Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-09-16

his voice had 80 much genuine feeling
In It that / voluntarily turned and ex-
tended my hand.
II hope you'll forgive me-" said.
"You bet" he replied, grasping my
hand. "You did pretty near choke the
daylight out Of me, though. What n
grip you've gotI" he added, with a
bright smile. "But then that's all
right. I'm thankful you didn't shoot.
I was going to tell you who was, as
there was no use for further conceal
ment from you, but you didn't give me
any chance"
"Why was the whole affair kept from
me 80 carefully" I asked.
The question, for some reason, en-
bnrrnssed Mr.. Skinner.
II guess Wilson thought you were u
little hot-headed, and might give the
thing away by too much zeal" he final
ly replied, hcsltatingly.
regarded him closely, for some
how I felt sure his answer was not a
true one; but he was gazing at the body
at his feet In seeming sorrow.
Then he shook his head, and again
murmured; II tell you this will cut
the young woman up terribly"
ut will indeed. And who is to tell
herl" exclaimed, in anguish,
"That is your duty, Mr.. Conway She
wouldn't take it the same from anyone
else as she would from YOU" Then
he continued, earnestly: eyes, you're
the one to tell her, and the only one
who can give her any comfort-if there
is any Ito be had. Poor ladyl hope
you won't think me too forward in say
ing that she thought good deal of
you; she was so anxious to get you
cleared, and kept imploring me all the
time to hurry up and find the real rob-
bers."
Bless my dear loves kind and true
hearth And now to have her sweet
young life plunged into such grief and
sorrowl 1t seemed cruel, oh, most
cruel
I again grasped SINNERS hand and
pressed 1t. "My God, how can I tell
her!" I exclaimed, the tears starting to
my eyes.
"Nelson Nelsonl"
1t was Mr.. Perry who called, and who
came up to me with his face nglow.
"As far as q hasty examination goes,
have reason to believe the greater part
of the bonds are here, minus the inter-
est coupons for the past year. The
rascal must have converted those into
cash; anyhow, they are gone"
$50 it did pay you for responding so
quickly to my telegram" remarked.
"Your telegram" he repeated, in
surprise. II received none"
Then explained to him, and when I
had finished he said: "Why, you see,
the reason I did not receive it was that
1 was already at Twineburgh. Will
son telegraphed me this morning, and
l came up on the noon train"
'Mr. Perry came into the Office half
an hour after you left" replied Mr..
Wilson. II sent the dispatch after I
left here"
"How did you know Jackson would
como to the cellar tonight" asked,
curiously,
Mr.. Wilson glanced around before an
swering. Then he sunk his voice down
low, as though afraid he might be
heard by the others:
"Have you forgotten the voices in
your bedroom and up in the atticP
The conversation was the most for
tunate chance that ever befell me in my
whole professional career"
ooh, then, you think Jackson was
one Of the parties holding the CONVEX
sation?" I asked.
"Assuredly. Has not the result
proved that2" he replied.
"But then, who--who could have
been the other% I asked, with great
fear and dread.
Wilson dropped his head and seemed
to be considering his reply.
Impossible to answer that ques-
tion," he finally said, reluctantly.
"And i don't know as there is any
cause for either you or me ever to re-
fer to that conversation. You see, a
detective feels sensitive at not being
able to discover everything concerning
an important case. And, although we
have been wonderfully successful, who
Horace Jackson's assistant or master
flor he undoubtedly had one) was, will
probably remain forever mystery.
At least I shall not attempt anything
more in the case. My duty is COM
pleted."
My heart gave bound. Mr.. Morley's
connection with the robbery was not
suspected, even by one of the most
astute detectives in America. My
promise, then, might be fulfilled, and
Florence, at least, spared the knowl-
edge that her father was great GRIM
inal.
I noticed Wilson's sharp eyes were
on my face, and I strove to cloak my
satisfaction. Then the detective held
out his hand and gave mine hearty
grip.
"The bodies had better be removed
upstairs" Wilson then said, resuming
his matter-of-faot manner.
In due time the two bodies were ly-