Mower County transcript., 1892-08-24

lam very sorry for you. But all that
can be done In the interests OF Justice
must be done. Keep the keys and be in
Bread street at the ordinary time in the
morning"
My father paused here. His cigar was
smoked out, but he had not finished his
story. He did not offer to move and /
sat still. After a few moments hewent on;
II will be merciful to you and tell Won
nothing Of the scene at my wife's place
when ! called later. Her father and
mother were then living. told my story
to all three as have told it to you. and
all agreed that the best thing was to
postpone the marriage for a month.
'sWell, Tn not getting on as fast as
promised, but shall not keep you much
longer.
"When I reached the Office in the
morning had another good look around,
but nothing whatever was to be discov-
cred. I turned the whole place inside
out Nothing, absolutely nothing, con.
nected with the case turned up until, to
my astonishment, Stephen Grainly
walked into the Office. Until his appear.
ance had, in dim way, made up my
mind that all would be cleared up and
my innocence established by his ab.
sconding. His arrival showed that he
meant to brazen the thing out with me,
and felt from that moment HELPLESS
and paralyzed.
'Grainly,' said l, as soon as l could
talk, when you came back for your stick
last night did you notice the money you
gave me on tho desk where put itT
"'No, my dear Mayfeld. I did not
cross the threshold of this room.'
"'You did not see or touch the money
Or the piece Of paper on which
had taken down the numbers of the
notesy
No, certainly not. I could not see
your desk from the door, and was not
farther than tho door. You do not seem
we'll. l sincerely hope there is nothing
the matter?'
The cash you brought In last night
the e293-has been stolen, that's ALL
said I.
'Stolenr he cried, falling back.
You don't mean to say that?
"'Aye, and stolen within an hour
within half an hour-of our being here
together last night
"'1 cannot-1 will not-believe such
horrible thing. Stolen! And in the
very Office too!
II never saw better acting in all my
life than his Indignation and horror and
astonishment. I could hardly believe
my eyes and ears. I had spent a sleep.
less night and was half dazed and
wholly stupid and in despair. For
awhile felt that, after all, he might be
innocent, and that I, in moment Of ex-
citement and haste, had placed the
money and the memorandum in some
place of security which l could not now
recall.
"Mr. strangway, on reaching the
Office half an hour earlier than his
usual time, gave orders for another
search. It was quite unavailing. No
tale or tidings Of the cash came that
day.
mo secret was made Of the affair in
the Office, and as the hours went on
became confident that in Mr.. Strang-
ways eyes was the criminal. 1 don't
know how it happened, but I did not
feel this much. did not feel anything
much. was in dream-a stupOr.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Strangway
called me into his Office and told me
that, considering everything, he did not
intend placing the affair in the hands of
the police that day, but that if tomor-
rows sun went down upon matters as
they now stood he should be obliged to
take action. The loss of the money !
could bear,' said he, but the ingratitude
will not stand
"This was as good as accusing me of
the robbery. Again I wonder that
was not more put out, but felt little or
nothing beyond hapless and numbed.
Before left Bread street that even
ing Grainly sent me note begging me,
for my own sake, not to think of bolt.
ing. 'Bolting,' said he, in q case of
this kind would be taken as an admis-
sion of the very worst
Even this daring impudence did not
arouse me, did not waken me; through
the whole terrible affair I do not think l
was even as much excited as am now.
"Next day Mr.. Strangway said not a
syllable about employing the police, or
indeed about the affair at all, nor did
he, as far as / knew, take steps in the
matter. On the day following he made
an astonishing announcement. He called
Grainly and me into his private Office
and said: j..
"'The present is the first time in the
history Of our firm that anything Of this
kind has occurred-that we have been
robbed from the inside. l have made
up my mind not to do anything about 1t
just keep an open mind. Some
day we may find an easy explanation of
the mystery or it may never be cleared
up. accuse no one. l will say no
more of the affair until can either put
my hand on the man who did it or tell
you both face to face, as you are now,
that l have discharged from my mind
forever the notion that any man who
takes my money as servant took it also
as thief
"A fortnight after the loss of the
money telegram came for Mr.. Strang.
wav IT. was sent into his nrivate office