Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03
THE STOLEN IMAGE.

THE STOLEN IMAGE.
''You have been recommended to me,
sir.
| looked up from the drawing | was
studying, as musical yet low voice utter
ed the words. | knew that was to look
upon female. | was disappointed to find
her closely yelled.
A slender form, plainly yet richly clad,
confronted me, a small gloved hand resting
on The desk just in front of me:
''What is that you desire, MADAME" |
said, the moment | could gather the words
to reply.
Assistance, sir"
Exactly p"
waited calmly for her to speak further
Some inward emotion seemed to hold her
tongue for fully a minute. When at length
she did speak, her voice trembled perceptl
bly,.
Il have met with loss, sir, one tina
can Ill afford, and | have come to you to
help me. | have been assured that you are
a detective of ability, and just the one to
assist me in my present trouble. >
please state your case, madam, blush
ing inwardly at the praise she WIS giving
my abilities.
my brother Frank was sailor, sir, and
visited many countries, and sometimes he
brought home queer articles from the
Orient. Once he presented to me a Hin
doc IDOL an immage of gold and precious
stones, the value of which has never
been computed. [ care not so much
for the money value of the image,
although heaven knows | am not beyond
want, but prize it as keepsake from my
brother, who long ago found a grave in the
waters of the ocean.
Emotion cut short further speech on the
part Of the girl. | was deeply interested
and waited with some degree of impotence
for the girl to proceed.
II have had the image several years, -
she went on. Frank brought it with
him on his return from the East Indies,
and promised never to part with it. Since
he was lost times have been hard. Mother
died, father became helpless. Out in the
western country father had some land, and
| resolved to move on it. That was year
ago. We have been here since Doubt
lest you know the ranch the stone house
in the basin.
Eyes, [ know" | returned. II have
passed the house many times, and a
lonely place it is. You are Miss Gran
Il am Irene Grandis'
well, about this image. When was it
stolen"
Two nights ago."
DO you suspect any one"
She lifted her veil now, and presented a
pale, beautiful face.
Il do not wish to seem ungrateful or
wicked, Mr.. Short, but [ cannot help feel
ing that our servant, John Lawns, has
acted strangely ever since | missed the
image.
''Yes?"
1--WE have trusted him fully sir, up to
the present, and do not wish to wrong
him, but"
Il understand | will accompany you
and investigate.
Miss Grandis' carryall stood at the door
and closing my Office | accepted a seat in
the vehicle. She was her own driver and
handled the reins with firm hand. It
was two miles from Rock Ridge, the west
ern mushroom town, to the Grandis ranch
and the spirited horses were not long IN
covering the distance.
The stone house in the basin was moss
grown and ancient. There was a tradi-
ton that it had been constructed a century
before by missionaries from the east. All
that Mr. Grandis or his daughter could
tell about it was that it was on the ground
when the land came into possession of its
present owner, some ten years before.
| went through the house from cellar to
garrett met the two servants, John Lawns
and Peggy White, interviewed them and
then, after hearing Irene's story, sat me
down to mediate on the situation.
The Hindoo idol had stood always on
the little bureau In Irene room. Peggy
White knew it was there, had In fact often
taken it in her hand and admired it. She
and John Lawns were on good terms and it
might be that the two had conceived and
executed the plan of possessing themselves
of the valuable image.
The two, however, had been faithful
servants in the Grandis household during
twelve long years. Strange that with the
gold image in the house for years neither
had thought of appropriating it until now.
1t was not likely that either servant had
stolen the idol.
The unexpected often occurs in detective
experience so | was not ready to accept
the theory of the guilt or innocence of
/ >
and soon made the discovery that it could
be entered from the outside by means of a
tree covered with vines that grew close
against the house, within easy reach of the
window; doubtless this was the way the
thief had taken.
But not a soul knew of the existence of
the image outside of our family" avowed
Irene, as | pointed out the probable man
ner of the robbery.
You are quite sure of this?'
''Qute sure, sir.
1T may be that the thief entered for the
purpose Of robbery and found the idol by
accident
Il would think so but for one reason. y
And that?'
ION the night the image disappeared,
my wallet lay on the bureau, not foot
from the image, containing over 81, 900
not our money, understand, for we are not
so well situated, but the money sent my
father by an acquaintance in the east. who
wished him to invest it for him. We
would have been ruined had the money
been taken. | shudder when l think
of it, -
And the wallet was untouched"
THAT is the fact, sir; only the image
was taken and card that lay beside it. .
"A card %
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