Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-10-03

Dalt retriever, accompanied nlms III
the middle of the plantation Dot sud
denly shifted the air, then bounded in
among the brushes, and pointed.
dot! Dot!" called his master. "Here,
good dog, come back" But Dot had
evidently found something, and refused
to be shouted Off
Mr.. Vyse made his way to where the
dog was standing. Up sprang a fine
rabbit and dashed away, Dot in hot
pursuit. But Mr.. Vyse needed neither
rabbit nor dog. His gaze was riveted
on the place from which the rabbit had
jumped. Thus for a moment or two,
he stood, then, with peculiar smile on
his face, he wheeled round and walked
brislily home. Some three days later
| Richard Starltie was summoned to his
chiefs presence. He went, trembling,
fearing he knew not what.
"Starl<ie," said Mr.. Vyse, 'you have
been in my employ longer than any
other of my clerks, therefore l think II
only right to make you my spokesman
to them. wish you, then, to tell them
on my behalf that / attribute the dis.
appearance of my cash box to none of
them, that I am quite convinced of their
| innocence"
Richard Starkie paled slightly. Had
his scheme to ruin young Acland failed
miserably after all? 1t seemed so. But
he replied, with apparent frankness;
81 am very pleased to hear that Robert
Acland has cleared himself, sir"
''He has done so most completely" re-
joined Mr.. Vyse. 81 have very high
opinion of Acland, Starllie."
$50 have I, sir" he returned glibly,
while he inwardly cursed the man to
whom he spoke thus laudiugly. at
has caused me great pain to think chat
he could possibly be a thief"
SIS it possible that this man is inno-
cent after all?" wondered Mr.. Vyse.
''If not, his hypocrisy is simply astound-
I ing; but l shall soon know the truth" "
| And grim smile passed over his face.
Just one thing more" continued Mr..
, Vyse, looking straight into his clerk
eyes, which met his own unflinchingly,
i ''and this is for your ear alone, Starkie
in the theft of my cash box have sus-
! tained a far greater loss than anyone
but myself is aware of. 1t is box Of
[ peculiar construction-in fact, it had a
{ false bottom, and in that false bottom.
: Starkie, there were notes to the valu.
of c 700. l had placed them there only
two days before 1 was robbed"
= "Of course, you have the numbers
sir?"
= why, yes, l have the numbers, Star.
= kie; but an expert thief-and imagine
from the GOODNESS and audacity of the
rnh hot ha Vic ri
one--fnds no difficulty in changing
: stolen paper. He knows where to take
it and obtain good price"
4 When Richard Starkie went back
= to his colleagues to give them their EN-
= ployer's message, his breast was torn by
! two emotions-baffied spite and greed
: of further gold.
81 will destroy him yet, he thought
= of Bob Acland. Hes escaped me fol
!. awhile, but it shall not be for long
= Elsie Venner shall never be his wife
2 am n good plotter, friend Bob, anC
A though you wriggle out of my hands {
5 hundred times, L will have you the hun
: dred and first.
. Poor old buffer'-his mind re
= verting to the man whose presence h6
: had just left-"you little guessed tha
in making a confidant of me you wert
1 telling the thief how to further enrcl
Y himself. Well, 500 guilds will come i,
very handy just now-and suppose the
] commission would not be more thai
o e200. Markby's getting very restiv'
for his money, and 1 could pay him ant
= still have nice little balance in hand
You're in luck's way, Dick, my boy; for
tune favors you"
Il If to be standing in the dark on til,
Il brink of a precipice without knowing
r it is to be in luck's way, then Richar,
n Starkie was, indeed, in tha: enviable pc
2 sition.
Bending down amid the bramole AM
brush wood which formed the under
!, growth of a small plantation, gropinI
among the briers and grasses, Richar
Starkie was searching for the cash boz
g 81 know 1 flung it somewhere here,
!" he muttered, fiercely. "Where can tn
u thing be? Ah!" and his hand at las
alighted on some metal, here you are
:, | was just beginning to think that jaC
- ish Fortune had served me srurv
trick. Well" clasping the box to hi
a bosom, you've been a good friend t
~ me, and I'll treat you as lightly as po:
&c sible. Come, let's away-merciful pow
u, u, ers! What's that?"
~ Four stalwart arms had seized hi1
re re from behind and were holding him wit
- =, a vise-like grip; and before he kne
- what was really taking place, he fe
- the cold steel on his wrists and realize
- that he was prisoner-a detected thiC
" :" who had blindly fallen into skillfull