The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-12
Thereupon his discomfort cilmaxed hide
ously, for the packet had disappeared!


, Those were DAYS of worry at Holcombe
, Farm. No trace of thief or money could
} be discovered. Clearly it was no common
: burglary. No lock had been broken. And
how could any one enter the farmers bed
! room, and, during night of only restless
mapping, take the keys from beneath his
head, unlock the secretary close hl, find
the hidden drawer, ascertain the com bina-
ton, and then, refastening each lock, re-
place the keys between mattress and feath-
er bed, and yet awaken neither husband
nor wife? 1t could not be; so said the de-
tective; SO said Squire Trappe And then
both detective and Squire looked keenly at
Richard Forrest, who, reddening with in
dignant desire to thrash both Of them,
turned and walked away.
''That young man." said the detective,
leaning toward the farmer and pointing a
significant finger at the retreating figure,
'must be watched; he naust not be allowed
to leave the place"
Mr. Holcombe frowned and stormed up
and down the room many times.
For" continued the official, che alone
of the household, you say. besides yourself,
wife and daughter, knew where the money
was kept, had toyed with the combination
! il,
be found at twilight, at noon, in the early
morning. Yes, sir; it is a very plain case
to my mind"
Zeno Trappe stood by. darkly sullen over
the loss of the money, but exultant that his
Judgment had been sustained and conf
dent that Angie and the rich farmer would
yet be his
Holcombe glanced at his crafty face,
where these ignoble emotions held divided
sway. 1t fred him. But the detective
| spoke again:
"Yes, Mr.. Holcombe, it is a case without
peer for clearness. The young man had
both the information and the opportunity
to serve his turn. His needs no doubt are
| great, for he is without visible means of
| support, Mr.. Trappe tells me. He has i'm
posed himself on you on the slight claims
of distant relationship. He uses every
| endeavor to win your daughters young
| affections; succeeds to a certain extent, but
| is not sure of your consent. VIII make
himself absolutely safe on this other point,
| and"- But big cane trembling sus-
piciously in the farmers brawny hands,
coupled with an emphatic command to
him to leave the house at once puts an end
to the detectives calm eloquence.
You needn't either of you return. My
family shan't any longer be degraded by
the presence in this house of men who in
suit them by attributing such conduct and
motives to them. Co. sir; and when want
you again will send for you'll"
But although his generous manhood had
thus asserted itself Mr.. Holcombe was far
from being at rest about the matter How
ole ha hov
Richard were really unworthy of the blood
in his veins? He always dismissed these
suspicious as base, yet he could not feel
toward the young fellow his former hearty
fondness, nor treat him with the same
open hospitality and unconstraint. Ger
tainly he had stolen Angles heart, and
that could not be forgiven at once. And
where had the money gone? What if
what if-there it was again!
Troubled days they were for Richard
Forrest also. How could they be other
wise? He seldom saw Angelina alone now;
her father had invariably called her if they
started to walk. and he kept her always
by his side in the house. 1t was more than
a week after the robbery that he saw her
one morning leaning from the dining room
window to train an cratic Marie Henri |
cite. Her father was talking gloomily at |
the gate with neighbor Blisston. The dis |
consulate lover naturally found his way
quickly into the dining room.
''Angeline both small hands in |
his and kissing tiny thorn scratch |
what shall do? You know 1 told you |
three weeks ago that 1 had severed my |
connection with The Courier to re-engage |
with The Gazette. Now The Gazette ed |
itor writes me that they need me at once;
they cannot wait. / had written them |
that / would come the first of last week
But how can I go until this horrible mys-
terry is cleared up? and heaven only knows
when that will be, for all is midnight now
How can | even speak to your father of our
affair until that money is recovered or ac-
counted for? You cannot help seeing that,
despite his generous efforts to put aside
base suspicion, ne still doubts me. And it
does look dark Why, almost doubt my
self, everything points so directly to me as
the thief. This morning l walked myself
saying, Richard Forrest, where is that
money you stole?'"
''You will break my heart, Richard, if
you talk that way" she cried. Suspicion
can no more point to you than to me. You
shall not say such things" and she chung
- him SO that he must needs repeat
them for the sake of the precious dis
Chalmers
Just to contrast this wretched state of
affairs with the happiness of fortnight
ago." he complained, after awhile. Il
knew that l could make a little nest for
my dove by next winter; your father liked
me, your mother was fond of me, we ex-
pected no opposition. And you had told
me that YOU loved me-"
But Richard" she said, with a pitiful
small sob, Il love you now and mother
does, too. Father is in SO much trouble,
that Is all. He does not doubt you. He is
just worried all the time. Mother says he
does not rest at all at night, for when he
falls asleep from exhaustion he snatches
only a troubled nap and wakes with a
great start; and twice he has aroused her
by unlocking the door and walking across j.,
the back yard. and when she called him
and ran after him she found him asleep"
Richard stared at her like one dazed, for
some moments, and then light broke
over his countenance. He almost gasped. +,
and at last cried in joyous tones:
"Oh. my sweetheart, why didn't you tell
me before that your father was a somuam-
bulistt"
But he isn't. except when he is trou-
,led this way" answered she. why, +
learest, what do you mean7'' {
For he had seized Mrs. Holcombe, as she
HANGED to peep into the room at that mo- =
nent, and was dragging her, TO her iudig- .
liant amazement, to Angelines side. G
But they saw with his minds eyes soon, f..
nd entered with glad excitement into his .
Ian. Neighbor Blisston was drawn into :
t, too, that afternoon, sad spent the night G