The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-15

money, or II share Of it, that he was.
She knew he was in an ugly scrape.
There were high words. One Of the lodg-
ers overheard the row. Very likely he
crept down and put his ear to the door
Il was going to say keyhole, but that
wouldn't help him much. he had prob
ably some suspicion Of this money being
in the house. He now knew for certain
it was in Mrs. d. s room. What could be
handler than to wait until the dead Of
the night, stupefy the lady and collar
the notes.
"Stop IL moment. Do you know that
your problematic eavesdrOpper wanted
money badly enough not alone to steal
it-which is "a large order in itself-but
to run the risk of a much graver crime
than theft"
II know he wanted money badly
enough to obtain it in any way that
wouldn't fasten on him the guilt of the
theft
How do you know that?'
Been to his office today and saw his
governor"
"Of course you are referring to Stein
worth"
yes. They call his place of business
a mercantile bank. They are really a
sort of produce brokers in Il big way.
Steinworth was going ON his holidays
today-that statement Of his is right
enough. His books are all in order, but
he has been going it pretty heavy in the
betting line. There's a bOokmaker resid-
ing in Clayfields whom l have frequently
seen him talking to. Icalled on Mr.. Book
maker and learned that Steinworth had
a week from yesterday to pay up close
on $500 under threat of exposure if he
didn't
"A mere debt Of honor, which any
honorable man may %repudiate.
But the exposure would mean ruin
to him in the office, where he is in high
favor
'"What is his present salary:'
"A hundred and eighty-two pounds q
year
Five hundred, is a large sum for a
clerk on three ten q week to owe. Bet
ter for him to bolt than to stump up"
Boiling wouldn't suit him. He has
large expectations from a wealthy and
strait laced relative. Besides he has
started a little bookmaking business Of
his own on the quiet-under another
name. Commission business, they call
it, / believe. All he wanted was a short
loan
"At tremendous heavy interest, if
you are correct in your surmises.'
He never contemplated anything
worse than chloroforming Mrs. d. He
calculated that suspicion would fall on
Vickery, or on DIR. Leclerc, both being
persons who wanted money badly-and
were known to want it badly-and who
were in the habit of using chloroform
in their businesses or professions. He
may have had other motives, too, and
other reasons for supposing that the guilt
could not be fastened ON him. but l
think l have hampered myself with
enough motives as it is
"Well, let US see. You have got as far
as fixing Steinworth outside the door of
Mrs Davorn's room. What next?'
"Then a brilliant thought struck him.
He waited until the small hours of the
morning-the night was pitch dark
and let himself out of his bedroom Win
dow, dropped to the ground with the
aid of a rope or some similar kind of
help, chloroformed Mrs. D., put the
notes into his pocket, ven up on the
first floor landing, turned the key in his
own lock-
and Vickery's lock? What of it:H
Il have not forgotten it. Steinworth
reflected shrewdly enough that it would
look q little o clever if his door, and
his door only, was found locked, SO,
prudently enough, he turned Vickery's
key. Then he crept down stairs, passed
out through the front parlor window,
closed it after him and got back to his
own room through his own window"
IA very good case, indeed-for Stein.
WORTH" said Goringe, after a pause.
unfortunately for Il, inspector, i;
has one serious thing against it."
, "What is that"
"It. never happened"