Mower County transcript., 1892-08-24
'.That evening Grainly talked lot
about the business and the news Of the

SA1S ASoeSAoS lNAoVAAAte w MA AAA0ANoS
ing them in envelopes and addressing
them was not occupation for which 4
man could reasonably claim quiet
"When my batch Of letters We're Ready,
seeing half TN hours work still before
me, held them out to him and said,
When you are going I should he obliged
if you would post these, as I am not near
ly finished here yet
"Certainly, said he, taking the hint
and rising.
"'Any one in the place who could show
me out9 AL the gas is turned off below
and have never gone down in the dark
ness, said he, moving away.
"'There's no one but ourselves here.
I'll show you the way said with alac-
rity, delighted to get rid of him.
II had led him through the long, dark
corridor and half down the stairs when
he suddenly stopped and cried out: My
stick! I left my stick above. I won't
be q minute, Mayfield. Just wait here
for NOR
''He ran up stairs to fetch his stick and
was back with mo in the darkness in a
few seconds.
"'I found it all right he said; it was
just at the door. got it without going
in at all
II struck y match to light him, and
presently he was out on the asphalt of
Bread street, walking rapidly toward
Cheapside.
"When I got back to the counting
hrV,co thu ohno1yo tho AT &>,> 20
the desk. The gold and notes were
gone!
II had taken the numbers of the notes
on sheet of paper, and left the list on
the sloping part of my desk to dry be-
fore putting it into my pocket.
"The paper on which I had taken the
numbers of the notes was gone alsor'
AS my faIher-in-law spoke rose to
my feet and tapped the glass over the
document let into the oak above the
fireplace, saying, "And this is the paper
with the numbers of the stolen notes on
it."
"And that is not the paper with the
numbers of the stolen notes on it," said
James Maytield.
"Fron the moment I left the count
ing house to show Grainly out that
night, twenty years ago, no one has ever
seen the list made of the notes. Grain
ly must havo destroyed it the moment
he was out of Bread street,"
My father-in-law finished his glass of
port and resumed his story:
'Here was I, on the eve of my mar
riage, simply ruined.
"Grainly had my receipt for the e299
cash, and he had the e293 cash also, and
Grainly was thief who enjoyed the
favor of his employer, while was in no
particular favor with the firm. I be-
lieve rp to that time was supposed to
be honest.
''The e49 in gold was of course gone
as much as if it had been dropped into
the crater of a burning mountain; and
as the numbers of the notes could no
longer be produced, and they had not
come direct from bank, but had been
picked up here and there in the coun-
try, the e245 were gone as though they
had been blown overheard in the At
lantic ocean.
ut was plain there would be no use
in following Grainly, even if l knew the
way he had gone when he gained Cheap
side. It was plain no marriage could
take place tomorrow morning. It was
plain my course was to go without the
loss of a moment to Mr.. Strangway and
tell him what had happened. Whether
he would believe me. or not who could
say? Not anyway. He might reason
ably order me into custody. Very we'll;
if he did must not grumble or feel ag-
grieved. Our wedding was fixed for II
o'clock next morning. By II tomorrow
might be in Jail, charged with stealing
the money or being an accomplice in the
robbery.
II locked the Office, telegraphed to
Mary that had been unexpectedly de-
layed, jumped into hanson and drove
to Strangway's house in Clapham.
II told the servant to take in word
that I wished to see Mr.. Strangway
most particularly. I suppose she had
heard about my wedding; anyway she
smiled very knowingly and said: Il
hope you'll have fine weather and good
luck on your holiday, Mr.. Mayfeld,
though it is rather late in the year to ex-
pect fine weather. Gracious, Mr.. May
field, are you ill?' she cried at the end.
dare say my face told tales.
"'Not i'll, said, but very anxious to
see Mr.. Strangway at once, if you
please
"She showed me into the library, hur-
ried off and in a few seconds Mr.. Strang-
way entered smiling. He no doubt
thought my anxiety to see him was con-
| nected with my marriage.
"When he heard my story he was
grave enough. Two hundred and nine
ty-three gone? said he frowning.
"'Gone,' said l.
"'And the numbers of the notes gone
with the money! said he, looking me
full in the face, with heavier frown.
"'Not trace left of the paper on
| which took the numbers
".Are you sure no one but Grainly
could have entered the counting house2
Perfectly sure. All the doors com.
municating with other parts Of the house
were shut-had been locked for the
night. / had not been outside the count.
| ing house since luncheon