Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-12-27

hat they are of our regiment and that
we are shielding them. The general
orders me to aid in the search. They
say Mrs. Hinkel had box which be-
onged to Schramm and contains now
some of the stolen money What box
lid she bring you last night?"
'Schramm's box, father, and begged
ne not to let it go. 1t contains no
stolen money. 1t holds papers and
personal" But he interrupted her.
mo matter what it may hold, we
cannot hold it now. | do not blame Mrs
Hinlsel for fetching it to you. but !
must have it and the key"
THE box is in the lower drawer of
the bureau, father. have no key at
all; Schramm has that. did not tell
you, because we knew if you were
questioned about it you would have to
tell the truth, and then poor Schramm's
letters would be no longer sacred
They shall touch none of his letters
II can help it." said Morgan, but
they must be allowed to examine for
themselves"
A quarter of an hour later, in the
office Of the commanding officer were
Graves and his clerk, the sheriff and a
deputy, Morgan and the post surgeon,
the latter officer having been sum
moned at Morgan's request. On the table
was stout sole-leather case about two
feet long and six inches deep, shaped
something like a dispatch box, some
thing like a valise. 1t was evidently
Of foreign make, strong, durable, yet
showing signs of service and wear.
Such name as had originally been
painted on its end was long since care
fully scraped and painted out In ad-
tition to its straps, strong brass clasp
and paddock secured it.
ut seems a pity to burst such lock
and spoil such case" said the doctor,
yravely. II suppose you gentlemen
ieel that it must be done?"
''0h. ! never had a straighter tip in |
ny life, said the sheriff 81 am bet
ing on finding important evidence right
here, if not the swag ITSELF
A soldier entered with some tools.
zone moment now, gentlemen" said
Morgan. This box is the property of
comparatively new soldier of ours.
believe he occupied higher station
broad than here. If money be found
lerein, well and good, I've nothing to
ay; but ! protest against any prying
nto his personal secrets. This isn't
iussia.n
But the very first thing lifted out of
he leathern box, as, its clasp shat
cred, it lay open before their eyes, was
long. official envelope. The sheriff
ore it open, and therein lay ten fifty
ollar bills, national currency, crisp
nd new.
my Godw exclaimed Lacy, pale with
xcitement II believe / could almost
wear that those are some of the very
ills we drew from the First national"
do you ordinarily pay enlisted men
| fifty-dollar bills, Mr.. Lacy?" asked
Iorgan.
Certainly not, !" was the prompt re-
ly. There were over twenty officers
18th Col. Winthrop's battalion; so we ,,
rought a thousand in one-hundreds
nd two thousand in fifties." And :
acy counted the bills over again with
fingers. The sheriffs big
ID hands were dragging out other
lclSets now, bundle after bundle of
tiers, old, faded and stained, several !.
tile books in German, three or four
Ircels wrapped in silk, each of which, !,
hen unrolled, proved to contain por-
ats. One of a soldierly, gray-mus- =
ched man of fifty-five or whereabouts, J,
the conventional broad-breasted I'M :
ess uniform of the German army. =
ivory, this. and in costly :
ame-a painting of lovely face with =
ep blue eyes and fond. tender :
lille about the lips-a mother face, =
lich appeared again, with more of !,
yer and less of gold in the curling :,
ir that framed it, in two or three o