Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-09


Gle Amos, having given their testimony,
went away together
'sSuppose we call on Edison while we are
in his neghborhood,' suggested the former
81 have not heard the conclusion of his
story, and there are some points not yet
clear TO me. You don't seem to fear that
he may try to escape you for the second
time, Uncle Amos"
Scarcely and the old man chuckled.
"You see. Everleigh has promised not to
be hard on MIN, but | thought it best,
with all this other business stirred up, TO
get him out of the way for a time, SO the
truth is. I've sent him cut to the COTTAGE
You are a famons detective SAID Nor
ris, with IL laugh. First run your man
down, and then give him a home for life
for that Is what it will amount to-"
Il am only afraid that he will not live
very long, poor fellow! Certainly, Norris,
you need not object, since you refuse to live
with me, and Edison would find it hard to
get situation where he could support him
self. No one would care to employ him
with that blot Of dishonesty hanging over
him, and, besides, he is not now tit for any
thing except to potter about place like
mine"
IAN eminentiy good and satisfactory
reasons, Uncle Amos, but am to wait until
| pay you visit there TO learn what he saw
in the bank that night! Evidently, you do
not regard him as Lyman Childer's assail-
anti
.No. Lyman Childer's own hand COM
mitted the crime against himself; you may
know why, though yod keep so quiet about
it. This Is what Edison says"
1t was only what the reader knows with
out telling. Hidden in the expectation of
finding Childer engaged in some scheme
like that Which he had once carried out sue
cessfuliy, Edison had disclosed himself just
in time 10 thoroughly startle the other as he
turned the pistol against himself and sent
the ball crashing hou'e, meaning it to still
Ife's pulses forever.
Edison had not doubt but that this had
been done.
/ Never i brave man at the best, and reu-
, dered more cowardly by a year Of fugitive
existence, he was appalled, by the conse-
quences which might reflect upon himself.
Who would believe that he could be in that
place at that hour for any purpose but evila
1t might be, even, that his story of the
others suicide would be doubted, and him
self suspected as Lyman's murderer. There
was that still unexplained between the two
men which made this supposition probable,
and he had yielded TO his fears and made
good his escape, first taking pains to obliter-
brought these dust-covered volumes from
their neglected shelves and piled them up
in the little closet where he had found a
hiding-place, and in the absence of Childer
and Ingot, no one had noticed the change.
This was all that Uncle Amos could tell.
The sequel to that nights attempt, the key
to the one mystery of how Lyman Childer
J had robbed the employer who trusted him,
came later, when the sick man was so far
recovered that he could move about, though
only the shadow and ghost of himself. Then
one day, at his request, Mr.. Everleigh came,
bringing with him gentleman with whom
he had business acquaintance, the division
superintendent of the express company,
under whom Norris had formerly worked.
Norris was there also, by appointment, not
at all expecting what was to come.
"Gcntlemen,n said Lyman, steadily,
though he was pale with pallor greater
than that left by his recent illness; 81 have q
confession to make which you are all three
entitled to hear. You, Mr.. Everleigh, end
you, Bergman, know part Of it-that fell
from my integrity and appropriated funds
that did not belong to me that were yours,
Mr.. Everlelgh, being almost the full amount
of Edson's defalcation, returned to me In
trust to be restored to you. had been in
communication with Edison and knew when
contained. Iwish only to state the facts
not to excuse my actions. l laid my plans
deliberately, as you must know, for it was
who robbed the express train of the pack
age which was addressed to myself
"Youi' echoed the banker and his clerk
in breath.
81 had been handy, as boy, in the use Of
tools. 1t was very simple work, meeting
the train a few hours out and cutting
through the floor, for the noise of running
deadened any sounds | made. l treated
you rather roughly, am afraid, Bergman
but think it does not require my assur
ance to convince you all that I was in NJ
manner interested in the robbery which fol
lowed. All that desired and u 1 secured
was that one package which was being for
warded to me"
"But, Lyman, why-why did you do suct
athinga"
"Because / was ambitious, Mr.. Ever
: leigh. / wanted to secure an interest in The
firm, to become partner on terms which
l would place me as nearly as possible equa
with you. I did not intend to use YOU
money for that purpose when purloine(
it. only meant to hold it back until tn,
inheritance Farraker had promised my sis
ter and myself came into my hands; witt
that, meant to come to your relief, to carr
your gratitude, to secure my own place
Then ! should have turned over the trust
but before that week was out came the new
that our fortune was a myth, our legac,
comparatively nothing"