said, fixing her larg
black eyes upon his face, "if all the worl'
believes you guilty, | do not. If all tn
world casts you off will keep my promise.
The young lover had been bewildered in
dignant, desperate, but he folded the gentl
comforter fast in his arms and great tear
fell on her upturned face.
God bless you, Maud !" he cried; " | cal
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 thu
robbery myself until this morning, whel
Vodges, the detective your uncle employed
to work it up, came to make his report
They did not notice me at first, and whel
your uncle remembered | was in the room
| had heard about all Vogdes knew. Yo,
remember there was note coming due las
Wednesday ?"
"To johnson 7"
ayes; WELL | thought at the time it wa
curious that your uncle gave him checl
when knew the money was drawn out o
the bank, the day before, TO meet that YER