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

Il
bers. Hastily taking from my own desk n
small microscope | carefully examined the
leaves of the book Here was what i
sought. The numbers stood out plainly,
and / carefully copied them into my own
pocketbook. So much of the difficulty be-
ing solved, l next turned my attention to
the safe.
The question had still TO be answered,
"How had the thief opened the safe"
obtained as good light as POSSIBLY could
and made minute examination OF the
safe. There seemed TO be no marks OF
cough usage, and 1t was evident thatit had
not been forced open A duplicate key
then must have been used. But as moth
ing further seemed capable OF being found
out from the safe itself, i locked it and
proceeded to examine hedesks of Richard
son and Hall, which were in an adjoining
room. In the latter i found few loose
slips of paper-"Nightshade 20 to l. Ever
ett;" Eagles Wing, 80 to l." etc. What
did these mean2 Evidently it was con-
nected with betting. folded them up and
put them in my pocketbOok beside the
number of the notes. There seemed to be
nothing else which would throw any light
on the affair in either my fathers room or
that of the two chief clerks, 80 I turned out
the lights and went home.
The next day Hall was brought up be-
fore the magistrates, and the evidence OF
the detective having been given, he was
committed for trial to the assizes, bail be-
ing refused He reserved his defence and
was removed to Jail. ! asked for and OBJ
tanned permission TO see him. He seemed
very much cast down and troubled by the
thought of the pain his arrest must have
caused to his mother and sweetheart
| But, Mr. Meredith" he said to me, II
am utterly innocent Of the theft. 1 hope
you, at any rate, will believe me. The
matter Of the money standing to my credit
in the bank can be easily explained, though
felt that / could not urge IL in my de
fence today. In fact my solicitor advised
me not 70 bring IL forward, as at present
there is only my own unsupported evidence
for il. The assizes come on in week, and
by then hope further confederation will
be available.
II received certain information about a
fortnight ago that Nightshade, a rank out
slider, as he was considered, stood a good
chance for the st. Leger. / know that
was foolish for betting on the race, bu'
events proved that | WAS rightly informed
IL was my first bet, and shall be my last
| W
the local clubs, offered to lay % to
against Nightshade, and backed the hors'
for twenty pounds. On Thursday last h
paid me e4OO, the greater part Of which
banked on the next day"
Immediately called TO mind the slips o
paper in my pocket, on one Of which wa
"Nightshade 20 to /. Everett" 1t seemed
clear TO me that Hall was speaking tn
truth, and promised 10 do all | could T.
obtain the evidence Of Everett on tn
point, and TO supply him with a goo'
counsel at the trial.
The next day / was called away to Iced
ON business Of Importance connected wit
the firm, and on returning in the evening
found myself In company with Mr.. Nelson
Manchester merchant, well known {
me. We were alone in the compartment
/ and could converse freely. He had see
the report Of the robbery in the paper
and opened conversation on the subjec
. | spoke freely to him and told him III
, main facts OF the case. When | had fiji
ished he said, rs this Richardson's nan
Henryp 1T is" / replied.
= as he a native Of Bury, in Lancashirei
' 81 believe so, as he has property there ,
What firm did he come TO you from
e was his next question.
8 When / gave him the name Of the fir
+ he sat in silence for a second or two an
{ then began: "Wsll, il Is rather serioI
e thing to say but Richardson must be u
4 same man who as boy was dismiss
q by my father for dishonesty. He hs
r posted numerous business letters and Ike
the money he received for stamps At la
e complaints reached us Of letters arriviI
e without stamps and the culprit confesse
d This was not the only case Of his disho
il esty, and he was summarily discharged.
Our conversation then branched off
g other topics, but from Manche ester 70 Live
pool had much food for thought. ~
il fact that Richardson was standing neare
II my father when he locked the safe mig
N be merely a blind intended 10 throw 81
| picion on Hall. lie would have suffice
n time to change the papers and 20 TO n
fathers side before the safe was locke
d II evidently neeL ID investigation.
IA On the following morning made n
way TO Bingley's private Office, and ask
q TO see the man who had watched Richar
ID son.
1t "Why, what do you want with him
ir said Bingley "Do You suppose that II "
y a put up Job between Hall and himp
II do not" replied "But / am rath
~ inclined TO think that Hall may be 9
~ tirely innocent and Richardson the -
"A culprit." And then told him what h
come to my knowledge, both with rega
-. TO Halls betting and Richardson's sha
- past.
= He merely raised his eyebrows, and th
- after bordering over the matter for f
seconds said well, you may be rig
g. and will do what / can TO find out
truth"
q BY this time Rawlins, Bingley's ASST
-, ant in the business, had put in his appe
~ ance. The only fact Of importance
~ CLEANED from him was that Richards
'is had been to Bury on the Saturday. L
~ covering that the latter had property
rn the town he had attached little importal
to the visit, especially a. both he and BIZ
ley had all along regarded Hall as
+ probable culprit. | fancied could Diet
81 a shade Of annoyance on Bingley's IA
- perhaps caused by the fact that he
~ possibly arrested the wrong man, and !
- haps little piqued that he had 70 ths