Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-01-19

| need to marry for money, for though
her father possessed little landed
properly. was he not rich in the bes'
securities of the Government?
So. indeed. lie had been; but upon
the very night of his deccase all hi:
stocks and bonds. gold and mortgages
and his private papers had Gisap
peared. and no one could tell whittier
they had flown.
Here. then, were the two terrible
circumstances of robbery and sus-
pecled murder. combining to bring
utter desolation and ruin to the family.
so peaceful but few brief hours be.
fore.
1t is little wonder that the grief.
stricken girl had stood pale and mo.
tiOnless in my presence. when she
knew the occasion of my coming.
About an hour after my arrival. q
carriage was driven Up TO the farm
house. and two portly gentlemen in
black coats, alighted and came into
the cottage. They carried two small
cases with them which brought dis
agreeable remembrauces 10 me. for
knew they contained the glitterin g
trcpanning knives and scalpeis. which
had been displayed before my gaze on
numerous painful occasions.
Soon afterTard the coroner arrived,
accompanied by anumber of the neigh
bors from whom he proceeded TO i'm
panel a jury.
While her aunt was busy receiving
these individuals, l had an opportunity
for short interview with Amelia. and
learned from her at that time much
that was useful in my subsequent in
vestigaticns.
The post-mortem examination was
at length concluded. and. somewhat
TO my surprise. the surgeons declared
that the opinion of the old gentleman S
physician, that death had resulted
from poisoning. was incorrect Death
had supervened from sudden conges-
ton of the heart; there was not the
slightest trace of foul play, and the
necessary certificate for interment was
granted.
When l subsequently learned that
Nh. Holmes had suddenly fallen dead,
and that his doctor had not reached
him until long af.er the breath had
left the body. did not think this con-
clusion 50 strange. 1t relieved me
from II disagreeable weight; for cases
of poisoning are always accompanied
bv distressful circumstances; and l
now had only to inquire into the dis
appearance of the old gentleman box
of vauables.
The loss OF these would leave Anne
liza and the old lady in poverty. for the
latter was entirely dependent upon
her brother-in-law. who had no living
relatives save these two.
The deceased had placed no faith in
the banks and had always kept the
small Steel bound box in his sleeping
room. He had shown the contents to
his daughter aud her aunt upon vari-
GUS occasions. and when they hal re-
monstrated with him about keeping
so much value in so insecure Il place,
the old man had smiled at their fears.
He had depended largely for the safety
of the box upon the fact that all per-
sons. save those Immediately connect
ed with him. were ignorant Of his hay
ing these treasures.
Several persons had been about the
house on the night of his deccasc. and
the larger number had been more or
less in the bedroom.
Amelia. young Saxby and several
others were mentioned by the old lady
in particular; but she declared that
she would suspect herself or the other
members OF the household as soon rs
one of the ncighbors. They were en-
tirely ignorant of the existence of the
box, and this might be depended
upon. if their honesty were to be set
aside. Besides. it seemed impossible
that any thing could have been re-
moved from the house without detec-
ton on that night of sorrow. There
was not an hour that some one was
not about. and either Amelia or her
aunt had remained in the bed room
continually.
Still the box was gone, and il must
have had some outside means of loco
motion.
As might have been expected. al
most instantly pitched upon Saxby rs
the thief. l felt convinced of it. al
though there was nothing suspicious
in the young mans manner. The
difficulty before me was to reach the
truth in such manner that no point
of REPUTATION would be left. l must
not only show him to b, :hc guilty
party but also recover the stolen
property, the larger portion of which
would be readily negotiable. and could
be disposed Of with little risk of de-
lection.
l was asked 20 remain for lanch, and
requiring some time for thought, l &C
cepted the invitation. Soon the elder
lady, SaXby and myself were seated at
the table. Amelia being too indispOsed
to join us. and the most rigid silence
prevailed for some time.
l was employed in secretly watching
Saxby. who. soon discovered. enjoyed
the entire confidence of Our kind
hearted hostess. She had already
astonished him with the secret of who
was. and the occasion of my pres
ence al the cottage.
When the meal was over and the old
lady mad gone to look after her niecc's
comfort. SaXby entered into lengthy
conversation with me. H, talked