Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-02-22
A WICKED CONSPIRACY.

Detective Conrad CARRIERS story:
"ln April. 1872, Mr.. Joseph Helm
bold came to me with a sad tale of a
domestic nature. He had been in busI-
ness fog five or six years, which proved
so extraordinarily renunerative that at
the age OF thirty-a period when most
men first embark in buSinesS-he had
retired, and was accounted 4 very
wealthy man
"He had married 4 few years pre-
yiOus, and now resided in one OF the
most pTetentiouS mansions IN Sacra-
mentO. and contemplated taking a
good. long Test,' as he remarked to a
friend.
Il will not give his story as he related
il to me. but give the substance of il in
a more condensed form.
The girl lie married was n hand
some, accomplished and gentle creature.
She was OF humble parentage. Both
parents were dead when ne took her
for his wife; but he had Iudisputable
evidence yHat both the girl and her par
ents were highly respectable.
Her father came from Boston when
his daughter WAS but five years of age.
lie had some money when he settled in
California, but, Yaukee-lIEe, he looked
about him TO increase his fund, and
concluded 10 go to the mines.
''He WAS fatally injured by some
mining accident, and died shortly after
lie was brought home TO his wife and
child.
Ills wife survived him twelve years,
and Eliuor Harding was alone in the
world 4, the age of seventeen.
MIR. IIelmhOld met her at the house
of an acquaintance, and at once took a
liking 10 ner, which Tipened into a
teuderer feeling as he came to know
her better. and finally terminated in q
wedding.
He found his wife all he could de-
sire the Grst eighteen months or their
marriage, but of late she had become a
source of perplsNity which was quite
unfathomable. Her habits, once so
frugal, had become eXtravagant In the
extreme. She spent, or at least ob.
tanned, several thousand dollars from
him inside Of six months. This was
exclusive of the liberal allowance he
made her of pin money. lie once
questioned her IN regard TO these extra
ordinary demands. lie did so in a
quizzicI manner, not wishing to offend
her or wound her feelings Her answer
was rather vague, and he regretted
having questioned her.
The money Will be used, my dear
husband, to secure your happiness, of
that rest assured,n said she, with a
countenance both sad aud troubled. If
II were not, believe me, / would not
ask you for il. Were it exclusively for
myself would not care, God knows,
but your peace OF mind Is TO me para
mount TO every other consideration
This may not be very explicit, s"
added she, smiling ruefully, "but it is
the only explanation L can give, at least
for the present; no one can tell what
the future will bring forth"
''She was the same affectionate crea-
ture after that enforced explanation
nay, she seemed rather more tender
towards her husband, but he noticed
that she had her periods of sadness,
which continued for several consecu-
tive days, after which she would grad
ually resume her customary spirits.
These spells of sadness usually oc-
Cured directly after her request for
money. which was the more surprising,
Mr.. Helmboldt thought. In ordinary
cases obtaining money should be 4
source of satisfaction, rather than
otherwise; with her it was just the re-
verse.
III I could only discover what use
she makes OF the money observed Mr..
HelmbOld, II might find a means to
lessen her trouble, whatever 1t may be,
but l can see there Is no use pressing
her 10 couhde this secret to me; she can
be very obst mate when she wishes.
Il have a half-formed plan," con-
tInCed he, and his face flashed as he
spoke the words, which, i think, may
secure the object in view. yet | hate TO
act the part Of u spy on my wife's
movements.
However, my excuse VIII be simi-
lar 10 her own when j questioned her.
l do not regard the money gave her,
for l would gladly give her ten times
the amount II l thought II would make
her happy.
But since It has Just the opposite
eject l think / am justified in en-
ueaNorlng 10 discover the reason why
The possession of money affects her in
so singular manner. Don't you agree
with me, hr. CARRIER a. he asked, quite
earnestly.
Certainly do" answered l. "But
before venture a decided opinion
Please tell NE what Is your wish with
me-what do you desire me- 10 do In
this case2'
Ny half-f0rmsd plan ! spoke OF, -
said be, " is this: When next she asks
me- Tor a couple of hundred dollars
want you to watch her subsequent
movements; possibly you may ind out
what she does with Ito whom she
gives II and her object in doing 50.
Then, perhaps, we may know how to
act and apply a remedy"
She may have some poor relation
some one Of whose existence you know
not, and she may be too sensitive to
tell you Of It" ventured to remark.
After few moments reflection, he
said:
was thinking of something Ike
tnat, also. IN tell you why. Only a
snort time before these perplexities
began she informed me that she had a
orotner-a sort of wild fellow, some
Ten years older than herself-who ran
away from home while they were living