The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-09-21
THE MERCHANT CRIME.
CHAPTER XIX-CoNT1NUEp
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

sit Will be 1nconvenient," said
Cromwell, land probably a pecuniary
loss, but | feel it to be my duty, and
money is a secondary consideration"
Perhaps Mr.. Raymond may APP
pear in the course of the forenoon"
suggested the landlady. ut may be
only a boys adventure"
81 hope you may be right" said
Cromwell, .'but / hardly think it
will prove So"
He did not eat much breakfast.
The thought of Robert Raymond ly-
ing at the bottom of the pond kept
continually recurring to him. He
wondered whether he would be found
and when. He would like to have
set out for New York at once; but if
Immediately after his departure the
body should be found, it would look
bad, and possibly excite suspicion.
He thought it would be better for
him to wait 1--WE or three days, and
on his journey.
If during that time he attended to
his business as usual, there would be
no chance for %suspecting him of hav-
ing had anything to do with Roberts
disappearance. This course, then,
he solved to adopt, but in spite of
all he could do, he was tormented by
Il constant, nervous anxiety. Every
moment he thought of the liability
that Roberts body might be discov-
cred, and he braced himself to stand
the shock. He thought it best, how
ever. to write a letter at once to
Paul Morton announcing the mys-
FERROUS disappearance of Robert.
His letter ran thus:
PAUL MORTON. Esq
Dear Sir-It is witt great regret that l
ttlic my pen. having only bad new to commu-
nicate. Your ward, Robert Raymond, whom
you placed in my char e, has mysteriously
disappeared l have seen nothing of him
sin e yesterday at supper He went out after
that and did not return to pass the night at
his bolrdin house. I do not know what to
think, whether he has met with any accident.
perhaps of q fatal nature, or has only run
away. If the latter, I suppose he would make
his way to New York and present himself be-
fCre you l shall take every means of ascer-
ia min which of these is the true explanation
of hi mysterious disappearance 1 think of
~stlrtins for New York in a couple of days, in
order to sec YOU personally. and let you know
all that 1 IAN learn about this unfortunate af-
fair. as know that you will be deeply inter
eS cd in ali that concerns your ward
Your obedient servant.
JAMES CROMWELL"
81 think that will do" said Crom-
we'll, after reading his letter over
when finished. s.It tells nothing to
an ordinary reader, but Mr.. Morton
will understand it we'll enough, es-
pecialiy when he reads the words
which | have underlined. On the
whole, | don't know but 1t will be
well that the body should be found
before | go, as he may need absolute
proof of the boys death before he is
willing to pay me the promised $10.-
o0. ] wish it were well over, and
the boy was buried. / can't bear to
look at him; | am afraid I should get
nervous, AMI so excite suspicion.
Still it might be attributed to my
sorrow for his loss"
Leaving Cromwell, for a time. we
will follow the course of Robert Ray
inond, who after receiving directions
from Cato, had shaped his course for
the Ohio river. Madison. as has
d ready been stated, was situated in
the southern part of Indiana. The
distance between it and the Ohio
river, which separates that state
from Kentucky, was about fifty miles.
1t vas Roberts intention to reach
the river and then get on board a
boat, and proceed as far east as his
limited funds would admit. The ex-
ten OF these vas but $40, and $40
would not go a great way. unless ex-
treme economy was practiced. Rob-
ert was willing to be economical.
and when he learned that the river
was but fifty miles distant, he de-
termined TO walk the whole way.
On the first day Robert walked
alb ut twenty miles, resting in the
middle OF the day. He was unac-
customed to walking and it made
him footsore and weary. At 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. he desisted and
went up to a farmhouse, for he was
at the time passing through a
sparsely settled town; he asked for
accommodations for the night. For
tunately the occupant of the farm
house was a ~hospitable and kind
hearted farmer. who did not, as
some might have done, view him
with suspicion.
$50 you want to be took care of
the night. youngster," he said.
.,Yes, sir" said Robert.
''Well, / guess the old woman can
accommodate you. Our house is big
enough, and you won't take up much
room. Are you a travelin' far?"
..Yes, l am going to New York"
10 York: That's a pretty long
journey for a lad like you. It's over
a thousand miles"
Yes. it's a good ways. but l guess
/ can get there"
Where are you t~ravelin' FROM
was the next question.
II came from the North.' said
Robert. evading . direct answer.