The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-03-01


"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 took the numbers
"'Are You sure no one but GrainlS
could have entered the counting houseY
"'Perfectly sure. All tho doors com.
municating with other parts of the house
were shut-had been locked for the
night. | had not been outside the count
ing house since luncheon
"For few moments he reflected.
The awkward part of it, Mayfeld, said
he, is that you are to be married tomor-
row. 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 tomorrow morning; you
could leave for couple of hours later,
| get the ceremony over and come back
"'Oh,' said, with this hanging over
mer half expected tn be locked up to-
night. But could not get married until
the money is found, Mr.. Strangway.'
'Foundl Found. The money can
never be found. Why we have nothing
to go 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 circumstances.
can be done in the interests of justice
must be done. Keep the keys and be in
Bread street at the ordinary time in the
morning."
My father paused here. His cigar was
smoked out, but he had not finished his
story. He did not offer to move and |
sat still. After few moments he went on:
81 will be merciful to you and tell you
nothing'of the scene at my wife's place
when l called later. Her father and
mother were then living. / told my story
to all three as have told it to You, and
all agreed that the best thing was to
postpone the marriage for month.
"Well, I'm not getting on as fast as
promised. but shall not keep you much
longer.
"When l reached the Office in the
morning l had another good look around,
but nothing whatever was to be discov-
cred. turned the whole place inside
out. Nothing, absolutely nothing, con-
nected with the case turned up until, to
my establishment, Stephen Grainly
walked into the Office. Until his appear
ance had. in n dim way. made mn NV
mind that all would be cleared up and
my innocence established by his alb
sconding. His arrival showed that ne
meant to brazen the thing out with me,
and felt from that moment balnlesS
and paralyzed.
"'Grainly,' said |. as soon "A I could
talk. when Won came back for vour stick
last night did Won notice the money Won
gave me ON the desk where I mt ~
"'No. INV dear Mayfield. 7 did NOT
cross the threshold of this room
"sYou did not see or toneb the monev
or the piece of paper. on which i
had taken down the numbers of the
notesY
"sNo certainlv NOT could NOT Soo
your desk from the door. and was not
farther than the door. You do notseem
well. | sincerely hone there il nothing
the natter
"'The cash YOU brought in last night
-tba COCA has hoon stolan tLat,a a,i
said T ''' "''
% stolen, be cr;ed fa,l;no booL
sYou don't mean 70 saw tbatY
".Ave. and stolen y.ithin nm borr
within half an bour--of onr baing boro
together last niobt,
az cannot-T will ot--bo,;ovo srot,
horrible thing Stolen, AnJ ~ ,ha
very office toop
81 never saw better acting in all INV
life than his INDIGNATION and borror .n1
astonisbment. 7 couId bardIv ba,;aya
nv ewes and ears had snont s,oon
less night and was half da1ed op1
wholly stupid and in desnair For
awhile 7 felt that after all he ,n;oht ba
innocent. and that I in n nomant % az
citement and haste had nlacad tho
money and the memorandum in some
Mace of securitv which 7 copld not now
recall
"Mr. Strangwav on reacbiro Tho
Office half an bour earlier than His
time. gave orders for anothar
search II was ouita unava;l;no No
tale or tidinos of the cash came that
day.
"No secret was made of the affair in
the Office, and as the hours went ON
became confident that in Mr.. Strang-
ways eyes | was the criminal. l don't
know how it happened, but | did not
feel this much. did not feel ANYTHING
much. Twas in a dream-a stupor.
"Late in the afternoon Mr.. Strangway
called me into his Office and told me
that, considering everything. he did not