Wichita eagle., 1890-01-23

C0fQ08UY
had determined on making some heavy in
vestments in Cornwall. and John had been
deputed to 60 there with some ESQ 900 to
make the payments. He was to have taken
the 5 O'Clock train out of London ON the
afternoon of March IS He left the Office at
about O'Clock, and none of the firm had
seen him since. Their suspicious had first
been aroused by the receipt of letters from
their Cornwall correspondents inquiring why
John Hawxhurst had net met them as per
agreement. They had Immediately insti-
tuted inquiries, but the closest search hsd
failed to find the missing man. Robbery
was not suspected, as no one but the MEM
bers of the firm knew Of the circumstances
The nstural conclusion had been that be had
taken the money sud gone to America
''Who is that man who opened the door as
we came inE" I inquired Mr.. Withers looked
at me in surprise, but he said, That's our
head bookkeeper. He came to us highly REQ
commended just after you had left for India
His name is Cameron
thought a moment then said: "Wll you
give me Mr.. Cameron's address and engage
to keep him busy at the Office to-nightf'
Eyes, certainly"
sAnd viii you cali special meeting of all
the members Of the firm fer tomorrow morn
ing at 1o!'
Eyes, certainly" Mr.. withers gave hi,
assent in mechanical sort of way. He
looked at me as though he doubted whether
/ was in full possession of my senses; but
said no more.
With Mr.. Cameron's address noted in my
pocketbook, went ut once to detective, an
old friend Of mine. Ny plan was TO search
Camerons room thoroughly for the wallet of
bank bills which he had stolen from my
brother. II I could not find that deter
mined to charge him with the murder in
presence of all the firm. After that should
be guided by circumstances. If his actions
were those of an innocent man, l should
doubt the truth of the revelation I had re-
ceived in India.
easily found my friend and proceeded at
once to Camerons lodgings. told the land
lady l was one Of the firm and would wait
till Mr.. Cameron came home. She showed
us at once to his room, which my friend had
no trouble whatever in opening with one Of
his numerous keys
We at once set to work, but after close
search Of at least an hour we could find moth
ing. l looked at my watch. The time -as
growing short, for Cameron was likely soon
to return. In a fit of impotence gave ths
trunk, which had Just been ransacizing,
vicious kick. 1t seemed to me that II gave
forth a rather peculiar sound, and / at once
stopped down and measured from the top OF
the trunk to the floor. II was tventy-three
inches. / now measured inside from the top
to the bottom of the trunk. Tweutv-ewo
inches! Allowing something for the bottom
of the trunk, here was about three-1nagters
of an inch unaccomted for With feperish
haste turned it upside down and pried up
the bottom, and there where it had been con-
cealed by a false bottom was the missing
wallet
AT 10 O'Clock the next morning all the
members Of the firm were assembled In q
few brief words told them my story Mr.
Withers stepped 70 the door and said, please
walk In here for a moment, Mr. Cameron
As Cameron entered Withers locksd the door
and said sternly, Where were YOU on the
night of March Is, Mr.. Cameron He
turned deatnly pale and tnernbied like leaf
With that grasped him firmly by the shout
der and said, '<And how came this wallet in
your possessionf'
With terrible Shrek he dropped to his
knees, crying, Mercy, Mercy / did not
mean to Kill himi did not mean to kill
him. Only let me go and viii tell you all y
Miserable man" exclaimed Witbers, I'VE
cannot deal with you. Your CRIME is one
against the law of God and man. Cameron
was at once given into custody and made a
full confession to the officers of the Law. He
expiated his crime on the gnllOws.
It seems that be had overheard the intcp
taon Of my brother TO go to Cornwall, and
had taken the same train He had alighted
at Calington while the train was still in mo-
ton and pretended to my brother that he
had searched through etrain without being
able to find him He then declared chat Mr..
Withers had given him Instructions 10 go
with my brother and examine some mines in
that neighborhood before seeing tho parties
with whom hs was 10 deal. Mr. Withsrs, be
said, had just received some private informn-
ton about the property. Being familiar
with the country, Cameron had then led the
way and murdered and robbed my brother
exactly as HAD seen h4mdo it In the Hindoo's
mirror.
These events had happened on aSaturday.
The Office closed at Saturday afternoons,
and Cameron .abssnce had not been noticed,
as he appeared in the Office as usual on Mon
day morn ng.
grace, the stolen money restof cd and justice
meted out to the criminal, but the mystery
Of the Hiudoo mirror has never been ex-
selai.,Ad
Funeral tustom.