The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-08-13

elgnJ
Have you taken the number of the
notes?' l asked.
Ono he said.
81 made list myself of the numbers
on sheet of paper, and pushed checks,
notes and gold up to the fiat, middle
part of my desk. did not want to take
any of the account books that night,
and when had finished the letters he
was gone. l should put the money in
the safe in the back room. The memo
randum of the numbers 1 should leave
with the keys at Clapham, and the
whole transaction would be dealt with
by my assistant, Broadwood, in the
morning.
"Malxing out the list had taken lit
, tie time, as the notes were all small
and no two in a sequence; they had
been collected for minor accounts in
the country.
81 put my list of notes on the desk
before me, and went on with my let
ters, several of which were now ready
for the copying
"When my batch of letters were
ready, seeing half an hours work still
before me, held them out to him and
said: When you are going should be
obliged if You would post these, as am
not nearly finished here yet
Certainly said he, taking the hint
and rising
Anyone in the place who could
show me out? All the gas is turned off
below, and ! have never gone down in
the darkness said he, moving away.
There is no one but ourselves here.
I'll show you the way / said with
alacrity, delighted to get rid of him
81 had led him through the long,
dark corridor and half down the stairs
when he suddenly cried out: My stick!
l left my stick above. l won't be a
minute, Mayfeld Just wait here for
me-
"He ran upstairs to fetch his stick,
and was back with me in the darkness
in few seconds.
90 Il found it all right said he; 1t
was just at the door. got it without
going in at all
81 struck a match to light him, and
presently he was out on the asphalt of
Broad street, walking rapidly towards
Cheapside.
when l got back to the counting
house the checks were on the fiat top
of the desk. The gold and notes were
gone!
II had taken the number of the notes
on a sheet of paper and left the list on
the sloping part of my desk to dry be-
fore putting it in my pocket.
The paper on which l had taken the
numbers of the notes was goner'
As my father-in-law spoke l rose to
my feet and tapped the glass over the
document let into the oak above the
fireplace, saying: "And this is the pa
per 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 Mayfeld.
My father-in-law finished his glass of
port and resumed his story:
Here was l, on the eve of my mar
riage simply ruined
"Grainly had my receipt for the G293
cash, and he had the 9293 cash also,
and Grainly was thief who enjoyed
the favor of his employer, while l was
in no particular favor with the firm. l
believe up to that time l was supposed
to be honest.
1T was plain there would be no use
in following Grainly, even if l knew
the way he had gone when he gained
Cheapside. 1t was plain no marriage
could take place tomorrow morning.
1t was plain my course was to go with
g,f 20
way and tell him what had happened.
Whether he would believe me or not,
who could say? Not 1, anyway. He
might reasonably order me into Gus
tody. Very well; if he did / must not
grumble or feel aggrieved. Our we'd
ding was fixed for eleven o'clock next
morning. BY eleven 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,
"When he heard my story he was
grave enough. Two hundred and
ninety-three gomez 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 l took the numbers
"'Are you sure no one but Grainly
could have entered the counting-house?'
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
counting-house since luncheon
For a few moments he reflected.
The awkward part of it, Mayfeld,' said
he, is that you are to be married to-
morrow. OF course your marriage
must go on. But I'll tell you what
think would be best for you. Suppose
you attend the Office as usual tomorrow
morning; you could leave for a couple
of hours later, get the ceremony over
and come back
9" 'Ohr l said, with this hanging over
me? ] half expected to be locked up
tonight. But could not get married
until the money is found, Mr. Strang,
way
Found! Found! The money can
never be found. Why, we have moth,
ing to so on! Anyway, shall not take
steps tonight. Perhaps it would be
best to postpone your marriage. Yes
it would not do to marry under the cir
cumstances. l am very sorry for you,
But all that can be done IN the interests
of justice must be done. Keep the keys