The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-01

the officers quietly, Tue detestab.e bracelets
concealed seneatn his slsevssi
Once at their rooms, Tom Fred explained
why he had returned. Alice preserved an
icy silence
l'You see there was forged draft pissed
On us. We could get no cl3W fer good
while. When was down before, 1 met one
Of Pinkerton's men, wintering here for his
health. 1 spoke Of BUR loss to him and
showed him an ideal picture Of the fellow
who presented the draft, drawn by clever
artist from deccript on given by those who
had seen him at the bank. To my SURPRISE
Pinkerton's man spotted him here, in this
very houses few days after ieft.''
"Heaven save us!'' exclaimed Aunt
Niobe, "Where are my smelling salts,
Alice!"
s'Pinkerton's man then sent to New York
for some rogues gallery photos and, when
they CAME, made retdrt to me. We sent
another man down to aid him and-aheui!
they've got the fellow under arrest here
right now.
THANK the good Lord for that" said
Amt Niebe shifting vigorously at her vinai
Grette,
Alice suiieniy contemplated the toe of her
boot, yet said nothing. Tom Fred glanced
at her drew his breath deeply and con-
tinued!
SIN the thiefs trunk we found your dead
fathers gold watch, old style, you know,
and Aunt Niobe's set of diamonds, that dis
appeared at the time Of the robbery of the
United Safe Deposit Cempany's vault last
fall. They are both engraved, and I could
not mistake them E"
Il always intended those diamonds for
Alices wedding present. Thank the good
Lord for that again. and Aunt Niobe
looked meaningly from one to the other OF
her auditors. Tom Fred looked q little fool
ish, while Miss Waldrop bit her lip.
1.-THE man is ali old and accomplish I'd
sw:ndler, we'll known to the tolicc, though
Young in years and attractive In person. I
regret to say we all became acquainted with
him here, and it sad lens me to know that
our good impressions of him were so com
pletely misplaced. You alone, Alice, UNI
consciously read him Alright, and l shall
never say that ehiromaey is q humbug
| hgaih,"
''What do you mean!' asked Aunt Ni0be,
| while Alice gazed at him with eyes that
seemed to divine some horrible vision
through and beyond his honest red, bearded
features. She still said nothing. Tom Fred,
again breathing deeply, looked straight at
| her and said:
u mean that the person who calls himself
| Cyril Brent is the man.
''This is horrid, perfectly and absolutely
horrid ~ exclaimed the old lady. "Yet, I'm
glad we will get the iewelry back"
Alice continued to gaze at Tom Fred,
though her head reeled and her heart grew
numb Then, as she heard his voice. like
that of one afar of, reiterate, "Brent's
the very man." his plain face seemed to
! duplicate itself blurringly, and she leanel
back, gasping for breath. He sprang to as
sist her, but she waved him back, saying:
"Go away; you shall not touch me. will
not believe it of him."
Then, with a great effort still rejecting
his aid, she again sat erect and stony. I'm
consciously, one hand closed over the ring
In her pocket. while the other was pressed
against her throbbing side. At last Aunt
Niobe retired to her own room. Tom Fred
inspected tie carpet in some cmbarrass-
| ment.
"Ally," said he, ''why are you so anxious
to disbelieve in the guilt of this man."
Her lip curled slightly as she REPLIED
"You would not understand me il ex.
planned. You are all against him. He has
no friends here but me-but ME. And 1 am
Listen Tom!-arp you sure that he forged
that draft.'
Tom Fred nodded sadly. Alice was act
ing very strangely, and as for himself, who
would have abiectly crawled to serve her
why. she seemed to hate him. She con
tinued, excitedly;
"Oh. know you will talk of detectives
and experts, and all that; but won't be
lieve them. The proof that convinces me
must be so absolute as the ruin to which
you would consign him."
"Me, Ally!" he protested, ~ haven
caused his guilt, nor will cast straw il
the way to proving his innocence"
ayes, yes You will hum and haw like tn
rest, and do nothing, nothing, except at tn
beck of those horrid detectives" Here sh
wrung her hands in gesture Of such com
plete misery, that Tom Fred-despite hi
own pain-felt for her. Don't scold me
Tom, but must know how it is with him.
must know just who and what he is, or
shall die"
"Would you recognize aunt Niobe's jewels
Alicea They are in his trunk"
He regarded her, pityingly, thoug
wretched enough himself over it all.
"Take me to see them," she said, rising
"Non't you take my word for it," h
asked, dreading, for her, any excitement.
s'No; will not believe the word Of an
one. He cannot be guilty-come."
She snatched up a veil, and he silently le
the way. They passed through severa
corridors, up one fight Of stairs, and pause
before closed door. 1t was opened froi
within by the Pinkerton detective.
"a relative Of the owner Of the iewelry
She may identify it." whispered Tom.
AS they passed on to an open trunk in tn
centre Of the room, two other men wer
seen through an open door, sitting in q
inner room. One Of them rose, as Alic
stood over the trunk, and slowly advance
toward her.
Pinkerton's man deliberately laid out, i
| , full view, one article after another. A
sight Of the necklace and watch, Alic
, clutched at them. gazed closely upon then
/ then let them fall, and covered her fac
with her hands.
"Are you satisfed." whispered Tom.
+ She did not answer, but, as he strove
lead her away, her arms fell YEARLY, an
I she beheld, through her veil, Cyril-h
t hands strangely understanding near. St
, advanced q step, swiftly, and laid her han
' upon his The touch of cold steel made hi
D withdraw her arm with o shudder, ye
D with a look that sought to read his yer
soul, she asked:
, ibid you do it,"
Despite his effrontery, the real love
4 had for her-the first pure woman he ha
3 probably ever been closely associated wit
( now overwhelmed him. What an III
fashionable gulf was yawning betwee
t them. It could never, never be bridge
VI Was it not best for her to believe the wors
r since the worst was trues Yet, he cou
! not help murmuring:
: Forgive me-"
s.Did you do itr' she repeated, drawn
s herself up slowly.
I-I-you know-that is" he pause
then recovering, said: elf were to So
Q no, you would not believe me, yet dal
: not own how completely have earned yo'
contempt"
3 Sweeping him with sudden glance
: scorn, she Misrepresentation to herself I
4 him-who knows:
aFoolm