The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-02-09

| for the murderer.
"Of course, my first move was to
secure a calm, rational interview with
Frank. This was in his cell. will not
repeat his indignant declarations OF in
nocence, nor his ptiful appeal to me not
to believe 1t of him. How came he by
that piece Of gold, and why was he at
his uucle's housel Those were the ques.
tions to he answered.
"'I can answer the last easy enough.
he replied, but about the nugget l
know no more than you
".You were taken with it in your
hands, I said.
"'I know il; had just taken it from
my pocket"
"'tIow came it in your pocketr
"'I don't know
"'Well, that's singular, to say the
least said |. Nov, how cam, you
there'
"'Mrs. Bland called aud said my
uncle wanted to see me. 1 went, Of
| course
"Mrs. Bland was the housekeeper.
thought had struck fact that would
help us, and whistlel softly. did you
see her when you got theref l asked.
4" Il saw no one there, Frank replied.
MY ring was not answered. tried
the door and it was fast. / did no.
want to disappoint him after he had
kindly sent for me, so Iattemptei to 90
in the back way as | had used to do.
but | found that fast also. Then, as |
could rouse no one, | turned and came
away. When had got back in my
room somewhat nonplussed at not beiug
admitted after ny uncle had sent for
Inc, | happened to put my hand in my
pocket, aud found there the nugget.
knew it was my uncle's for | had often
seen it there, aud how 1t came to be in
my pocket was mystery that excited
me somewhat. 1t seemed like witch
craft
'Devil.craft more likely said l who
was now more mystitied than ever. ]
dld not doubt the truth of Franks
story in the least. Some one put it in
your pocket to throw suspicion on you;
but how, and when, aud wherel Did
Mrs. Bland come close to you when she
came to say your uncle wished to see
your
''No. she did not come in. Size left
word .at-the door. But from my window
saw her 80 by. I'm sure it was her,
but she could not have put the nugget
in my pocket
~ may as well say here that the
housekeeper had beea investigated ald
was conclusively proved to De elsewhere
when the murder occurred. WAS she
an accomplicei' was the question was
ponderiug. A thought occurred to me.
did you ind in your pocSe; tue little
veivet-liued box, that held the nusgetF
| asked.
"'No, there was nothing but the
piece OF goli, that saw, Frank replied.
IL went straight to Frluks lod sings
and made careful search. searclc
the Bertrand mansion for the missing
box, but found noth,n..
"Mrs. Bland seemed very much dis
,res;ed over wnat had happened and was
much concerned for Frank. She de.
Glazed she didn't believe word OF the
story that he was guilty. Sac said his
uncle called to her from his room. AS he
often did, aud directed her to call
Frank. As she was going to neigh
bor's she stopped on the way for her er-
rand. She locked the house behind her
on leaving, as was her custom, and found
Il locked on her returc. She did not
see Mr.. Bertrand when he spoke to her;
only heard his voice.
IL then went 10 my Office AMI shu.
myself into my private room to quietly
analyzc the situation. VINO, besides hls
housekeeper had motive for numbering
Mr.. Bertraudl pondered the question
over aud over again. That there was an
answer TO it, was sure. But who had
that motive. That once settled fairly in |
my own mind, | would look further foe
the little box. could easily see how
Frank Bertrand had strong existing
motive to keep his uncle alive until he /
should make u different will. In mis-
death he lost all hope. Only sudden /
anger under strong proyocation could ]
have moved him 10 the deed. But he
was already out OF my suspicion.
~ am II great believer in motive as
the lever that moves human Jeings IN
the commission Of all deliberate crimes.
Tnat i was not mere robbery, in this
case, hyas eyident-since only the nugget
OF gold was taken, and that attributed
to Il momentary fancy rather than to any
previous intention. 1t could not be
hatred, for the old man had not an
enemy in the world that we
could discover. 1t must then be
greed Of some sort, some advantage to
he gained though Mr.. Bertrand's death.
Here was another dilemma. His house.
keeper was to have all the property, and
she could no. have CO nmitted the
1t must then be somebody
reaching further, somebody hoping for
gain through her. But the old woman
had not relative ia the world chat
had ever heard Of. She had lived very
many years in the family, aud thought
her relatives would have been heafI
from, II there were any greedy enough