The Republican., 1893-06-01

lose" The speaker was Mr.. Bodkin,
stout, elderly gentleman who carried on
the business Of butter merchant in
small country town in the south of Ire
land. The person to whom he adj
dressed himself was young constable
of police named ORuark.
Let us go over the matter again
briefly" said the policeman. Il will
read you my notes to save time. State
ment of William Bodkin: Last evening,
Friday, anout six o'clock handed to
my buyer, Andrew Hartigan, two hun
drcd and sixty pounds in bank notes of
various denominations to enable the
said Hartigan to pay fsr butter to be
purchased on my account this morning,
Saturday, in the local market. About
eight o'clock this morning Hartigan
called at my private residence and in
formed me that he had lost the money.
He confessed that he had on the previ-
ous evening while the money was in
his possession broken total absti-
nence pledge of FIVE years standing.
He stated he had vague recollect on
of meeting on his way at night-prob-
ably between ten and eleven o'clock
two strange men, who accosted him
and jostled him. He remembered moth
ing further until he awoke at five
O'clock this morning and discovered
that the bank notes were gone.
THAT is very correct statement of
the case" said Mr.. Bodkin, as Consta-
BILE O'Ruark ceased to read from his
note book.
How long is Hartigan in your en-
ployment?' inquired O'Ruark.
Fifteen or sixteen years.
''Quite trustworthy?"
Perfectly. Now what do you think
is the best thing to be done? l own
am fairly at a loss to make any sug
gestion."
The first thing, should say, is to
stop the payment of the stolen notes"
unfortunately that is impossible" p"
explained the butter merchant. The
bulk of them are notes of all sorts
which received here from time to time
during the week. | can only trace sew
enty pounds worth of them, and these
are seven Jen-pound notes that | drew
from my bank yesterday | have been
to the bank about these. but it isn't
likely the thieves will attempt to cash
them in the neighborhood, 1t is, as
have already said, a most serious mat
ter for me- know have the name of
money but-of course, | am speaking
in the strictest confideu ce--it so hap
pens | am quite in a tight corner now,
and if can't trace the stolen money by
MAr,.laxr I'll ~. -, ,>f ,,rlH,
hole"
Have you any suspicion of Harti-
gam" the policeman not unnaturally
inquired.
Not the slightest. The unfortunate
man is as much upset about the matter
as myself. He has had the handling of
thousands of mine during the past half
dozen years. During the fifteen or six
teen years he has been in my employ
ment he has never been penny piece
astray. He's as honest as the sun"
What salary has hep"
mot an over grand one, but have
been promising him rise for some
time. pay him thirty shillings week
standing salary. and he can make
another ten shillings on commission in
busy week"
Il should like to have private in
terview with him before | commence
operations"
Certainly. He is at the back of the
store now, expecting to be called. III
send him in to YOU at once"
Constable O'Ruarl< knew Andrew
Hartigan by sight, and had no very
lofty opinion of him. The butter buyer
was burly, dark-haired, sour~visaged.
sour-tongued man about forty years of
age. He was soon face to face with the
policeman in Mr. Bodkin's private Of