Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-09-26

-. wv "OuluSs
lnterposed Mr.. Want.
Exactly. You had no suspicion Of
your partners proceedings untilo@"
"Until 1 received his letter written
from Queenstown, informing me of his
flight interrupted MIR. Want, quickly.
81 Immediately started home by the
first train, and, after spending half an
hour here. l called in the police. You
see l did not lose a moment"
"No; but the letter did not req h Won
till several days-more than a week,
n fact-after date,,' remarked Mr..
Gimblet..
That is so. Unfortunately 1 had
lett blarritz with my family the day be-
tore the letter arrived there Conse-
quently it had to be forwarded on to
Paris, and that caused delay"
'Mr. Slowbody had plenty of time to
reach America, if that was his destina-
ton, between the date Of his letter and
the time OF your giving information ,o
the police" said Mr.. Gimblet, mus
ingly.
"That may be. 1 presume these
questions have reference to- a desire on
your part to assist in experimenting my
late partner?" said MIR. Want, drawing
himself up.
"Most certainly. Considering that
he has robbed and ruined you. no one
in his senses would imagine you de-
sired to assist his escape" said MI.
Gimblet, with an innocent air.
my dear sir, II am d Christian,
a protesting Christian certainly, and |
hope a sincere one. At the same time
l can not help feeling vindictive to-
ward my late partner. AS you say, he
has robbetl and, ruined me. When l
think Of the misery and suffering he
has wrought -"
''What do the police say, sir?" said
MIR. Gimblet, interrupting MI. Wants
remarks with scant courtesy.
"Well, they have no clue at present,
but they. are hopeful" answered Mr..
Want. 81 am sure they would be CRATE
full for any suggestion you could make
to Them"
"No, they wouldn't, because I might
tell them that they are on the wrong
scent altogether said Mr.. Gimblet,
looking his companion straight in the
face. However" fejgning not to no.
tice Mr.. Wants start and look Of confu-
sion. Il never interfere in what
doesn't concern me. The police can
go their way, and | will 90 NINE"
"You are exceedingly kind" returned
Mr.. Want evidently striving to appear
cordial, .'to interest yourself about the
matter" ,
don't mention it, sir" said Mr..
Gimblet, taking up his hat; s.you see
I've been robbed-that is the long and
short of it. I've not lost much; it's the
having been swindled that riles me. [
should like to be even with Mr.. Slow
body"
"You are not singular in that desire,
Mr.. Gimblet. said Mr.. Want, extending
his hand. Anything you have to SUI,
gest shall receive the most careful at
tention." ''
Mr.. Gimblet wendell his way home
ward in a very thoughtful frame of
mind after this interview. The fact
was that he felt completely mystificd by
| Mr.. Wants behavior. While that gen
tleman was making his statement to his
creditors, the ex-Qetective had been
struck by the suspicion that he was act.
ing Il part. The idea came to him with
the force and suddenness which he had
learned from experience to associate
with a happy inspiration. The great
secret Of Mr.. Gimblet's success in his
peculiar line of business was the sin
gular knack Of forming a correct con
clusion without the process of reason
ing. He was by no means wanting in
logical perception, but he was frequent
ly aided in his Investigations by O sort
Of intuition which put him on the right
track when others were vainly cropping
in the dark. He had instinctively dis
trusted Mr.. Want from the moment he
commenced his speech, and when the
proceedings terminatedhe felt impelled
to engage him in conversation IN or
der to gauge his character. He had nc
difficulty in this, for Mr.. Wants de.
meanor had not been calculated to in.
spire confidence. In fact, MI. Gimblet
had q very strong impression that, in
spite Of direct evidence to the contrary,
the gentleman was no more entitled to
sympathy than his dcfhulting partner.
When he came to consider the de.
tails, however, Mr.. Glmblet was in
clined to mistrust his opinion. 1t was
quite clear that Mr.. Slowbody had de:
camped, as alleged, and a involved
his partner in ruin. The report OF the
accountants. a firm OF high standing
proved indisputably not only that Mr..
Slowbody had robbed his clients, but
also that he had pledged property be,
LONGING. to MI. Want, besides appro'
priating the whole of their Joint capital.
The statement of affairs disclosed the
most shameful frauds on the part O
Mr.. slowbody, in none of which wa:
there the slightesteyidence to showtha'
Mr.. Want had been implicated. Intact,
the surrounding circumstances all
pointed to the innocence Of the senior
partner, and no shadow OF suspicion
appeared to rest upon him: But when
Mr.. Gimblct was seized with an idea
he did not easily suffer himself to be
disconnected by adverse facts. Conse
~ouently. when he seached his dlngy on
--> rs hi, assist ntS.