Middletown transcript., 1892-10-20

He, found more difficulty than he had
anticipated in opening the CONVERSE
tion.
"You will not think it strange, per
haps, Mrs. Westeryelt, that | taye
had not only great deal of interest
but considerable curiosity in the mat
ter you confded to me, and more than
ever since your note of yesterday.
You may consider me presumptous.
but my object in calling was to ask
you if you are wiling to tell me on
whom your suspicion-what clew you
have found to this most mysterious
robbery. The more I have thought
of this case the more it has puzzled
me-"
Mrs. Westervelt made an uneasy
motion with her hands which were
lying in her lap. She glanced about
the room, out of the window, then back
to his face again. For the first time
since she had entered the room she
seemed to be conscious of herself aud
of him.
II don't know, after all, why ]
should not tell you," she began, in .
voice which sounded faint and far off.
"My husband, whom I thought dead
long ago. still living. / told you,
you remember, that he knew the
secret of the jewel casket."
The superintendent gazed at her in
amazement.
"But even then" he said, slowly,
after long pause, chow could"
The lady made an impatient gesture.
"Don't ask me any questions as to
how he could, do ANYTHING. You
might like to know what my life has
beea for the past ten hideous years
since was Hale Westervelt's wife |!
married him from pique-while
angry with the only man whom ever
really cared for-and be married me
for my money. 1t was fair bargain
that is, neither Of us tried to deceive
the other, though he was much worse
man than ever suspected. 1 found
it out quickly enough-after I had
married him. No doubt it was he
himself who, three years ago, sent me
notice of his own death. believe
now that it was another of the count
less traps he was continually setting
for me-Heaven knows why! We
both knew that the man to whom !
was engaged before my marriage was
killed in California. He certainly.
| could trust me with all the rest Of the
world-after that"
1
"And you have seen him p
"No. My housekeeper has, how
ever. Accidentally, at the window OF
one Of the houses in the rear Of this
one-a large boarding house. And
he has taken my ring. / am sure it.
There's no use in asking me how. |
don't know"
It was woman's unreasoning con-
viction. It admitted of no argument.
~
| "a queer affair, altogether the
superintendent remarked that night
to the captain of the precinct, as they
sat conversipg confdentially together.
"I've no doubt Mrs WesterYelt's
theory is the correct one. It's plausi-
BILE enough. I'd like to get q good
grip on that fellow; but she won't
listen to it, even though she admits
that she'd give five years of her life
for that ring. Little she cares now
for fifty years of it, I reckon"
cit must have been rather un-
satisfactory interview, chief, almost as
unsatisfactory as Che correspondence,
now that you find she's not the widow
of some saint, but the wife Of some
scoundrel. I know how you hate to
give up when you've undertaken TO
find out anything, SO you ought to have
some comfort in knowing where the
ring has probably gone to, even if you
don't quite"
He stopped abruptly as two officers
entered the station house, having in
custody mana gentleman, he might
be called, judging from his dress alone.
But his elegant clothes we're bespat-
tered with the mud Of the street.. his
hat was gone. His dishevellsd hair
and bleeding face made him pitiful
object to look upon With the group
was fourth person, an elderly man.
who followed them in great excite.
ment.
"This is the man, sir" he said,
rapidly, addressing the captain Of the
precinct, "whom the police hunted
for, two years ago, to answer for the
forgery in the Bradford Bank robbery.
The very man, sir! I know! Call on
me for evidence, sir. I'm on my way
out of town on business tonight, sir
but I'll be back Tomorrow, sir, and
eally, sir, to help this rascal to his
place in the State Prison, sir y
With menacing glance at the man
SO designated, and hasty comparison
of his watch with the clock Of the