Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-02-14

their Cornwall correspondents inaujring why
John Hawxhurst had not met them as per
agreement. They had Immediately insti-
tuted inquiries, but the closest search had
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 natural conclusion had been that he had
taken the money and gone to America.
"Who is that man who opened the door as
we came ina" inquired. Mr.. Withers looked
at me in surprise, but he said, "That's our
head bookkeeper He came to us highly rec
commended just after you had left for India
His name is Cameron.
thought moment then said: ''Will you
give me Mr.. Cameron's address and engage
to keep him busy at the Office to-nights'
eyes, certainly"
"And will you call special meeting of all
the members of the firm for tomorrow morn
ing at 10?"
eyes, certainly" Mr.. Withers gave his
assent in mechanical sort of way. He
looked at me as though he doubted whether
I was in full possession of my senses; but l
said no more.
With Mr.. Cameron's address noted in my
pocketbook, went at once to detective, an
old friend of mine. My plan was to search
Cameron's room thoroughly for the wallet of
bank bills which he had stolen from my
brother If l 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 Cameron's lodgings. told the land
lady 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 a close
search of at least an hour we could find moth
ing. l looked at my watch. The time was
growing short, for Cameron was likely soon
to return. In fit of impotence I gave the
trunk, which had just been ransacking, a
vicious kick. 1t seemed to me that it gave
forth rather peculiar sound, and at once
| stopped down and measured from the top of
| the trunk to the floor It was twenty-three
inches. now measured inside from the top
to the bottom of the trunk. Twenty-Five
inches! Allowing something for the bottom
of the trunk, here was about three-quarters
| of an inch unaccounted for. With feverish
haste I 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 a
| few brief words told them my story. Mr..
| Withers stepped to the door and said, "Please
walk in here for moment, Mr.. Cameron.
| As Cameron entered Withers locked the door
and said sternly, "Where were you on the
night of March IS, Mr.. Cameron" He
turned deathly pale and trembled like leaf.
With that grasped him firmly by the Shout
der and said, "And how came this wallet i'll
your possession?"
With terrible shrek he dropped to his
knees, crying, "Mercy! Mercy I did not
mean to kill himl 1 did not mean to kill
him! Only let me go and will tell you ALL >
miserable man." exclaimed Withers, eve
cannot deal with you. Your crime is one
against the law of God and man." Cameron
was at once given into custody and made q
full confession to the officers of the law. He
expiated his crime on the gallows.
1t seems that he had overheard the inten-
ton of my brother to go to Cornwall, and
had taken the same train. He had alightec
at Callington while the train was still in mo
ton and pretended to my brother that he
had searched through Ine Uraln WltuouG pelns
able to find him. He then declared that Mr.
Withers had given him instructions to &c
with my brother and examine some mines il
that neighborhood before seeing the partie:
with whom he was to deal. Mr.. Withers, h
said, had just received some private informa
tion about the property. Being familiar
with the country, Cameron had then led thu
way and murdered and robbed my brother
exactly as Ihad seen him do it in the Hindoo'
mirror.
These events had happened on Saturday
The office closed at Saturday afternoons
and Cameron's absence had not been noticed
as he appeared in the office as usual on Mon
day morning.
My brothers name was cleared from dis
grace the stolen money restored and justic
melted out to the criminal, but the myster,
of the Hindoo mirror has never been ez
| -11.