Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-23
trst time Of the robbery that occurred here

pl1cable as the disappearance OF the gardener;
but the latter occurrence has so engrossed my
attention for the past two days az to put the
former almost out of my mind"
what sort of looking man was your
gardener asked, not knowing what to say,
but wishing to say something.
"A rather striking looking man on account
Of his powerful physique. He was not tall
man, being triAe under the average height,
In fact; but from his hips up be was one of
the strongest looking men ever saw. Here,
can show you much better than can de-
scribe how he looks"
Rising, Mr.. Hammond walked to the corner
of bis room and returned with photograph
OF his house The gardener had been taken
In the view, and there hestood-theverym man
whom saw in the woods burying the trunk.
could not mistake that figure and face A
small head surmounted the shoulders. The
face was plainly distinguishable in the pic
ture, and could, without difficulty, identify
it as the one had seen through my telescope.
Mr.. Hammond probably noticed my criti-
cal examination Of the picture, for he broke
the silence which lasted during my long
scrutiny by asking:
ibid you ever happen to zee him, Mr.
Brainardr'
YES said !, and under circumstances 50
peculiar that to tell you about it was the sole
object Of this call"
"Indeedrn
~ did not know until now" continued,
''that be was your gardener, or that he had
disappeared; but the day after the robbery
at your house saw this man." tapping the
photograph with my finger as spoke, with
another man, in piece of woods not far from
here, carrying trunk containing something
heavy, and | saw this man dig a hole and
bury the trunk"
Another man, do you says What sort Of
a looking mani" asked Mr. Hammond.
quickly.
"By no means so striking in his individu-
atty" l replied. He was taller than the
gardener. should say"-
And his face; did you sec thati Could
you recognize himf
NO" said l, answering the last question
only. Il did not tell you that I saw the
whole affair with my telescope from my OBJ
servatory in -. / had heen studying sun
spots, and, by the meree chance, / was look
ing around tho country with my terrestrial
eye piece when happened upon this scene in
the woods
1t may have bean my imagination which
made me think Mr. Hammond breathed more
easily.
What you have told me does much to
clear up the mystery both Of the robbery and
the disappearance of the gardener Strange
that we should not have thought of the reia-
tons these two events might bear to each
other! But we had never suspected John in
tho slightest degree To be sure, we have
had him only few months, but he has been
sober, industrious and apparently trustwor-
thy in every way.
I've were much puzzled by the fact that
the entry was made without violence After
what you have told me, it is very easy to seq
it all"
did not know what to think Of Mr. Ham
mond's GOODNESS in the matter. Was it ell
feigned; or was ] dreamingl I began to
doubt that had seen the gardener, sven; yet
there was his Likeness in my hand and hero
was the other man l had seen, sitting before
me Perhaps there might be some reason
why Mr. Hammond wished these Jewels to
disappear, and perhaps, after having used
his gardener TO secrete them, he had quietly
sent him away, knowing where to find him
when he wished
by the way, Mr. Brainard, do you think
you could go to that spot in the woodsa'
Eyes indeed; ! an familiar with every
square foot Of that ground, and have been
many times at that very place II you like,
l will show you just where it is"
"The very thing vas about to request II
not too great tax on your time and kind
ness, would Ike TO have you 60 with me,
and show me where the rogues buried nv
jewels All Mr.. Brainard, you do not know
how much feel the loss Of those No one
buta collector can appreciate that part of it. y
His eyes fairly sparkled with enthusiasm as
he spoke Of his collection and tried to make
me understand that the beauty and rarity
which his specimens possessed were seldom
equaled even In public collections.
''Of course" said he, ''there VIII bc NO
chance Of recovering anything; but you know
we might find sone clew at the spot where
the things were buried which would lead to
the apprehension Of the robbeap Can we
drive thsref'
"No; the shortest and beet way, as it sserns
to me, Is to take beat and drop down the
river to the nearest point and walk from
there
We did SO Immediately, and when We ar
rived at the place where intended to
leave the boat Mr.. Hammond exclaimed:
why, this Is the very spot where the boat
was found when we were searching for the
gardener 1t YVES the finding Of the boat
which led to the theory that John had come
down here to bathe, had bean taken with
cramps, and drowned ! have not favored
that theory at all John was not the sort Of
man to be drowned while swimming"
was almost persuaded by the mans man-
ner and his evident willingness to go to the
place that he was innocent Of deceit.
II am afraid this means that you VIII never
see your collection again, Mr.. Hammond"
said. "The disappenrance Of thu gardener
and the finding Of the boat here are proof
enough to my mind that he came here and
dug up the treasure and went of with it"
''Of course, Of course; don't expect to
find anything here, but we may find clew.
When we arrived at the opening in the
woods and saw the bowlder on which bad
seen Mr.. Hammond sitting that day, the
scene Of q month ago came back SO wildly
that again l felt sure that this was the man
whom saw. could not understand his self
possession. Was be doing all this for q blindi
He looked with much interest when point,
ed out to him tho top Of my observatory
just peeping over the trees, In the distance
and said:
"How fortunate that you were studying
sun spots that day, Mr.. Brainard; but for