The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-10-15

ing 10 go Onl. anyway, L snail not take
steps tonight. Perhaps it would be
best to postpone your marriage. Yes.
1t would not do to marry under the cir-
/ am very sorry for you.
But all that can be done IN the interests
of justice must be done. Keep the keys
and be in Broad street at the usual time
in the morning."
''When / reached the Office in the
morning had another good look round,
but nothing whatever was to be dis
covered. j turned the whole place in
side out. Nothing connected with the
case turned up until, to my astonish-
ment, Stephen Grainly walked into the
Office. Until his appearance / had, in
a dim way, made up my mind that all
would be cleared up and my innocence
established by his absconding. His ar
rival showed that he meant to brazen
the thing out with me, and i felt from
that moment helpless and paralyzed.
''Mr. Strangway, on reaching the
office half an hour earlier than his
usual time, gave orders for another
search. 1t was quite unavailing. Nc
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 i
became confident that in Mr.. Strang-
ways eyes l was the criminal. |
don't know how it happened, but did
not feel this much. / did not feel any
thing much. l was in a dream "a
stupor.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Strang-
way 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 to-morrow's 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 ] wonder that l
was not more put out, but l felt lit
tleor nothing beyond helpless and
numbcd.
"A fortnight after the loss of the
money telegram came for Mr.. Strang-
way. 1t was sent to his private Office.
Presently he opened his door and beck
oned me to go in, and when had en-
tered he motioncd me to q chair.
"'Mr. Mayfield.' said he, Il wish at
the earliest moment to relieve you OF
what must have been terrible anxiety.
The thief has been found and is now in
custodyv Mr.. Strangway waved the
telegram. Il have just got the message
saying Stephen Grainly, with the bulk
of the notes on his person, is in the
hands of the police. He was about
leaving this country-for Spain, it is
supposed. He stole the money a fort
night ago, and stole the list you made
of the numbers of the notes. Knowing
the way in which the notes had come
into his own hands in the country, he
felt confident that they could not be
traced from him to the Bank of Eng
land, as the list of the numbers was de.
stroyed by him.
"'Then how in the world, sir, were
they traccd?" said /.
'.Mr. Strangway raised the blottine
pad and took from under it piece OF
paper, the back of letter.
The news of the robbery got about,
said he, and of course our customers
were interested in it, Mr.. Young, OF
Horsham. among the rest. Mr.. Young,
of Horsham, was one of the people you
wrote to that evening, the evening OF
the robbery, and you sent him more
than you intended
"'Not the missing sheets with the
numbers? / know l couldn't have done
that, for / saw the memorandum on the
slope of my desk after closing his letter
and han ding it with the others tc
GRANNY
"No, but you put the memorandum
on the slope of your desk with the ink
side up. and you copied Mr.. Young's
letter in the copying-press, and while
it was damp put it down on the list Of
notes in unblotted copying ink, and the
numbers uf the notes were family but
clearly copied, reversed. Of course. on
the fy-leaf of Mr.. Young's letter, and
Mr.. Young sent the copy back to me
privately! Look
"Mr. Strangway handed me the fly.
leaf of Young's letter, and there were
the numbers of the notes, dim, to be
sure, but not quite as dim there as
they are now under the glass let into
the oak of the over-mantel. Grainly
had put few of the notes in circula-
ton, and they had been traced back to
him.
lie stole the money, Mayficld,' said
Mr.. Strangway to me, and he tried tc
ruin you, or anyway he wanted to sad
die you with the theft, and for awhile
more than suspected you. But all il
clear at last, ana I'll pay you hand