St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-21
A DARING THIEF.


young man, badly dressed.
Il was afraid j should be too late,"
said the visitor, whose voice agreed bet
ter with his ariStOcratic face than did
his wOrn-out clothes.
'Permit me to ask how | can serve
vou?" said Murray, without getting up
to receive him. II beg you to be as
quick as you can. SiI Henry, because L
want to get away"
II will tell you at once" replied the
young barOnet. Il come to ask you for
the loan of e200."
"And the guaranteed" said Murray,
shortly.
"My prospects"
Murray laughed sarcastlcally.
"Sir Henry" he SAID, you know very
well that you are somewhat lneXact. l
know from private source that Lord
another penny"
The face OF the young fellow did not
change in the least.
But the reason l have called upon
you," he said. sis because you know
the friendship which your brOther-in-
law, who is my grandfather's lawyer,
has for me: and want to show you this
letter which he has written to me-:
Dear Sir Henry: l have at last the
pleasure of sending you a friendly
word. Your grandfather desires to see
you and bless you before he dies. ,"
"Why do you want this assistance
from me?"
'Precisely because l want to go to my
grandfather, and l require something
for the journey"
"Ah, well, | run risk now and then.
"Excuse me-" interrupted Sir Henry
"but hear some one moving lii an al
joining rOOm."
"You must have been mistaken" SAID
the banker. after looking.
Il can only let you have elOO."
VERY well, give me that" said the
young man, "and make out your re-
ceipt."
1He hastily packed his portmanteau.
a few minutes now would decide his
lot, either make him the heir to an
estate of $500 year, or leave him as
hard up as he ever was.
He had reached his lodging, and was
preparing to go in when man stopped
him.
"Wait a moment, sir" said the man,
placing his hand upon the baronets
arm.
'Well. what is it ?"
"Nothing, except to tell you, Sir
Henry Merton. that you are arrested, L
am police officer. and l am sorry to
say you must consider yourself in my
custody"
You arrest me ?"
"Yes. for the murder of William Muir
ray, yesterday evening, in his office"
"But. my dear sir, an absolutely IN
nocent."
II hope so, sir: but that does not con-
Germ me. You will have the opportunity
almost Immediately of producing the
proof"
"If l cannot see him before his death
/ shall remain helpless vagabond,"
thought the young man.
Come with me. Let me have an OPP
pOrtunIty of speaking with YOU" said
he, as he noticed the paSSerSsby were
beginning TO observe them.
His companion followed him unwil-
lingly to his dingy room.
pray tell me what all this means"'
said Sir Henry.
His companion coolly proceeded.
"The morning when Mr.. Murray's
clerk arrived at the Office he found his
principal shot through the heart, dead,
seated in his chair.
1--WE learned that last night-the night
of the crime-a person had been seen to
leave Murray's office at a rather late
hour, | caused that person to be
watched, and learned that he made sew
eral purchases. among others some from
Smith q Blake, the tallors. whom. he
had paid with bank note indorsed with
the name of the banker, Murray, written
in his own hand.
THE person who paid them that note
and left the murdered mans office at
such a late hour was yourself!"
IL will give you now en- exact account
of how | passed my time," said the
baronet, and he hastily did so in as few
words as possible.
81 indeed pity yon sincerely" said
the man, interesting himself in the
baronet's position.
"Then, why can't you help me?"
81 don't see how ! can"
"Give me three days grace. At the
end of that time | will come and give
myself up of my own accord. l swear
it. When l am reeOnciled to my grand
father | shall fully reward you. For
the present here are 975, sill PVe got.
"But il | should let myself be over
come by compassion don't see how |
could help you." said the man. 81
have no wish to deceive you. At every
station there are police officers with
your description. If l let you go free
you will fall in their clutches. so it will
be all the same"
"YeS, but l can disguise myself"
"But how can you disguise yourself"'
continued the detective.
Sir Henry had lucky thought.
Ten minutes after the young DarOnet,
having put on the strangers corduroy
trousers, black coat and cloth cap, had
gone out to the street and leaped into a
cab, while his protector, in the new
clothes. had taken another direction.
Luckily, have another suit i'll my
bag" said the baronet to himself.
He reached the station In time to get
his ticket and buy al evening paper.
"At last" he murmured, settling him.
self in one of the corners.
But an instant after he looked out OF
the window, terrified as though person
who was standing there under the
station awning had been ghost.
This person was William Murray, the
murdered banker.
AS the train moved off the barOnet
maintained his gaze through the win
dow. but suddenly he gave himself a
! shake and took up the paper.
"If ne really was killed / shall Soon
know" he exclaimed.
| He looked all through the paper, but
| could not find single word about the
| crime.
Another piece of news. however, at
tracted his attention. 1t was the prom
iSe of reward to whoever should give
information leading to the capture OF al
advenJurer who had for some time been
going around the city committing act:
of roguery with the greatest audacity
| and Skillfulness.
"The adventurer wears a cloth cap, &
black jacket and corduroy trousers"
With feverish haste Sir Henry tool
from his bag the spare suit of clothes
with which Re had provided himself, rap
idly arrayed himself in them. and,as tht
tram passed through a short tunnel, ht
flung the property of the willy swindle
out of the window.
Twenty minutes after he had reached
his destination his grandfather passed
away, and he was the possessOr of al
estate and income of $50, 900 per an
mum.
FPaazinO Onin0V