Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-09-08
FOR HIS SISTERS SAKE.

the air, IN tact, 1 WAS 0IeAWihk' ~"
door Of my private Office rang with the I'M
patient raps of a visitor. | called very
loudly
Come in
Immediately the door opened, and q stran'
ger entered.
You are Dave Reynolds? was his hrsf
greeting.
81 am that individual" l replie1, motion
ing my visitor to be seated,
You have heard Of the robbery, have you
notY'
THE mornings paper informed me OF the
fact"
Il wish to see you in regard to that rob-
berry"
II? Who are you, BIZ
My name is Lawrence Radcliffe.
Lawrence Radcliffe, the banker, who
was ROBBED Of the diamondsY
The came, Sir l wish to put the case IN
-FOUR hands. You are a shrewd detective;
you will capture the thief, and AVE the dia'
monds restored to me-?
But, sir, the case is already in the hands
Of the police"
Bah l do not place any confidence in
this boosted power. Theyt are working
openly, and unintentionally give the thieves
notice of their designs. / with to have you
work secretly, for only by doing so will you
capture them
You speak as if you were certain as TO
the number engaged in the theft"
Il have my suspicious, perhaps, but they
cannot help you any. Now, will you under
take the case?'
NO, not until you can place confidence
in me by giving me the full particulars.
You are right. Listen | shell give you
the entire details, and you can work out
your own conclusions.
Some years ago, my vile died. She
wllled all her property, under certain con-
ditions, to her only child, Florence, the
daughter of a former marriage, and made
me her guardian, to keep and to hold IN
trust until SIZE became eighteen years old;
then, If all the Instructions were followed.
that she was to come into possession OF her
fortune. The conditions were as folio VS.
If at the age of eighteen Florence was not
found to be a pure aud strictly ~virtuous girl
the property was to be divided; one.halt
going to myself and the remainder to two
distant cousins, Charles and Kate Simpson
1t was my poor wife last wish that | should
send and care for her neglected cousins, and
her body had scarcely been placed in the
grave when l began to put her wish into ef-
feet. | sent for the cousins, and when they
arrived | installed Charles as head books
keeper in tAe bank, and made Kate com,
panion to my step-daughter, Florence. The
girls soon became fast friends. Among the
many valuables held in trust for Florence
was q beautiful diamond necklace, an heirs
loom in the Randolph family. Its INTRINSIC
value was estimated at one hundred thou
sand dollars. Yesterday morning ] discov
cred that the safe had Teen entered and the
necklace removed. 1t had been opened by
some one who was familiar with the COM
bination. But one other person beside my
self knows Of this combination, and that
is my daughter Florence. 1t was the thief s
intention to throw suspicion on her, as ]
found her handkerchief, and q sleeve button
containing her initial, F. in a corner neal
the safe. In the excitement which followed
the discovery OF the robbery lost my sci
possession and ran to the headquarters 0
the chief OF police, laying the whole matter
bare before him. The papers got hold o
the affair and flashed it before the public
Now nothing remains but to capture thu
thieves and recover the diamonds
And that is all"
All"
Very we'll, then let US visit the scene o
the robbery
Upon reaching the home Of MIR. Radcliffe
l was at once shown the safe. Seeing moth
ing to confirm suspicious Of a robbery hav
ing taken place, l requested the banker t
let me lave the room a few moments to my
self, for investigation.
Searching carefully, | found hidden be
meath. one corner OF the safe, where it has
rolled, q curiously cut amethyst. In IT,
centre Of the crown was a tiny pearl. HI
stone had fallen there recently, for tier
WAS not q particle of dust on il.
This, indeed, was q valuable clue, for
mus, have bt en- squeezed from the socke
of a ring, while its owner was robbing III
safe and that ring must De in the posses
sion Of the thief. Placing the stone IN N
pocket | left the room, and was met in tn
hall by Mr.. Radcliffe, who eagerly iuquiI
ed j
We'll what succoss?'
Not much | replied cautiously, "bu
the chances Of catching the thief are great
in my favor"
You have found q clne?' eagerly,
We'll, perhaps. The thief left his card.