The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-31

= .
i had led him through the long,
dark corridor and half down the stairs
when he suddenly cried out, MY stick!
| left my stick above. ] won't be a
minute, Mayfield, just wait here for
me- s.... -. --5.z.s.
"He ran up stairs to fetch his stick,
and was back with me in the darkness
in few seconds. 4
81 found it all right, said he; st
was just at the door. got it without
going in at all
Il struck match to light him, and
presently he was out on the asphalt of
Broad street, walking rapidly towards
Cheapside, s;@ 7'';- -
eWhan l got back to the counting
house the checks were on the fat top
of the desk. The gold and notes were
gone!
Il had taken the numbers of the
notes on a sheet of paper and left the
list ON the sloping part of my desk to
dry before putting it in my pocket.
:The paper on which l had taken the
numbers of the notes was gone!"
As my father-invlaw spoke i rose to
NY feet and tapped the glass over ths
document let into the oak above the
fireplace, saying. eAnd this is the
paper with the numbers of the stolen
notes on it" -'.H zs
"And that is not the paper with the
numbers of the stolen notes on it, :"
said James Mayfeld. sz9H
My father-in-law finished his glass
of port and resumed his story:
''Here was [, on the eve of my mar
rio crpa csiyooIoIx-
"Grainly had my receipt for the
e295 cash, and he had the 9293 cash
also, and Grainly was thief who en-
joyed the favor of his employer, while
| was in no particular favor with the
firm. | believe up to that time was
supposed to be honest. '1'..'i..' .
"It was plain there would be no use
in following Grainly, even if I knew
the way he had gone when he gained
Cheapside. It was plain no marriage
could take place Tomorrow morning.
1t was plain my course; was tQ; so with
out the loss Of a moment TO Mr,Strang-
way aud tell him what had happened.
Whether he would believe me or not,
who could say? Not |, anyway. He
might reasonably order me into Gus
tody. Very we'll; if he did I must not
grumble or-feel aggrieyed. Our we'd
ding was fixed for IL o'clock next
morning. By IL. tomorrow I might
be in Jail, charged with stealing the
money or being an accomplice in the
robbery. 90 =ssaa ss#-'sa asass
Il locked the office, telegraphed to
Mary that | had been unexpectedly de-
layed, jumped into a hanson and
drove to. Strangway's house in Clap
ham, .'7at-as'4 ss.FtHs sii@ 'H
"When he heard my story he was
grave enough. Two hundred and
ninety-three goneP' said he frowning g,
".Gone,' said /. sl e5s ss.g.59
s" And the numbers of the notes gone
with the moneya' said he, looking nae
full in the face with a heavier frewn.
"'Not trace left of the paper on
which took the numbers .'sais 4
Are you sure no one but Grain1J
could have entered the counting
houseR' @
e.Perfeetly sure All the doors com
municating with other parts of the
house were shut-had been locked fol
the night. / had not been outside the
counting-house since luncheon .ss-'
"For a few moments he reflected
The awkward part of it, Mayfeld,
said he, is that you are to be married
tomorrow. OF course your marriage
must 90 on. But I'll tell you what
think would be best for you. Suppose
| you attend the office as usual to-mor
row morning; you could leave. for ;
! couple of hours later, get the cere
mony over and come back 7..,s5,s' ..,s5l
"'Ohr I said, with this hanging
over .meP l half expected to be locked
| up tonight. But could not get mar
ried until the money is found, Mr.
Strangway.' s4sa ssas .ssIas taslis
"'Found! Found! The money cal
never be found. Why, we, have moth
ing to go on! Anyway, L. shall no
take steps tonight. Perhaps itwoulC
be best to postpone your marriage
Yes, it would not do to marry unde
| the circumstances. l am very sorr,
for you. But all that can be done il
the interests of justice must be done
| Keep the keys, and be in Broad stree
at the ordinary time in the morning.
"When L reached the office in tn
morning l had another good loo
around, but nothing whatever was t
be discovered. l turned the Who'll
| pIdCO OUO. 4NOIulnS SOnuCOOC'
with the case turned up until, to m
astonishment, Stephen Grainly wake
into the office. Until his appearance
had, in dim way, made up my min
that all would be cleared up and M
innocence established by his abscond
inc. His arrival showed that h
meant to brazen the thing out wit
me, and l felt from that moment help
less and paralyzed. ea
"Mr. Strangway, on reaching the OF
flee half an hour earlier than his usua
time, gave orders for another search
It was quite unavailing.a. No tale o
tidings of the cash came that day. Z
! "NO secret was made of the affair i
i the office, and as the hours went on
became confident that in Mr.. Strang
ways eyes was the criminal. 1 don
d know how it happened, but did nc
feel this much. did not feel any
thing much. 1 was in a dream
stupor. s .-s q
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Strans
: way called me into his Office and tol
me that, considering everything, b
did not intend placing the affair in th
hands of the police that day, but tn;
IL GO-ulOlIOW sun NO"A1
matters as they now stood he shoul
be obliged to take action. The To-
of the money I could bear said h
but the ingratitude will not stand
"a fortnight after the loss of Il
money a telegram came for Mr.. Strani
way. 1t was sent to his private ottc
Presently he opened his door ar
beckoned me to 90 in, and when | hf
entered he motioned me to chair.
"'Mr. Maytield,' said he, i wish
l the earliest moment to relieve you
what must have been a terrible an
iety. The thief has been found and
now in custody!' Mr.. Strangway wave
, the telegram. I have just got Il
, message saying Stephen Grainly, wi
> the bulk of the notes on his person,
in the hands of the police He W
: about leaving this country-for Spai
it is supposed. He stole the money
+ fortnight ago, and stole the list y
made of the numbers of the not
, Knowing the way in which the not
had come into his own hands in t
: country, he felt confident that tn
could not be traced from him to t
= Bank of England, as the list OF t
u II numbers was destroyed by him