Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-11
A NARROW ESCAPE.

the Crown hotel Manchester, from my |
father, Liverpool merchant. / had just |
completed a long days business, and had |
intended to proceed to Oldham and several |
other surrounding towns before returning |
home. However, / made what haste l
could and reached Liverpool about p. m.
drove rapidly home, and found my father |
in the dining room, pacing from one end to
the other, as was his habit when anything
troubled or perplexed him.
Il am glad to see you, lad, )" he exclaimed,
greeting me in his hearty, affectionate
manner. Something has happened in the
Office which has caused me the greatest
uneasiness. Soon after you went away l
drew from the bank about 970O in notes. l
placed this in the safe in my private Office,
and locking il in came home. The next
day-Thursday-I opened the safe and
found, TO my establishment, that not a
penny of the money remained. l informed
the police of the affair, and it has been
placed in the hands of n man named Bing-
lev He seems a shrewd fellow enough,
but so far has reported nothing TO me.
expect him there this evening. II Is not
so much the loss Of the money that mind
as the fact that l must have about the
Office an Enthusiastically servant. Who IL
is, must confess, have not the remotest
idea"
But surely, father, you took the num-
Der of the notes." queried.
'That | did" he replied, but here is
one of the strangest parts Of the whole
affair. On referring to my pocketbook the
next day found this slip Of blank paper"
and he held out to me n thin sheet of such
paper as | had observed him using on pre-
vious occasions for the entry of the num-
bers Of bank notes.
And who saw you deposit the money in
the safef"
There was no one in the room except
old Richardson and Tom Hail." he an
swered, "and TO suspect either of them
seems impossible"
Where did you enter the numbers"
was my next question.
las sat at my writing table"
"On what did you place the paperf"
LAS well as | can remember, on my peck
etbook," he answered "Stay, now | cal
it TO mind, there were several other pieces
Of paper exactly like il lying on my desk
After entering the numbers doubled up
the paper and put the money into the safe. Z"
Leaving your pocketbook on the desk,
presumed"
Yes" he replied.
Then that is one step gained. The thief
took the numbers away and inserted one OF
the blank sheets Of paper"
A sudden pallor came over my fathers
face. To accept the truth Of my inference
was to believe in what he had declared i'm
possible OF credence
who was nearest the table" was my
next query, while you placed that money
in the safei
TON Hail stood within about three
yards Of the table, and Richardson was
close TO me when / locked the safe" an
swered my father in a shaky voice. "Ii
looks black for Hall" he went ON NOR,
slowly. II almost wish had not called
in the police. would rather lose tbs
money altogether than break his poo
mothers heart"
Just at this moment a stranger to M
was announced and entered the room. HI
was indeed a shrewd looking fellow anC
well known in his profession as a skillfu
tracker Of criminals.
ANY news2" asked my father when tn
detective was seated.
Yes" be answered. II must confess /
was rather a puzzling case, but it is clea
enough now As you placed the matter il
our hands with instructions TO prosecute
have arrested Tom Hall and he is now II
Dale street safe enough"
You must be mistaken, Bingley," sal
my father. Hall cannot have done sue
thing. Il will kill his mother"
unfortunately, sir" the detective re
piled. 1.-THE evidence is only too strong; an
as 20 his mother-well criminals are nc
given TO thinking Of the feelings Of thei
relatives till the crime has been discoH
cred"
begged my father TO be seated, that "
might hear fully what the evidence wa
upon which the detective had arreste
Hall.
ut added 70 the difficulty Of my task ths
the numbers Of the notes were missing,
the detective went On. However,
Swallowed Hail. and Richardson WI
watched by another member Of the fore
On Sunday evening | met Hall with b
sweetheart, and noticed that she wore
splendid diamond brooch which had ey
IDENTIFY been given her by Hall, az tbs
were talking about IL, and walking behir
them | overheard every word. She vi
urging him to be more careful Of b
money, and he laughingly replied: %
never mind. there's plenty more whe
that came front Yesterday obtained
search warrant and found this"
He handed 70 my father bankboo
which showed that Hall had deposits
nearly e4O0 in one Of the local banks on q
Friday preceding.
But 200 is not the amount taken
calculated my father.
But It is part OF it, replied the dete'
i've. land the rest may be elsewhere. VIII
charged with the theft. Hall seemed dul
founded, and on receiving the usual ca
ton, simply replied, I am perfectly inn
cent He will be brought up tomorr'
and probably committed for trial 70
assizes.'
The detective then took his leave a
nv father and remained silent, Think
for some time At last / said; viii y
let me have your pocketbook, father, a
the key Of your private office and safef
shall probably be there for some time
do not sit up for me"
Ny father complied with the reque
and in less than half an hour was In
Office. Certainly there did not seem mu