The Penn's Grove record., 1888-02-18
WICKED CONSPIRACY.

Detective Conrad CARRIERS story:
"In April, 1872, Mr.. Joseph Helm
bold came to me with a sad tale OF a
domestic nature. He had been in busi-
ness for five or six years, which proved
so extraordinarily remunerative that at
the age of thirty-a period when most
men first embark in business-he had
retired, and was accounted a very
wealthy man.
"He had married a few years pre-
vious, and now resided in n OF the
most pretentious mansions in Sacra-
mento. and contemplated taking "a
good, long rest as he remarked to a
friend.
81 will not give his story as he related
1t to me, but give the substance of it in
q more condensed form.
1.-THE girl he married was a hand
some, accomplished and gentle creature.
She was of humble parentage. Both
parents we're dead when he took her
for his wife; but he had indisputable
evidence that both the girl and her par
epts were highly respectable.
"Her father came from Boston when
his daughter was but 1--WE years of age.
He had some money when he settled 10
California, but, Yankee-like. he looked
about him to increase his fund, and
concluded to 60 to the mines.
"He was fatally injured by soma
mining accident, and died shortly after
he was brought home to his wife aud
child.
"His wife survived him twelve years,
and Elinor Harding was alone in the
world at the age of seventeen.
"Mr. Helmbold met her at the house
Of an acquaintance, and at once took a
liking to her, which rlpened into Il
tenderer feeling as he came to know
her better, and finally terminated in a
wedding.
ssHe found bis wife all he could de-
sire the first eighteen months OF their
marriage, but Of late she had become a
source of ~perplexity which was quite
unfathomable. Her habits, nee SO
frugal, had become extravagant In the
extreme. She spent, or at least oh
tanned, several thousand dollars from
him inside of six months. This was
exclusive Of the liberal allowance he
made her Of pin money. He once
questioned her IN regard to these extra
ordinary demands. he did so in a
quizzical 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
c~ountenance both sad and troubled. III
1T were not, believe me, l would not
ask you for 1t. Were it exclusively for
myself l 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
added she, smiling ruefully, ''but it is
the only explanation 1 car give, at least
for the present; no n a 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 fol
money, which was the more surprising,
MI. Helmboldt thought. In ordinary
cases obtaining money should be q
source Of satisfaction, rather than
otherwise; with her it was just the re-
verse.
''If 1 could only discover what use
she makes of the money" observed Mr..
Helmbold. 81 might find a means tC
lessen her trouble, whatever 1t may be
but I can see there ID no use pressing
her to confde this secret to me; she Can
be very obstinate when she wishes.
81 have a haif-formed plan," con
tinued he, and his face dashed as lie
spoke the words, (which, j think, may
secure the object in view, yet l hate tC
act the part of a spy on my wife's
movements.
"However, my excuse will be simi
lar to her WI when ] questioned her.
I do not regard the money l gave her,
for l would gladly give her ten time:
the amount II I thought it would make
her happy.
"But since It has Just the opposite
effect 1 think l am justified In en-
deavoring to discover the reason why
the possession of money affects her in
30 singular a manner Don'tyou agree
with me, Mr.. Garber?" he asked, quite
earnestly.
Certainly I do" answered I. "But
before l venture a decided opinion
please tell me what is your wish with
me-what do you desire me to do IL
this caseP"
my balf-formed plan ] spoke Of
said he, sis this: When next she asks
mo for q couple Of hundred dollars ]
want you to watch her subseQuen,
movements; possibly you may End on,
what she does. with Ito whom she
gives It and her object in doing so.
Then, perhaps, We may know how to
act and apply a remedy"
"She may have some poor relation
some of whose existence you know
not, and she may be too sensitive to
tell you of It," i ventured to remark.
"After q few moments reflection, he
said:
~ vas thinking of something like
that, also. lW tell you why. Only a
short time before these ~psrp.exities
began she informed me that she had q
brother-a sort Of wild fellow, some
ten years older than herself-who ran