Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-03-31
Tor and the brother of judith, entered the

a limp. His features resembled his sis |
ter's. He had the same beetlIng brows |
and small yellow eyes. If anything, his |
face was even less attractive than his |
sisters. Levi Kredge was forty years
OF age and his character was almost the
prototype Of his sister, but he was yet
more cunning than Judith, and he had a
cringing, servile air which was all as
sumed. He could fawn and smile upon
a person while at the same time 1t was
in his heart 70 strangle him. In short,
he was one OF those treacherous scoun-
drels who are most dangerous because
they are seldom suspected until IL Is too
late. He had been in Mr.. Garrison's
service for year, and he had come pro-
Vided with most excellent recommended
tons from Messrs. Pratt & Weeks, his
last employers, whose character was not
at that time known TO the broker.
Kredge, as far as Mr.. Garrison knew,
had always discharged his duty with
fidelity, and he had never had occasion
to take him to task on that score.
When the janitOr entered, Mr.. CARR
son said:
This man is employed as a janitor Of
/ this building. I notified him to be pres
emit although he probably knows nothing
of this sad affair; however, thought it
might be well to question him."
The coroner directed that Kredge
should be sworn, and after the oath was
administered he questioned him, but
nothing was elected Of any interest.
While Levi Kredge was being ques-
| toned the president OF the bank at
which the unfortunate cashier had re-
| ceived the money for the cheque OF $751;
| 900 entered the office, accompanied by
i TALL handsome old gentleman with per-
/ fectly statuesque features, magnificent
/ dark eyes, white hair and a beautiful
/ flowing beard like driven snow.
The old gentleman was dressed with
simple elegance, indicative of good taste
and breeding, but a diamond of almost
| priceless value sparkled in his black
neck-scarf, and he carried heavy gold
headed cane.
The stately old gentleman was an en-
tire stranger to every one present, and,
although he entered at the same time as
the bank president, it was clear that
they were not acquainted.
The banker addressed a few words to
the coroner, and then the two retired TO
the interior office and closed the door,
but a moment subsequently the latter
reappeared and invited Paxton and the
police sergeant to join him.
| The detective and the officer Of police
entered the rear office, and when the
| door had been carefully closed behind
them the coroner said:
I desire that you should hear sur
I B4l54uk BLdlEuc4L WHICH MI OOulAMGL
| has TO make, but which would lose its
value If it should be made public"
Paxton felt that some important dis
closure relating to the crime was coming.
CHAPTER V.
In order that you may understand
how it came about that certain precau-
tons were taken at our bank which may
now prove Of service TO you, gentlemen,
in the task of detecting the murderer of
John Oakburn, and in recovering the
stolen money, must make brief ex-
PLANTATION" began the banker.
The fact Is, he continued, we have
had occasion to doubt the honesty OF
one Of our emplOyes-Our cashier, in
fact-and, night before last, secretly
marked all the money which I antici-
pated he could possibly have occasion to
pay out yesterday. I marked one pack
age Of one hundred thousand dollars in
notes of a large denomination with a
minute letter traced In red ink In the
upper left-hand corner of the back of
each note. The balance Of the money
was marked in a different way, which it
Is not necessary to explain. 1 CHANGED
to be present in the bank when John
Oakburn presented the check for seven
ty-eight thousand dollars and saw our
cashier pay it from the package of
money marked with the letter V in red.
He threw the balance remaining after
he cashed the check into a compartment
Of the money drawer where found it
after business hours. Just twenty-five
thousand dollars of the marked money
remained, so I knew that the money
paid to John Oakburn was all marked,
as I have said, and that no one else re-
ceived any Of the notes thus marked.
This is most fortunate" said the
police sergeant as the banker concluded.
The most lucky Of condolences. We
are much obliged to your cashier for be-
ing the indirect cause of this clue, Pax
ton remarked.
Meanwhile when Paxton and the
police sergeant were called into the in
terror compartment of the office by the
coroner the handsome old gentleman
whose appearance we have noted had
; quite by accident gained a position close
I to the door between the two apartments
Without any intention Of becoming an
| eayesdropper he overheard enough OF
/ the bank presidents remarks to compre-
= bend the truth, and at the same moment
he saw Levi Kredge close beside him
and the expression on the janitor's face
( told him the fellow had also overheard
l the bank president.
-. The magnificent eyes of the handsome
old gentleman were fixed upon the face
9 of Levi Kredge for an instant in
4 searching glance, but the fellow was no
subjected.
T A look of recognition appeared upoI
5 the old gentleman's face and his eye
: flashed ominously as though the sight o
. the janitor awakened angry thought
5 In his mind, and he moved toward the
outer door while Levi Kredge was ye
intently listening and did not observ,
his movement.
d When presently the banker and the
others came out Of the rear office tbs
stately old gentleman was gone.
$ During the interview between tn
gentlemen in the interior office the
jurors and the others present had beer
r conversing among themselves, and NJ
= one except the aged stranger and Lev
/ kredge heard aught Of what had passet
between them there.
s When the strange old gentleman frs
: entered the office Marion OakbuTI
= seemed attracted irresistibly by his face
. | and she gaZed at him like one fascinated
2 until he withdrew. Beyond one swift
e | passing glance as he came in, the ages
D | stranger had not seemed to notice her
. A few moments after the departure o
= the magnificent old man, Levi Kredg,
. also left the brokers' ONCE, and If any
= one had followed him they would hav,
! seen him make his way swiftly to tn
= private entrance Of the ONCE of Messrs
q | Pratt and Weeks, and enter unceremOni
2 OUsly, as though perfectly certain OF hi
/ | reception.
Before Paxton and the Coroner cam
1 ! out Of the ONCE ip which they had hear
4 the bankers statement, the detectiv,
took the latter aside and asked him [,
grant him the opportunity to give hi
I