davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14

The value of reputation is almost
cynically set forth by the case of a
young literary man whose rejected
story came back to him from a great
publishing house with few words
Of praise qualified by the declaration
that it showed traces of the amateur.
Encouraged by this he set to work
and produced a novel. This he sent
to the same house, and it was &C
cepted. It succeeded, and the young
author soon afterward sold to the
same publisher the rejected story at
double the price he had originally
asked New York Sun.
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14

is now in custodyr Mr. Strangway
waved the telegram / have Just
got the message saying Stephen
Grainly, with the bulk of the notes
on his person, is in the hands of the
police He was about leaving this
country-for Spain, it is supposed
He stole the money fortnight ago
and stole the list you had made of
the numbers Of the notes. Knowing
the way i'll which the notes had come
into his own hands in the country,
he felt confident they could. not be
traced from their source to him, and
of course, they could not be traced
from him To the Bank of England, as
the list of the numbers was destroyed
by him.
Then how in the world, sir, were
they tracedf said l.
Mr.. Strangway raised the blot
ting pad and took from under it a
piece of paper, the back of letter.
1.-The news of the robbery got
about he said, and of course our
customers were interested in it, Mr.
Young of Horsham among the rest
Mr.. Young of Horsham was one of
the people you wrote to that even
ing, the evening Of the robbery, and
you sent him more than you in
tended.
"'Not the missing sheet with the
numbers1 / know l couldn't have
done that, for l saw the memoran-
dun on the slope of my desk after
closing his letter and handing itwith
the others to Calmly
mo. but you put the memoran-
dunn on the slope of your desk with
the ink side up, and you copied Mr..
Young's letter in the copying press
and while it was damp put it down
on the list of notes in unblotted copy
ing ink, and the numbers of The notes
were family but clearly copied, re-
versed, of course, on the flyleaf of
Young's letter, and Mr. Young sent
the copy back to me privately Look.
Mr.. Strangway handed me the
hyleaf of Young's letter, and there
were the numbers of the notes, dim
to be sure, but not quite as dim then
as they are now under the glass let
into the oak of the overmantel.
Grainly had put few of the notes
into circulation, and they had been
traced back to him.
He stole the money, Mayfield,
said Mr. Strangway to me, and he
tried to ruin you. or anyway he want
ed to saddle you with the theft. and
for awhile | more than suspected you.
But all is clear at last, and I'll pay
you handsomely one day for suspect
ing you
And so he did, said my father-in
law. He lent me the money to buy
partnership in the firm, and I am
the firm all to myself now-and shall
be until the new partner comes in to
morrow
He rose and shook me by the hand
and tapped me on the shoulder, say
ing;
Your partner for life will be won
dering what has kept you Run away
to Kate now, my boy" Strand Mag
azine
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14

J
wife's place when / called later.
Her father and mother were then
living. l told my story to all three
as l told it to you, and all agreed the
best thing was to postpone the mar
riage for month.
when | reached the office the
next morning, l had another good
look around, but nothing whatever
was to be discovered. l turned the
whole place inside out. Nothing, alb
solutely nothing, connected with the
case turned up until, to my astDnish-
ment, Stephen Grainly walked. into
the office. Until his appearance
had, in a dim way, made up my
mind that all would be cleared up
and my innocence established by his
absconding, His arrival showed that
he meant to brazen the thing out
with me, and l felt from that mo
ment helpless and paralyzed.
CRANKY, said / as soon as !
could talk, when you came back for
your stick last night, did you notice
the money you gave me on the desk
where l put it.'
No, my dear Mayfield, l did not
cross the threshold of this room
"'You did not see or touch the
money or the piece of paper on
which had taken down the nun
bers of the notes2'
"'No, certainly not. could not
see your desk from the door, and ]
was not farther than the door. You
do not seem well. l sincerely hop.
there is nothing the NATTER
1.-The cash you brought in last
night-the f293-has been stolen,
that's all, said l.
"'Stolenr he cried, falling back
You don't mean to say that'
AYE, and stolen within an hour
within half an hour-of our being
here together last night.
~ cannot will not-believe
such horrible thing. Stolen and
in this very Office too.
II never saw better acting in all
my life than his Indignation and hor
ror and establishment.
Mr.. Strangway on reaching the
Office half an hour earlier than usual
gave orders for another search. 1t
was quite unavailing. No tale or
tidings of the cash came that day.
mo secret was made of the affair
in the Office, and as the hours went
on l became confident that in Mr..
Strangway's eyes l was the criminal.
l don't know how it happened, but
did not feel this much. was in q
dream-a stupor
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Strang-
way called me into his office and told
me that, considering everything, he
did not intend placing the affair in the
hands of the police that day, but if
tomorrow's sun went down upon
matters as they now stood he should
be obliged to take action The loss
of the money l could bear, said he,
but the ingratitude will not stand.
This was as good as accusing me
of the robbery. Again l wonder
that l was not more put out, but ]
felt little or nothing beyond helpless
and numbed.
Next day Mr. Strangway said
not syllable about employing the
police, or indeed about the affair at
all, nor did he. as far as know, take
steps in the matter.
! IA fortnight after the loss of the
money a telegram came for Mr..
Strangway. 1t was sent into his
private Office. Presently he opened
his door and beckoned me to 60 in,
and when l had entered he motioned
me to a chair.
"'Mr. May6eld, said he, I wish al
the earliest moment to relieve you OF
what must have been a terrible anx.
iety. The thief has been found and
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14

|
to stow f300 in my humble home.
"'All right, said l, but l wish you
had come earlier. The safest place
10 bank money is i'll the bank He
lid not know that was going to be
married next day, and was glad of
it, for the man always made me feel
uncomfortable, and l did not wish
him to touch my little romance even
with a word
"'Be here at o'clock, he cried.
my dear fellow, l couldn't do it..
He produced his pocketbook. You
needn't give me more than two min
utes. Checks, f574 1Ss. Cd notes,
9245; gold f4S.'
"As you may fancy, Twas in a hur
ry to get rid of him. He seemed in
no hurry to go.
"'You will initial my book, said
he, and he handed me his order
book, part Of which was ruled in
money columns, where he had lis
! of the money he had collected. The
whole was f8G7 lSs. Cd, and for this
Isigned.
"'Have you taken the numbers OF
the notes9' I asked.
"'No, said he.
| II made a list myself of the nun
bers on sheet of paper and pushed
checks, notes and gold up to the fiat,
mid lie part of my desk The mem
orandum of the numbers l should
leave, with the keys, at Chaplain,
and the whole transaction would be
dealt with by my assistant, Broad
wood, in the morning.
Making out the list had taken a
little time, as the notes were all
small and no two in sequence.
II put my list of notes on the desk
beside me and went on with my let
ters, several of which were now
ready for the copying press.
when my batch of letters Were
ready seeing half an hours work
still before me, l held them out t,
him and said, When you ARE going,
l should be obliged if you would post
these as | am not nearly finished
yet.
Certainly said he, taking the
hint and rising.
"Any one 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. NOV
ing away.
"'Theres no one but ourselves
here. I'll show you the way, said |,
with alacrity, delighted to get rid OF
him.
II 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 minute, Mayfield. just
wait here for me-
He ran up stars to fetch his stick
and was back with me in the dark
ness in few seconds.
81 found it all right, said he.
1T was just at the door. got il
without going in at all.
II struck match to light him,
and presently he was out on the as
phalt of Bread street, walking rapid
ly toward 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.
Il had taken the numbers of the
notes ON sheet of paper and left the
list on the sloping part of my desk tc
dry before putting it into my pocket.
1.-THE paper on which had taken
the numbers of the notes was gone
also"
As my father-in-law spoke rose
to my feet and tapped the glass ovei
the document let into the oak say
ing, And this is the paper with the
80 $780, - -. "a
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14

/ numbers or the stolen no.~-
And that is not the paper with
the numbers of the stolen notes on
it," said James Mayfield.
From the moment | left the
counting house to show Grainly out
that night, 20 years ago, no one has
ever seen the list | made Of the
notes. Grainly must have destroyed
it the moment he was out of Bread
street
Here was 1, on the eve of my
marriage, simply ruined.
"Grainly had my receipt for f299
cash, and he had the f293 cash also,
and Grainly was a thief who en-
joyed the favor of his employer,
while was in no particular favor
with the firm.
THE f48 in gold was of course
gone as much as if it had been
dropped into the crater of "a burning
mountain, and as the numbers of the
notes could no longer be produced,
and they had not come direct from
a bank, but had been picked up here
and there in the country, the f245
were gone as though they had been
blown overheard in the Atlantic
ocean.
1T was plain there would have
been no Use in following Grainly,
even if knew the way he had gone
when he gained Cheapside. 1t was
plain no marriage could take place
tomorrow morning.
II locked the office, telegraphed to
Mary that | had been unexpectedly
delayed, jumped into hanson and
drove to Strangway's house in Clap
ham.
Il told the servant to take in word
that l wished to see Mr. Strangway
most particularly.
She showed me into the library
hurried off, and in few seconds Mr..
Strangway entered, smiling. He no
doubt thought my anxiety to see him
was connected with my marriage.
When he heard my story, he was
grave enough. Two hundred and
ninety three gone, he said, frowning.
"'Gone, said l.
And the numbers of the notes
gone with the money, said he, look
ing me full in the face, with heavy
frown
"'Not trace left of the paper Oh
which took the numbers
care you sure no one but Grainly
could have entered the counting
house2'
Perfectly sure. All the doors
communicating with the other parts
of the house were shut-had been
locked for the night had not been
outside the counting house since
luncheon
For few moments he reflected.
The awkward part of it, Mayfield,
he said, is that you are to be mar
ried tomorrow OF course your mar
riage must go on. But I'll tell you
what l 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 I, with this hanging
over met I half expected to be
locked up tonight. But l could not
get married until the money is
found, Mr. Strangway.'
Found! Found The money can
never be found. Why, we have
nothing to go onl Anyway, shall
not take steps tonight, Perhaps it
would be best to postpone your mar
riage. Yes, it would not do to mar
ry under the circumstances. l am
very sorry for you. But all that 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.
II will be merciful to you and tell
The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-14
TWO MARRIAGE EYES

Il have often told you" said
james Mayfeld tom me the evening be
fore my marriage with his daughter
Kate. that l owed my prosperity, or
more accurately my escape from de.
0Exuction, to an accident, a chance,
. miracle. Stand up and look at
That piece of paper let into the over.
naantel. Have you ever observed it
bseores"
> Eyes," said 1, rising and exa.l:a
ing . faded document under Il q. 81
PANEL in the oak l have nos -.
then noticed it, but have never lcsA
able to make out what it is
''What do you take it for"
well, itlooks like half s;,e,a {
business note paper covered with in
distinct figures that do not seem or
binary"
1'Yes, he said, gazing with half
closed eyes at the paper through the
amoke Of his cigar. They are not
ordinary, nor is their history"
at is not possible to make them
out. they are 80 blurred and faint.
Arc they very oldf"
twenty years. They are much
faded since l first saw them" said
he. crossing his legs. Now you
may a. well know the history of that
half sheet Of business paper and
what it has to do with me and your
Hates mother. Sit down, and will
tall it all to YOU.
dropped back into my chair.
Our Kate is nearly 10, as no
doubt, you are aware. 1t is the
night before your marriage. You,
thank heaven: run no such risk as ]
ran the night before my marriage.
There is no date on that blurred copy
Il figures, but if there were you
would find that it originated on the
might before was to be married, 20
years ago. You are short Of 80 now !;
! was short of 80 then. You are
now in what should then have con.
Gidered affluent circumstances.
II am going to give you tomorrow
our only child and a fourth share in
tho business of Strangway, Mayfield
= Co., of which l am sole surviving
partner, and that fourth share ought
10 bring you 81, 900 to FL, 200 a year,
The night that document over the
chimney came into existence was
accountant to Strangway g. Co., at a
salary of ESQ per annum."
Ny father-in-law paused and
Knocked the ash off his cigar.
''At that time" he went on, re
Stunning his story, 1.-The business of
6trangway & Co. was in Bread street.
1.-THE offices closed at 6, but as /
was anxious to put everything in the
Anest order before starting on my
honeymoon was not able to leave
1t that hour. In addition to the
bookkeeping did most of the rou-
tine correspondence, and had some
letters to write.
''As was working away, writing
letters at the top of my speed and
quite alone in the ofice-in the
whole house-Stephen GRANNY, one
sf our travellers, rang the bell, and
much to my surprise and annoyance,
when opened the front door,
walked up stairs, following my lead
through the unlighted passages.
0rainly was an excellent man at his
work, but to my taste too smooth
and good-too sweet to be sound.
What, Mayfeld, he cried, work
ing away stillf Why, when l saw
the light, I made sure it must be
Broadwood'-our assistant account
ant, who was to take my place while
I was away-'and as I had a goldfish
bit of money thought I'd better
bank here than in my own home in
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
SEDALlA BRIEFS.

-Pettis county is represented by thret
inmates of the ex-Confeierate home al
Rigginsville.
The Sedalia boys are having royal
sport skating ON the ponds and lakes neal
the outskirts of the city.
John c. Carr was released from jail
By Sheriff Porter yesterday. He had served
thirteen DAYS for vagrancv.
Prosecuting Attorney Louis Hoffman
will go to Boonville tomorrow 10 look
after the McCord murder case.
Jack WEIGH was fined 20 dollar> and
costs by Justice Fisher yesterday for vag-
rancy and sent TO the county Jail.
The remains of Ornd Sydney, colored,
who died in Kansas City FRIDAY, were
shipped to Sedalia Yesterday for inter
ment.
The vault in County Clerk Mitchum' :
sftice has been furnished with handsome
new roller book cases. which are a decided
convenience.
Both fire companies took 4 run to- :.
X. Billiards. residence At 401 West Broad
way last evening. A harmless fue caused
tn trouble.
Judge Blair fined Fred Schlenter $50
for vagrancy. The fine WAS partly remit
ted and Schlcnter was sent To the county
Jail for four days.
1t is now thought the magnificent new
edifice Of the Church Of the Sacred Heart
will be completed and ready for dedica-
ton early in March.
No business was transacted in the Pet
tis county circuit court Yesterday. p. II.
Sangree, Esq, presided As special Judge
during some sheriff sales.
The members of SedaIia Lodge X oi
p. No. q, will go to Upton next THURSDAY
afternoon on 4 special train to institute a
lodge at that place that night.
The Pettis county Jail Is OVERLOOKING
with pri,Oners-white and black, male and
female. 4 considerable number Of them
are incarcerated for vagrancy.
Born yesterday morning To tn. wife oi
Sam A. Rose, the popular deputy county
recorder, fine ten pound girl. sam wa>
stepping high and scarcely deigncd To no.
tice ordinary mOrtals.
Whitley Mockridge, the celebrated
tenor singer and his concert company will
give an entertainment at the Christian
church January 18th. Mr.. Mockridge is
said To he one If the finest tenors in the
world, and a. his company is particularly
excellent. the concert will no doubt I've
largely attended.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
JOHN N. COREY DEAD.
A Former Well Known Sedalia
Newspaper Man Passes
Away.

4 telegram was received in this city
Yesterday announcing the death Of
John n. Corey at his home in Omaha.
Mr.. Corey was an old resident Of Sc
,lalia and the news Of his death will
cause profound regret. \ native of
Virginia he loved the South as child
loves its mother and his Jealous advo-
cacy Of the Lost Cause was always
uppermost. When mere boy he en-
tered the confederate army a. lieu
tenant and by bravery on the field
and careful attention To- his duties he
won the esteem and confidence Of his
superiors to a remarkable degree.
After the war WAS over he gave
himself up to newspaper work and for
years occupied very responsible
positions ON The BAZOO and
other Sedslia publications. About
four years ago he went to Omaha and
there accepted position ss telegraph
editor. He held the position to the
satisfaction of all until last February,
he WAS taken i'll and from that time
on has fought disease. His death
took place Yesterday morning at q
o'clock. He leaves a wife, formerly
Miss Eliza Owens of this city. and
Young son to mourn their great loss,
besides large list of friends wherever
he was known. The remains will ar
rive in this city this morning and the
funeral services will be held at the
residence Of Mr.. James Wilson, No.
:52l West Pettis street. at , o'clock p.
m. to-day.
John \. Corey was biz hearted.
genial. intelligent christian gentle
man. As a friend he was all that the
name implied, and in doing that which
he believed To I've his duty he was an
example of fearlcssness. No destitute
person was ever turned from his door
and no tale of sorrow ever tell upon
his ear without sympathy. Nav the
rest which has come to him he a peace
full "ne and his example even beyond
the grave keep him long in precious.
memory here.
His faler nccr again will tell
Thetale of human veal ar woe.
lie did his duty fearless. we'll.
But 80 found him strong {" go.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17

tired from the Office of state register
Of lands, upon its abolishment, on the
9Th inst, and who will devote himself
henceforth to bucolic pursuits in the
southeastern part of Cooper county.
where he has a fine grain and stock
farm, was recently seen by the Chatter.
The Colonel but seldom speaks OF hi.
war experiences, though no man made
prOuder personal record than he.
both west and east of the Mississippi
river. AZ one Of Lieut.. General N. Is.
Forests cavaliers, he commanded a
brigade of Missouri, Tennessee and
Mississippi troops. "One Of the sad-
dest incidents in all my campaigning.
said he, happened in Tennessee. Sam
Massie, a bold, beardless Boonville
boy, whose father was a prominent
hardware merchant there, hearing Of
our exploits on the farther side of the
river, determined to Join my COM
mand-the second Missouri cavalry-if
possible. He left home and
went to st. Louis. There he procured
a skiff by some means and rowed and
fioated all alone all the way to Mem
phis. Once on Tennessee soil, he was
not long in reaching us, and was
warmly welcomed BY many of his
Missouri friends. A few days after
his arrival, and after he had been
properly equipped and assigned, de
tachment OF my boys and myself ran
into an Illinois regiment commanded
bya Colonel Hogg, a very prominent
and brave young officer. The combat
that ensued was short, sharp and san
culinary. In the first charge We made
poor Sam was shot dead from his sad
die and We were compelled to bury
him on the battlefield, where his ashes
still repOse in an unknown grave. 1t
was the very first time Sam had been
under fire. He had forsaken family,
friends and u comfortable home for
the sake Of the South and had endured
distressing hardships in reaching his
destination. He was fine young fel-
low ami his untirhely death wa.
mourned by the whole command"
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
A vaRrant Ouartette.

Four hearty looking vagrants were
arraigned before Judge Rauck yester-
day morning. They were fined $40
each. but a. the authorities did not
wish to he at the expense of bedding
and feeding them. they were given a
stay and ordered to leave town. One
fellow was quite anxious to take adj
vantage of the fine imposed upon him
and secure comfortable quarters for a
few DAYS.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
Queen CITY Butchers.

The retail butchers Of Sedalia, who
have organized themselves into a
social club. held their second meeting
last night. They have secured Hur-
lcv'> hall. on East Second street, as a
permanent club room, and appointed
Mc>-rs. Cannon. kehl, Enslebrecht,
Bahner. Cunningham and Van Brinkle
a committee To make arrangements
Tor the proposed public hall t" he
given for the benefit Of the society.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
LET THE TENDER LIGHT.

Lord, let the tender light
of thy sweet mercy fall
Down through the gloom of night
That hangeth like pail.
The sun was clear and strong,
But sin was in my heart;
Waken once more the song
And bid these shades depart.
Then shall the path be plain
For feet SO hayward now,
Gladness shall come again
And love illume my brow.
The things Of heaven and earth
Shall fairer seem to me,
And, having this new birth,
Ny soul will turn to Thee.
Never to feel the pang
OF keen remOrse's sting
Even rs the angels sang
In childhOod's guileless ,Pring.
They'll sing again to me
And my glad spirit WOO
Nearer, Ny God, to Thee
When sunlieh; breaketh through.
-G.0qs W. Esrrei.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
Bank Elections.

The Third National bank has re-
elected all its old officers for 1893.
There are three changes in the list
of directors Of the Sedalia National
hank for 1893. J. II. Boutwell, takes
the place of .. \. Crandall. resigned.
and also become. vice president; J..
X. Blair fills the vacancy "ccasione'l
by the resignation Of q. W. Craw-
ford. W. 4. I.auer take. the place
of John Mckinley, resigned.
The annual election of officers of the
Citizens National bank has been post
poned until sometime this week.
The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-01-17
Buried Among Strangers.

The remains of John Flynn, a Sec
ton lalnrer, from Brueeville, Texas,
who died at the NJ, X. Il +. hospital
in this city Friday morning, were
buried Yesterday. The body was held
at Hills undertaking rooms day, in
hope that some word might he re-
ceived from hi. relatives, If he has
any. hut nothing was heard from any
one. and the deceased was buried lie
Gently. hut in a land of strangers.