Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-05-29
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV. i
HoLBRooK MAKES A DISCOVERY.
49, MONTH had
AE elapsed since the
EDA murder. 1t re-
EHN manned quite as
VI much of q mys-
w Mi terry as it had
ADRi been in the be-
Iii NIL ginning. The po-
H. 6N lice authorities
NEN EN were baffled in
x1&" every direction,
GEEK they
NN9Eclung obstinately
w to their theory
~~ that Templeton
~~ had been killed
M for some one else.
On his way down
town, on the morning following his
walk with Annie, Holbrook had stepped
into headquarters, and had talked with
the high official who had supplied him
with the sample of cloth and the dia-
mond button. He had discussed the
theory with the high official, and was
compelled to acknowledge that from the
standpoint of the authorities, and with
the information they possessed, the
theory was plausibly argued.
He was troubled over his own conceal
ment of certain things, and while he
felicitated himself upon the fact that
neither Tom nor himself had said a word
concerning Fountain, now that it was
clear that he was not the guilty man,
yet he thought he ought to tell the
authorities of the suspicious they had as
to Templeton's and Fountains relations
to each other and to the dead Pierson.
But what was he to say? He was in pre-
cisely the same predicament as he was
before they had found Fountain to be
guiItless. He couldn't speak without
bringing Flora into the affair, and if it
had been difficult to do SO before, now
after his interview with her. and after
what was practically a promise on his
part not to use his knowledge to the dis
advantage of herself or Fountain, it was
doubly 90. Besides, to open himself to
the high official would bet prove treach-
erous to Tom.
So, without revealing any of his
thoughts, he left and went his way to
his Office. He dismissed all further con-
Ederation of his duty in the matter with
the thought that he was so involved by
circumstances that he could not do what
seemed to be an obvious duty without
doing greater harm in other directions,
and let his mind run On the joys of his
walk with Annie on the previous even
ing and her charming qualities of mind
and person.
Thus engaged, he reached his office.
As he opened the door of the outer room,
with more than usual vigor, he was star.
tied by loud crash. A clerk had Sc
placed a ladder that one leg vas imme.
diately in front of the door. He had
mounted it 8 as to gain access to a row
Of high shelves surrounding the office,
on which were kept green wooden boxes,
the figures of past years, the names Of
clients and of estates whose affairs the
Office had in charge being lettered in
white ON them.
When Holbrook had hastily swung
open the door it had struck a leg of the
ladder, nearly toppling owe the clerk
M SduoihS L1lk ~ oAoP oAS "a tIC oAC
to the floor, upon which it fell so heavily
as to burst open.
This was the crash which had startled
him. Several of the clerks sprang te
save the box, and as they lifted it up il
fell apart, scattering its contents.
"What papers are they?' asked Hol,
brook, viewing the wreck he had caused
"Old ones, I should judge" replied
Clark, the managing clerk, bending over
to pick one of the packages up. ''They
refer to Sampson, Hurcomb & Co., q
concern that has been out Of existence
these ten years. Their affairs are al
closed up"
Among the papers was a small tin box
"What is that" asked Holbrook.
81 don't know" said the clerk, picking
It up. "Look for the key" finding i
locked and the key not in the lock.
The Office boy paved over the papers
but could find none.
Holbrook took the box and turned j
around and around. On one end he saw
the letters &C. p"
"What can it be?' he said, struck By
the initials. Bring something to breal
atopen."
He carried it into his private room
and there they brought him a hammel
and o broker dining knife.
With these he broke open the box ant
found it filed with papers.
The first one he lifted from the DO,
was o note long since overdue.
It was drawn to the order of Charlie:
Pferson and signed "a. P. Duncan"
at is as ] supposed" he muttered
cit belonged to Pierson and escaped thu
boys when his papers were returned. I
must have been misplaced in that box.
He lifted out other papers. They wer'
ell overdue notes, drawn to Persons
order and mostly signed by Duncan.
9cibrcok did not know and did no
care who Duncan was.
He turned the contents of the box out
ON his desk.
At the bottom was q large blue envel
ope tied with red tape, and sealed witt
red wax back and front over the tape.
The tape was wound around the mar
row and then the long way, SO that i
could not be opened without the seal
being broken.
On the back was inscribed:
"Private papers Of Charles Pierson
Not to be opened unless upon the writ
ten consent of Charles P~ierson, or after
his death. and then only by Judge Hark
uer."
..But Judge Harkner died before hi
did" said Holbrook, talking to himself
He balanced it in his hand.
Should he open 1t? Who was to stoI
him, and who was there TO say nay
And was he not the executor of Judg'
Harkner?
He broke the seals. To open the en-
velope he was compelled to destroy 1t
It had been fastened with glue. The en-
velope was one of the kind lined witt
muslin.
BE tore it open and took out a writer
paper. It was a sheet of legal cap writ
ten on both sides.
The contents OF the sheet had beer
penned by the same hand as had writer
the inscription.
Il was signed "Charles Person"
CHAPTER XVI.
nocrrNEST FEAT spFpS ryapr