The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-09-06


Amos Bergman owned cottage in
west side suburb, where he kept up plail
put comfortable establishments He was
bachelor OF fifty, small, mild man, lookinl
even older than he was.
One-half OF his friends and acquaintance,
regarded him as crank, while the res
maintained that in spite Of some eccen
tricities, he had fund of native shrewd
ness that might have been genius under
dinerent circumst ances
The trouble was that he had never beer
Obliged TO pin down to any regular work
as young man he had taken up first one
profession and then another; he had veered
nound to science and then to trade, and
nnaliy settled down to books and gardening
lor pleasure, varying his seclusion by dip
ping now and then into the affairs of the
world, sometimes as an agitator, sometimes
as philanthropist With all his vagaries,
ne was a generous hearted man, and his
nephew, Norris, had lived for half-dozen
years In his household, the recipient of his
bounty and the weather-vane of his ideas
winch had left the young man a little worse
on, perhaps, than If he had been thrown
upon his own endeavors in his tender
years. However, he had the good sense to
rebel when he came of age, and turned his
hand to the first honest calling which Of
Tered. He had been two years in the ex-
press service, and flattered himself that he
was trusted employe, when his abrupt
dismissal brought him up standing, as it
were, and cut away some of the self-con-
ceit which goes with youth and inexperi-
ence the wide world over.
There being nothing to interfere, he went
on the afternoon following his receipt OF
that dispatch TO pay q visit to his uncle,
Amos Bergman met him with hearty
handshake, and congratulation for what
the young man was disposed to regard as
decided misfortune.
"Glad you are out Of the business, nv
boy. 1t never did give chance to the
capacities that are in you. Purely mechan-
ical, without scope for the reasoning pow
ers, but there's an opening now that will
tax them, If you choose to avail yourself of
it.n
IF can reason out new situation
shall be very glad, Uncle Amos.n
THAT'S it exactly" cried Amos Bergman.
"Or let US say occupation, to be ex-
act, for it will be TO your advantage to
work Independently in this matter. /
haven't any doubt of your fitness for the
work, and I'll advance the necessary funds
for expenses, etc. No thanks, my boy I'll
have my reward in seeing you win the
honors, as Pm sure you willp'
"But, my dear uncle, what is the workl"
"Well-you know always said you had
the making of lawyer in youl" broke of
Uncle Amos, with just the least suspicion of
anxiety apparent in his manner.
YES laughed Norris. "And of a doctor
and minister, and stock broker, and |
dare say, of gambler and craftsman,
also, II the simple idea were not too shock
ing to contemplate. You have always rated
my abilities away to the upper notch, that's
certain. What is the fancy now, Uncle |
Almost"
at struck me, as soon as read the re-
ports. l said to myself: Norris has all the |
advantage Of having been on the ground.
He has the making of detective in him'-I |
think had it myself, when was younger
sand he'll see what see, that the second |
robbery is only a cover for the first Find |
out the man who stole the single package, |
and you'll have the root of the whole affair |
in your hands. You'll make name for |
yourself, my dear boy, for, mark my words, |
this is no ordinary robbery. There is some |
deep plot, some scheme of wrong-doing
which reaches farther than the public sus-
poets, and yours will be the grand oppor-
tunity TO unearth the whole villainous COM
plication, and bring it to naughtn
Norris was well used to his uncle's enthus-
iasm over his hobby of the moment, and an
amused smile lowered about his lips as he
listened to the growing eloquence of the
elder man.
"You evidently allude to the recent ex-
press robberies. You seem TO forget, though,
that the regular detectives are at work, and
at fault, too, as far as can learn"
'sOf course they're at fault. They're deep
in the old ruts. 1t needs young, clever
fellow, without bias, uninfuenced by the
deductions drawn from previous cases.
Don't tell you this is robbery without
parallel The superintendent of your di-
vision himself admits that. He told me
had grounds for my theory when ex-
planned it to him."
"Whath you have been to the officers Of
the company, unclel Wheul What had
you to say to them!"
Nothing to your discredit you may be
sure, Norris. They seemed quite struck by
my reasons for thinking you the very man
to unravel their mystery"
ssWhat reasons, In the name of allln
"Wel, there's that affair of the trap in !.
the car floor, evidently the work of me
chanic, nothing rough or bungling about the
job. When / told them that you had quite ..
a genius for working in wood, that you
were as well upin calculations and measure
ments as any skilled carpenter, and could
do as neat a job OF repairing
the idea that you might find something in
the shape of clue that would pass I'M
noticed by an unframed eye-they really d
seemed quite impressed
"You did that Uncle Amosr; q
Norris spoke slowly, looking at his uncle, : :
with a sudden cloud dropping over his face. :,
Certainly / did it," testify. II have :,
your advancement too much at heart to neg '
lect such an opportunity" :,
A dim vision of all that this statement =
meant dawned upon Norris. What wonder !.
Il the company looked on him with sus-
picious eyesl What wonder If they re- :
garded the concealed aperture in the car !,
fioor as a ruse Of his own creating and his :,
story Of Robber No. One as mere cover TO !,
shield HIMSELF =
Here was the true explanation of his alb !
rupt Dismissal and Of the spy set to dog his !. .
steps
Quite unaware Of his nephew's bitter .
thoughts, Uncle Amos concluded, cheer :
July: =
Eyes, they seemed quite impressed, and z
hough of course they couldn't feel justified :
o put the job wholly in your hands, know :, :,
rom a remark Of the superintendent they'll =
70 glad TO have you at work on 1t. Your
lepneW SNAIL nave aounuant opportunity a
or proving your good opinion Of him, Mr.. =
were his very words. Il
hall not be at all surprised if our mystery :.
) solved through him yet So you see,
Torris, how much depends on the efforts !,
GU malke.n =
81 do see very clearly, Uncle Amos, and / =
houldn't wonder If you were to drive me . :,
ito playing the part of detective yet" u
CHAPTER Nv. "
A TELL~TAIE SCAR is
Carol Childer was going 10 baii-her
rst ball so Il Is not strange that her little N
cad was almost turned with delight "
OF course che dressed hours before time, o,