Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-26
(C5as;n4;i tram First p1B.)

ganuy nigh. He suggested waiting hrrle
before any reply was sent to Paris; and he
engaged meanwhile to consult q London so.
lcitor who had great experience In cases of
theft, and whose advice might enable them
to dispense entirely with the services of the
French police.
Being now free man again, Moody was
able to follow his own inclinations in regard
TO the instructions which he had received
from Old Sharon
Tho course that had been recommended to
him was repellent to the self-respect and the
sense of deiicacy which were among the in
bred virtues of Moody's character. He
shrank from forcing himself as friend on
Hardyman's valet; he recoiled from the idea
OF tempting the man to steal a specimen of
his masters handwriting. After some con-
sideration he decided ON applying to the
agent who collected the rents at Hardyman's
London chambers. Being an old acquaint-
ance of Moody's, this person would certainly
not hesitate to communicate the address of
Hardyman's bankers if he knew it. The ex-
pertinent, tried under these favoring circum-
stances, proved perfectly successful. Moody
proceeded to Sharon's lodgings the same day,
with the address of the bankers in his pocket
book. The old vagabond, greatly amused by
Moody's scruples, saw plainly enough that so
long as he wrote the supposed letter from,
Hardyman in the third person it mattered
little what handwriting was employed, seeing
that no signature would be necessary The
letter was at once composed, on the model
which Sharon had already suggested to
Moody, and a respectable messenger $50 far
as outward appearance VENT was employed
to take it to the bank. In half an hour the
answer came back. 1t added one more to
the difficulties which beset the inquiry after
the lost money. No such sum as $500 had
been paid. within the dates mentioned, to the
credit OF Hardyman's account
Old Sharon was not in the least discon-
posed by this fresh check ''Give nv love to
the dear young lady," he said, with his Gus
fomary impotence, land tell her we are one
degree nearer to finding the thief"
Moody looked at him, doubling whether
he was in jest or in earnest.
Must l squeeze little more information
into that thick head of yoursa" asked Sharon.
With this question he produced a weekly
4ewspaper, and pointed to a paragraph
which reported, among the items of sporting
news, Hardymans recent visit to q sale of
horses at a town in the north of France.
I'VE know he didn't pay the bank note in to
his account" Sharon remarked What else
did he do with its Took it to paw for the
horses that he bought in Francei Do you see
your way a little palmer nowa Very good
Lets try next if the money holds out. Some
body must cross the channel in search of the
note. Which of us two is to sit in the steam
boat with white basin on his lap? Old
Sharon, Of course" He stopped to count the
money still left out of the sum deposited by
Moody to defray the cost of the inquiry.
"All right" he went on. 1--WE got enough
to pay my expenses there and back Don't
stir out of London till you hear from me,
can't tell how soon I may want YOU. If
there's any difficulty in tracing the note, your
hand will have to go into your pocket again
Can't you get the lawyer to join yous Lordf
how should enjoy squandering his rnonevr
It's a downright disgrace to me to have only
got one guinea out of him. 1 could tear nv
flesh off my bones when think of it.'
Tie same night Old Sharon started for
France by way of Dover and Calais.
Two days elapsed aad brought no news
from Moody's agens On the third day he
received some information relating to shar-
from the man himself. but in letter
from Isabel Miller